Over 100 million saw Eurovision 2012

Geneva, Switzerland -

A total of 64 million people watched the Grand Final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest broadcast from Baku, Azerbaijan. The event with contestants from 42 countries was won by Loreen representing Sweden with the song Euphoria.

The first Semi-Final was seen by 19,4 million viewers across Europe and the second Semi-Final by 19,6 million viewers. The Final on the 26th of May had 63,9 million viewers.

This means that a total of 102,9 million saw the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest which was broadcast live from Baku, Azerbaijan and hosted by the Azerbaijani broadcaster Ictimai TV.

The numbers were up in most of the participating countries and the average ratings share was considerably higher for the Grand Final compared to a year ago - an average of 37%. This is much higher than the average market share for public broadcasters on a Saturday night.

"We're happy that the Eurovision Song Contest is still a huge ratings success, being one of the top shows for the participating broadcasters every year," said Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest. "We're also very grateful for Ictimai TV for hosting three wonderful shows in May."

Last year, the Final of the contest was seen by 70 million viewers, in 2010 69 million, 73 million in 2009 and 64 million in 2008.

Posted on 2/August 2012 at 17:23
michemiche from Sweden

Now I eventually have made my mind up about the ESC 2012 entries: It has been just a tiny bit “easier” than in 2009 ;)

1p Moldova
2p Latvia
3p Russia
4p Estonia
5p Italy
6p Azerbaijan
7p Spain
8p Sweden
10p Ukraine
12p Albania

...But oh, where did the points to Romania, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Macedonia and Cyprus go now.....? I want to reward them all + some others! Hope that we will see many countries enter or re-enter in 2013 . . . report to the moderator
Posted on 25/June 2012 at 21:07
NordLupo from Germany

8,7% less than last year... report to the moderator
Posted on 22/June 2012 at 23:18
Palestinian

Hey mates,

As a Palestinian I would like to say, yes we do know Eurovision and we know who those artists are..

I'd speak about me and my friends, we totally enjoy Eurovision, we watch it every year and vote too.

We even intend to participate though Palestinian presence in the Eurovision can be seen through our artists who already joined.

We would like to say, Lykke til Sverge, and we look forward to watching it next year and perhaps a big bbq party again. report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 22:09
Majoni

You cannot say that over 100 million people watched the show using the numbers above. The 19 million that watched the first semifinal are probably pretty much the same 19 million people that watched the second one which also make up part of the 60 million that saw the Grand Final.

I'm happy it's a popular show and I watch it myself but bad math just annoys me! report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 21:04
FR72536 from Panama

Im From Panama , My favorite Was FRANCE and I watched it. report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 13:41
Zach Dumz from Indonesia

I Love This Contest and i will be waiting the Next ESC 2013 in Sweden

My Fav Singer is Anggun
My Fav Song is Euphoria report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 12:40
1latvian from Latvia

I agree with nprovenghi271, it would be nice to know how many people watched ESC online, as I was watching it online this year. report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 12:39
1latvian from Latvia

Yap, this year I was watching eurovision online as well. report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 05:49
ThisUserNameIsAlreadyTaken from Mexico

The show is not that popular in Mexico but at least you have one big big big fan here so I'm part of those one million viewers and I have to say that the show was great, good job Azerbaijan!! ...........And stop complaining about those countries not in Europe!! I mean c'mon!! report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 04:24
ahmad2011 from Azerbaijan

THIS SONTEST WATCH NOT ONLY IN EUROPE ITS POPULUR IN INDIA, KAZAHSTAN, UZBEKISTAN, INDONESIA AND MANY OTHERS COUNTRIES report to the moderator
Posted on 20/June 2012 at 01:53
Jajceboy from Sweden

Wha'ts all this nonsense about people watching from Palestine and Iran? What's that got to do with everything?
You honesty think people from these coutries know who these artists are, or what Eurovision is?
Or do you think Eric Saade and Tooji have visited the countries, or been there?
Just becasue they have origins from there doesnt't mean they have aconenction to the country

Stop making this contest about ehnicity and origins report to the moderator
Posted on 19/June 2012 at 23:33
nprovenghi271 from United States

Do these numbers take online viewers into account? The number might be small, but it's still relevant. report to the moderator
Posted on 19/June 2012 at 21:21
Gabriel7 from Romania

ahmad2011 , don't forget:

Soluna Samay (Guatemala)
Stella Mwangi (Kenya)
Senit (Eritrea) :) report to the moderator
Posted on 19/June 2012 at 20:05
Duffs

I think it's important to note that you can't really provide a definite number of ratings because the data may not represent multiple people watching in one household, a public gathering, or online! Either way it's a large number of people watching (maybe even more watching together from the same television set!). It was a good show this year with a good talent pool! report to the moderator
Posted on 19/June 2012 at 19:58
m2012

63,9 million viewers is a very good result
same level as last years editions report to the moderator