Record one million TV audience for Slam

Mar 18 2008 Western Mail

MORE than a third of the Welsh population tuned in to watch the Grand Slam triumph on television, setting record viewing figures in Wales.

In excess of one million people in Wales tuned in to watch the sensational Six Nations finale on BBC1 and S4C during the last quarter-hour of Saturday’s match.

And on average throughout the game the two channels attracted 875,000 viewers, which are the highest viewing figures for any Five or Six Nations match in the last 15 years.

The record may stretch back further, but viewing figures were collated differently prior to 1993 so they cannot be compared.

The previous highest television audiences were 780,000 for Scotland versus Wales in 2005 and 766,000 for England versus Wales in 1996.

Nigel Walker, head of BBC Wales sport, said the figures for this year’s Grand Slam clincher were “spectacular”.

He said, “It really demonstrates how Warren Gatland and the players have captured the imagination of the Welsh public over the last few weeks.

“It’s always a bit of a surprise to get figures like this because it doesn’t happen very often. It’s the highest since I’ve been here and it’s probably the biggest audience we’ve ever had for a BBC Wales programme.”

In comparison, the last game of the 2005 Grand Slam season, Wales versus Ireland, was seen by an average of 725,000 viewers, peaking at 855,000.

This year’s peak audience of 991,000 viewers on BBC1 and 52,000 on S4C is the highest TV audience in Wales on any channel since the Euro 2004 football penalty shoot-out between Portugal and England, watched by 1,095,000 people in Wales.

Mr Walker, an ex-Welsh international winger, believes this year’s viewing figures may have exceeded 2005’s Grand Slam because of the weather.

He said, “It was a very warm day in 2005, which may have encouraged people to travel into Cardiff or do other things.

“Also, this was off the back of the World Cup when we didn’t do as well as we would all have liked.

“What Warren Gatland and his fellow coaches have done is help the players to capture people’s imagination during this tournament.”

Elliot Pill, course director for Cardiff Journalism School’s MA in public relations, believes the high Welsh viewing figures could have been partly driven by the draw. Wales’ first win against England triggered a huge initial burst of enthusiasm which continued to spiral upwards.

He also suggested that football success for Cardiff City and UK Premiership teams in Europe could have helped build on interest in watching sport.

He said, “It makes it even more of an event when Wales play so people want to get together socially to watch it.”

The share of total viewers for the match was 70% Welsh compared to 28% in the rest of the UK.

Many other Six Nations matches were also watched by a bigger proportion of Welsh viewers.

Of the viewers for England versus Ireland, 52% were Welsh compared to 33% English, while 46% of the Scotland against Italy viewers were Welsh, compared to 37% Scots.

Comedian Max Boyce said, “I’m not surprised so many people were watching.

“What were the other people in Wales doing? I suppose they must have been working or getting married.”

High points of a fantastic day

Refusing to forget a glorious day? So are we. Here’s a pick of some of our favourite moments from Saturday:

1 Shane Williams accelerating to more than 23mph to score his 41st try to become the nation’s record-breaking try scorer.

2 The euphoric embrace Martin Williams received from Shane and Gavin Henson after scoring the try that definitely put France out of touch. If he hadn’t come out of retirement he’d have been watching the game in the pub.

3 Captain Ryan’s tribute to record-breaking Shane – “It always helps to have a little Welsh wizard running about.”

4. The smiles on the faces of Ray Gravell’s daughters Gwenan, nine, and 12-year-old Manon when Ryan Jones whispered thank you in their ears for leading out the Welsh team.

5 Mark Joness’ dash from the Welsh 22 to the French line – almost!

6 Shane Williams taking on Frenchman Vincent Clerc metres from the French line two minutes into the second half.

7 Defence coach Shaun Edwards’ refusal to take the credit for Wales only conceding two tries throughout the tournament – “I can assure you I didn’t make one tackle in this Six Nations.”

8 Edwards smiling, and Stephen Jones’s smile when he brought the score up to the final 29-12 with his conversion of Martin Williams’s try.

9 The final whistle.

10 The team’s champagne shower, courtesy of Adam Jones, as the stadium full of fans erupts into Hymns and Arias and chants, “Edwards is a Welsh name”.