Eurosport Claims Significant Multi-Platform Audience Growth For 2020 Snooker Coverage

Eurosport has claimed significant year-on-year audience growth across its linear and digital platforms in 2020.

Average live TV audiences grew 37% vs 2019, driven by record viewership for the UK Championship (+15%), English Open (+32%) and Scottish Open (+39%). This season Eurosport became the first broadcaster to screen live multi-platform coverage of the opening round of the UK Championship, which helped drive Eurosport’s highest ever live audience average for the event.

Free-to-air audiences on Quest followed a similar trend with overall viewership growing 26%, with the Welsh Open achieving record performance with a 52% rise – the channel’s best ever live audience for a Home Nations Series event. This helped secure a 29% growth overall across Eurosport and Quest for snooker in 2020.

Digital consumption of snooker content also saw a substantial increase in 2020 with Eurosport.com generating a 171% rise in unique visitors (UV) vs 2019, plus a 159% growth in page views. Stand-out performances include a 581% surge in UV coupled with a 641% increase in page views for the World Championship. All three of the Home Nations Series events for the 2020/21 season so far have seen triple-digit rises in both UV and page views.

Simon Downing, Head of Eurosport UK said: ‘These audiences demonstrate our strength in serving fans across multiple platforms. Now with the recent launch of our new SVOD product discovery+, we can provide another way for viewers to enjoy live snooker, creating an efficient eco-system across pay, free-to-air and direct-to-consumer – allowing fans to consume content however they wish.

‘The addition of Eurosport’s digital channels with its comprehensive news, innovative digital formats and live streaming, we have cemented ourselves as the go-to destination for snooker content.’

Ronnie O’Sullivan, six-time World Champion and Eurosport pundit said: ‘It’s fantastic to see so many people continuing to enjoy top quality snooker on Eurosport. I love being part of the team and try to do my bit in any way I can to help keep people watching. I’m looking forward to building on that for the rest of the season.’