Final year-end figures released by TAM/Nielsen for 2023 have revealed that Virgin Media Television had a 19.8% share of viewing among audience members aged 15+, the highest ever in the broadcaster’s history. This represents a growth of +5% year-on-year.
For the seventh consecutive year, Virgin Media Television holds the number one spot in the market for share of commercial impacts for viewers aged 15+. In total, over 713 million hours of content were consumed through all VMTV channels for individuals in 2023.
Virgin Media Player had its best-ever year, delivering 47.8million streams, which represents a 6% growth year-on-year.
Original commissioned content performed well, with The Guards returning for a second season, averaging 274,000 individual viewers with 23% share of viewing and an additional 167,000 total streams. Confessions Of A Crime Boss also had a 23% share of viewing with an average of 212,000 viewers and an additional 132,000 total streams. Gogglebox Ireland averaged 226,000 views weekly, showing growth of viewing figures in all five key demographics.
International content was also hugely popular, with 2.4 million viewers tuning in for the Winter and Summer seasons of Love Island reaching over half of available TV population. The franchise attracted viewers across broadcast and on digital, accounting for 13.5 million total streams.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! averaged 404,000 individuals with a 29% share. The series finale averaged 509,000 Individuals viewers with 37% share of viewing, the best performing finale since the 2020 series.
Live sports coverage was also widely watched. Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand was the best performing programme in the broadcaster’s 25-year history, averaging 1.384million individuals. Ireland’s victory over Scotland the previous week, along with March’s win against England were also in the top five most watched programmes in Ireland for 2023. The Rugby World Cup also delivered 1.67million live streams on the Virgin Media Player.
The World Athletics Championships returned to Irish terrestrial television for the first time in decades, with Rhasidat Adeleke’s final on 23rd August drawing in an average of 366,400 viewers.
Record numbers tuned into horse racing on linear TV during the Cheltenham, Ascot and Aintree Festivals, while the UEFA Champions League tie between Copenhagen and Manchester United was the highest-performing football match on Virgin Media Television in 2023 with 33% share of viewing on viewers aged 15-34 and 37% of men aged 15-34.
“2023 was a record year, delivering our best ever share of viewers,” said Aine Ní Chaoindealbhain, Virgin Media Television Managing Director. “The recent successes and growth in audience for Virgin Media Television is reflected across all genres: Sport, Entertainment, Drama, News and Current Affairs.”
VMTV-produced content Ireland AM, News at 12:30 and The Tonight Show all saw year-on-year growth. The Tonight Show episode on November 23rd was the show’s second best performing episode ever.
