Over 470,000 average viewers for Ireland-Israel match, says RTÉ

JUST SHY OF 500,000 people on average watched Sunday evening’s Ireland-Israel match on RTÉ 2, according to figures released by the broadcaster.

Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in the controversial Nations League fixture in Debrecen, Hungary.

The match was streamed live on RTÉ 2, although its coverage was majorly stripped back. There was no advertising, studio presentation or studio punditry offered by the broadcaster. It relied instead on the commentary from Uefa’s global coverage.

RTÉ said an average of 478,000 people watched the game. It was a 40% share of the available audience. At its peak, 9.34pm – just coming into full-time – there were 573,000 viewers.

The RTÉ Player saw another 233,683 viewers.

The viewing figures were notably higher than Ireland’s match against Kosovo last Thursday, which saw an average of 383,000 viewers tune in – a 36% share of the available audience.

As viewerships go for the Israel match, the viewing figures were comparable to other Nations League matches but below recent World Cup qualifiers.  

For example, a Uefa Nations League match against Bulgaria on RTÉ 2 last year had 427,100 average viewers, so fewer than last night’s match but not out of kilter with expectations. 

A number of World Cup qualifiers last year had higher figures, with high profile games against Portugal and Hungary have 700,000 and 800,000 viewers respectively. 

A World Cup qualifier last year against Armenia was a lower-profile fixture but still commanded an average audience of 564,300, above last night’s viewership. 

Israel and Ireland are due to meet again for a Nations League fixture in Bačka Topola, Serbia on 4 November.