Getty Images
- Audience twice peaked at 6.3m viewers on FTV
- Pay-TV Eurosport sees total race viewership grow 73% to 3.4m
The 2020 Tour de France proved a domestic TV ratings hit for France Télévisions (FTV) as more than 40 million viewers tuned into the public service broadcaster’s coverage of the three-week cycling grand tour, according to L’Equipe.
Despite the ongoing wait for a home winner of the yellow jersey, FTV reportedly saw its total viewership increase by seven million – more than 21 per cent – on the 2019 race. The increase in viewership on pay-TV broadcaster Eurosport was even more impressive, reportedly up 73 per cent to 3.4 million viewers.
According to L’Equipe, FTV’s coverage twice peaked at 6.3 million viewers – first on 30th August when French rider Julian Alaphillippe took the yellow jersey in Nice, and then on 13th September when eventual winner Tadej Pogacar won the stage on the Grand Colombier climb.
It was previously reported that Alaphillippe’s victory brought in a 33.5 per cent audience share for FTV.
Despite the delay in staging the Tour, the event has performed well in the ratings since the opening stage on 29th August. The 3.19 million viewers (a 30 per cent audience share) tuned into FTV2 to watch the Grand Depart, with 2.66 million staying on to watch the post-race Vélo Club.
Discovery-owned Eurosport also saw its domestic Tour de France coverage draw a reported 182,000 viewers for stage one, with an audience peak of 362,000, whilst 142,000 tuned in for stage two.
The 2020 Tour de France proved a domestic TV ratings hit for FTV
