TG4’s extensive and multi-platform live coverage from last week’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis certainly found a large and receptive audience in Ireland and overseas, according to the official viewing figures that have become available.
Over a quarter of a million TV viewers in Ireland tuned into TG4’s ebullient coverage from the Fleadh on each of the four nights (Thurs-Sun), peaking at 281,000 viewers to Sunday night’s three-location musical extravaganza. The on-line viewing figures for the event (to date) are running close to an extra 10% of the TV viewership with over half of those viewers based outside Ireland.
Fleadh TV also performed well in its role as a key part of TG4’s innovative social media strategy, comprising Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. These platforms combined to offer timely and in the moment content from the event. The magical Irish dancers Fusion Fighters, captured by TG4 on the streets of Ennis has have been viewed by over 1.4 million and counting! #Fleadhtv was trending worldwide and reached over half a million on Twitter.
The Irish language channel’s large-scale coverage of the Fleadh Cheoil began in 2013 and viewership has increased steadily every year since then. This year’s schedule faced a particular challenge, coming as it did in direct competition with the blanket live TV coverage of the Rio Olympics available to Irish viewer on multiplicity of TV channels.
TG4 Deputy CEO, Pádhraic Ó Ciardha says: “Our Fleadh TV coverage has now become a mainstay of our Summer Schedule with a massive fan-base in Ireland and overseas. If you can’t attend in person, this is the way to enjoy one of Europe’s biggest cultural events.”
