RTE's Eurovision final night hits bum note with big switch off by viewers as regular show staples outperform competition
RTE suffered a massive switch off on Eurovision night compared to last year, new figures show.
A number of programmes this week - including Super Garden and Nationwide - out performed the finals of the
2
Ireland's act Emmy didn't make it to the grand final
Credit: Splash News
An RTE spokeswoman told The Irish Sun: 'The Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday night had an average audience of 268,000 on RTE One and RTE One +1, with a 30 per cent share of the available audience.'
This represents a staggering drop from last year when the average audience for the Eurovision final was 666,000 viewers on RTE One, with a 54 per cent share of the available audience, and 19,000 on RTE One +1.
RTE stressed how the 2024 audience was higher 'as
Meanwhile, former Irish Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan has branded Irish TV voting for Israel in the final as 'totally mystifying" and 'very, very odd'.
READ MORE IN TV
Ireland's
Charlie told The Irish Sun: 'I am very surprised so many Irish viewers would vote for
'It's all very strange. All of Europe knows what's going on in Gaza.'
The songwriter's comments come after national broadcasters for
Most read in News TV
RTVE, Spain's public broadcaster, and VRT, the Flemish public broadcasting company, have called for organisers to investigate the televoting system.
The juries for both countries gave Israel zero points, while their televoters awarded it the maximum 12 points.
Remember Monday star Lauren Byrne is last Eurovision contestant standing as she parties until 6am after defeat
Spain's broadcaster also showed a title card in support of
RTE also confirmed to the Irish Sun that they have made an inqury into the telly voting aspect on the contest.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: "RTE has requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU and its voting partner Once.'
Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green said a "broad discussion with participating broadcasters" is due to take place.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW
He said: 'We remain in constant contact with all participating broadcasters of the Eurovision Song Contest and take their concerns seriously. We can confirm that we have been in touch with several broadcasters since Saturday's Grand Final regarding voting in the competition.
"Now the event has concluded we will have a broad discussion with participating broadcasters, to reflect and obtain feedback on all aspects of this year's event as part of our planning process for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest next year.
"It is important to emphasize that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country's result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.
"An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result.
"Our voting partner Once has confirmed that a valid vote was recorded in all countries participating in this year's Grand Final and in the Rest of the World.'
PARTICIPATION PLANNED
An RTE spokesperson added that the broadcaster "looks forward to participating in the discussions and review outlined" by Mr Green.
The Irish jury, comprising five industry professionals, gave Israel seven points in the Eurovision grand final.
The calls for an enquiry came after Israeli's entry Yuval Raphael - a survivor of the 7 October attacks by Hamas - nearly won the contest with a total of 357 points from combined votes of the professional jury and the public.
Israel was beaten by
2
Austrian opera singer JJ won the contest
Credit: Splash
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