Germany: the public channels ARD and ZDF lead top TV audiences in 2014, thanks to the World Cup

The public channel ZDF topped the TV ratings in Germany in 2014, with an average audience share of 13.3% over the year, according to data from specialised website Meedia on 02/01/2015. The average audience share of ZDF increased 3.9% compared to 2013 (12.8%), a year in which ZDF also topped the audience rankings in Germany.

IN 2014, ZDF was ahead of ARD (Das Erste), the other German public TV channel, which had an average audience share of 12.5%, up 3.3% compared to 2013 (12.1%). ARD and ZDF took advantage of strong audiences in Germany from the 2014 World Cup (Brazil, from 12/06 to 13/07/2014), as the two groups shared the full broadcast rights to the tournament in Germany.

The final between Germany and Argentina (1-0 a.e.t. on 13/07/2014) achieved the best audience in 2014, and set a new record in the country, with 34.65 million viewers on average and an audience share of 86.3%. A total of 10 matches of the Brazil World Cup are in the Top 20 of the best audiences in 2014.

• The private channel RTL was third in average audience in 2014, with an average audience share of 10.3%, down…