The cut-throat competion forced by fiction and Real TV pushed some sport events organizers to modify their offer in order to attract more TV viewers.
Suspense, show and challenge : la Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) tried to privilege these three major priorities by modifying in 2003 their rules during the off season, thus preventing a regular and overall decrease of their TV audience ratings.
According to Jacques Braun, Mediametrie International Director, ‘While using an adapted TV format and while taking advantage of the new pilots coming to the fore with the ability of beating Michael Schumacher, Formula 1 has started its TV audience reconquest’.
For the first time since 2000, the average Formula 1 season audience ratings is increasing in France with an average of 3.6 million viewers per Grand Prix, in Italy with approximately an average of 9.7 million viewers per race, and in the UK with an average of 3.2 million viewers.
The best performance comes from Finland where Kimi Raikkonen attracted an average of one inhabitant out of five in front of their television for each Grand Prix.
Paradoxically, it is in Germany that has been recorded the worst report despite the new successes of Michael Schumacher which drove him to his 6th world championship title : the audience rating has been decreasing for the last three years. The races have still gathered an average of 9 million viewers.
The FIA’s bet has not been totally fullfiled particularly since it leaves some geographical areas with a
strong potential not yet exploited.
It is the case in Asia where the ratings remain low : in Japan, the seasonal record was reached during the National Grand Prix with an average rating of 4 % for Fuji TV, i.e. less than one inhabitant out of 20. In China, the best score recorded was 7.9 million viewers on CCTV5 for the San Marino Grand Prix, i.e. less than one inhabitant out of 100. In comparison, the Real Madrid tour organized in Asia
last August allowed this same channel to gather more than 21 million viewers during the broadcast of the friendly match opposing the stars from Madrid to the Dragons Team.
The progression margin in terms of TV audience remains important notably in this part of the world and the FIA understood it well. It has hence decided to organize, as early as next season, a new Grand Prix in China.
Remember that Eurodata TV Worldwide is the international databank for programmes and television audience ratings covering more than 600 channels in 70 territories. Eurodata TV Worldwide produces a number of reports each year and a range of services which help in the decision making process of international professionals within the audio -visual world.
– Rugby on television in the world
This year Eurodata TV Worldwide edits a new report ‘Rugby 1999 –2003’, providing the audience ratings of the main rugby competitions in the world
– One sports year in the world
70 audio-visual landscapes : the highest rated sporting events. Order now the new edition for 2002
– From World Cup to World Cup : Soccer on Tv in the world between 1998 and 2002 The audience ratings of the main competitions, from both international and regional areas, covering 20 countries over 4 years.
For all press information please contact : Christelle Cros
Tel : + 33 1 47 58 97 55 – Fax : + 33 1 47 58 09 26
E-mail : ccros@mediametrie.f – www.mediametrie.fr
For further information please contact : Mickael Hagège
Tel : + 33 1 47 58 97 30 – Fax : + 33 1 47 58 64 24
E-mail : sports@mediametrie.fr / www.eurodatatv.com