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24 Million Watched England's World Cup Heartbreak
16 Jul
Summary
- A peak audience of 24 million watched England's semi-final loss.
- The match was the most-watched live television moment of the year.
- The game secured the biggest live TV audience since 2021.
England's Fifa World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina captivated a massive audience, with a peak of 24 million viewers tuning in. This figure marks the most-watched live television event of the year across all broadcasters, underscoring the intense public interest in the match.
The game achieved an average viewership of 22.1 million across BBC One and BBC iPlayer, representing the largest live TV audience for a single broadcaster since 2021. The match garnered an impressive 85% share of all TV viewing, indicating its dominant presence in the media landscape.
In addition to broadcast viewership, the semi-final generated substantial digital engagement, with 12.6 million streams across BBC platforms, including the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, and app. The innovative 3D viewing experience was utilized 192,000 times during the game and has seen 4.6 million uses throughout the tournament, offering fans a novel way to experience the matches.
England's journey in the World Cup concluded with this semi-final loss, dashing hopes of ending a 60-year wait for the trophy. The team is set to play for third place against France on Saturday.
