Eurovision 2024 Breaks Global Viewing Figures, Despite Protests

Despite protests over this year's event, Eurovision 2024 still broke global viewing figures.

These increases in figures emerged despite protests and criticism faced by the competition over their inclusion of Israel despite the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. 

In comparison with previous events, this year's contest in Sweden saw viewing figures increase by one million from last year, as well as increasing by two million viewers from 2022's event in Turin.

Overall, 163 million viewers tuned in to watch the live events at Eurovision 2024, including the the Grand Final, which was eventually won by Switzerland, with Nemo's winning entry 'The Code'.

Viewing figures for the Grand Final also saw an increase, spiking by 46.7%, the highest figure reached since 2006. This figure was also close to triple the broadcast channels average, increasing by 17.6%.

The Eurovision Song Contest's digital platforms also saw another record year, with as many 486million accounts reached on TikTok during the weeks of the event, more than four times as many that were reached last year.

As many as 42 million unique viewers watched Eurovision content via the official YouTube channel from 231 countries and territories during the week of the live shows.

It also emerged that the highest audience for the Grand Final was found in Germany, with an average of 8.1 million viewers watching the contest on Das Erste and ONE. The second highest audience was found in the UK, with 7.7 million watching the final on BBC One. 

“These incredible numbers show the Eurovision Song Contest’s huge global impact – online, on TV and importantly musically. We’re thrilled to see a growth in the hundreds of millions tuning in to the live shows on EBU Member channels and record-breaking numbers engaging with the songs and artists on our different digital platforms", EBU Director General, Jean Philip De Tender said of the results across the board.