Italian TV Ratings Of 2012 Giro

[Eshnar]

I've mentioned many times these TV ratings, but now I found this nice table and graph. Thanks to Cicloweb forum.

Above, in the colored column, you can see the peak audience (in thousands viewers) for each stage, in all the RAI channels combined (Italy only). The column on the far right shows the corresponding share, which is more meaningful imho.

Here we have a graph of the share.

The stage share is the pink line, the others represents all the Giro-related RAI shows.

Here some other calculations:
Average share for officially flat stages: 11.8 %
Average share for medium mountain stages: 15.3 %
Average share for high mountain stages: 25.3 %
Average share for time trials stages: 11.7 %

I think these data explains quite a lot of the philosophy behind the Giro routes of recent years. Italians don't like TTs. AND flat stages, too.
It's really meaningful the audience of the final stage, despite being decisive for the GC. Not to mention the TTT.

EDIT: One last thing. I want you to note that this data, both in share and in absolute numbers, are really good and match the ones of all past Giros.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Thans, very interesting!

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I think these data explains quite a lot of the philosophy behind the Giro routes of recent years. Italians don't like TTs. AND flat stages, too.
It's really meaningful the audience of the final stage, despite being decisive for the GC. Not to mention the TTT.

EDIT: One last thing. I want you to note that this data, both in share and in absolute numbers, are really good and match the ones of all past Giros.

It doesn't explain the number of TTs, though. Including the TTT, there were 3 this year, 3 last year and 4 in 2010.

One long ITT would do...

 

[Eshnar]

It doesn't explain the number of TTs, though. Including the TTT, there were 3 this year, 3 last year and 4 in 2010.

One long ITT would do...

As for the TTT, I'm quite sure there's some kind of agreement between RCS and teams' sponsors.
On the other hand, the final ITT is a RCS policy. They want the last stage to be meaningful for the GC.
And imho a MTT (like in 2010 and 2011) has a better audience.

 

[will10]

Thanks Eshnar, interesting stuff.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I am sure if an Italian would have been batlling for the win. The ratings would have been alot hghr on the last day.

 

[Eshnar]

I am sure if an Italian would have been batlling for the win. The ratings would have been alot hghr on the last day.

Surely they would have been higher
But not that much.

 

[meandmygitane]

The graph only says one thing, in my opinion:

The viewers did as the riders and "only" focused on the two last mountain stages, which sucked the value and meaning of 18 stages before them.

It is not good. They should have had mountains on the first weekend, this years stage 7 and 8, to heighten the interest. Lago Laceno and Rocca di Cambio did not work practically, to unspectacular compared to Stelvio and Mortirolo.


Imagine if they had a strade bianche-stage or Montelupone or something spectacular that weekend? How would that affect the TV audience?

 

[The Hitch]

As for the TTT, I'm quite sure there's some kind of agreement between RCS and teams' sponsors

What would both parties be getting out of such a deal?

 

[Eshnar]

What would both parties be getting out of such a deal?

The TTT is the best promo for a team main sponsor actually. (At least I think so). And if sponsors are pleased, then RCS gets paid.

 

[burning]

I guess its pretty low compared to TDF?

 

[Eshnar]

I guess its pretty low compared to TDF?

I'm completely unaware of tdf TV ratings in France

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

as said before numerous times. italians only like heroic mountainstages. there were mountainstages this year but only 1 was heroic.

 

[ElChingon]

Well there's the data that will make them put more MTF's in a GT. Increased viewing, increase in commecials, incrase in revenues.

 

[Race Radio]

Thanks for this, interesting info. It is good to see that even without a big Italian name the Giro still draws viewers. Comparisons

The Selvio stage drew 3.7 Million viewers, about 17% of the population

When Pantani was winning the double the biggest Tour stage drew 13 Million, about 38% of the population of Italy at the time

In the US the highest rated stage ever drew 1,743,000 viewers in 2005.....about .05% of the population

 

[Eshnar]

When Pantani was winning the double the biggest Tour stage drew 13 Million, about 38% of the population of Italy at the time

Those were the days
I'm afraid cycling will never get as big in Italy though.

 

[roundabout]

I am not really impressed by the numbers for stage 17.

Argument for more MTFs?

 

[Eshnar]

I am not really impressed by the numbers for stage 17.

Argument for more MTFs?

Why? It had a much higher share than the two previous MTF.

 

[roundabout]

Why? It had a much higher share than the two previous MTF.

I am thinking more in comparison to stages 16 and 18.

 

[Eshnar]

I am thinking more in comparison to stages 16 and 18.

As absolute value their comparable, but not as a share. I didn't really get why on Wednesday there were a lot less people watching TV

 

[rghysens]

As absolute value their comparable, but not as a share. I didn't really get why on Wednesday there were a lot less people watching TV

Because it was wednesday and not weekend. In fact, the numbers you quote are (mostly) irrelevant, because in weekends more people will watch cycling on TV (just because they have the opportunity). You should compare the ratings of mountainstages in weekend with those on normal weekdays, not mountain stages on weekends with flat stages on weekdays.

GT organisers should, of course, put more effort in a decent lay-out of their race. I liked the giro parcours of this year, but it may have been a bit to backended. A really hard mountain stage the first intermediate weekend would've been better than Lago Laceno and rocca di cambio.

 

[Eshnar]

Because it was wednesday and not weekend. In fact, the numbers you quote are (mostly) irrelevant, because in weekends more people will watch cycling on TV (just because they have the opportunity). You should compare the ratings of mountainstages in weekend with those on normal weekdays, not mountain stages on weekends with flat stages on weekdays.

I was speaking of shares...
In weekends there are more people watching tv so numbers are higher... but why should shares change? Do cycling fans stay away from tv in weekdays while other people don't?

 

[rghysens]

I was speaking of shares...
In weekends there are more people watching tv so numbers are higher... but why should shares change? Do cycling fans stay away from tv in weekdays while other people don't?

Ah, ok. Didn't get it at first. Well, at the time cycling races are broadcasted there's usually not much else on tv. So, if there's a possibility that it might be an interesting race, more people will occasionally watch that cycling race.
It's like my mother, who never watches cycling, except for the final of the ronde van Vlaanderen and paris-Roubaix.

 

[Eshnar]

Ah, ok. Didn't get it at first. Well, at the time cycling races are broadcasted there's usually not much else on tv. So, if there's a possibility that it might be an interesting race, more people will occasionally watch that cycling race.
It's like my mother, who never watches cycling, except for the final of the ronde van Vlaanderen and paris-Roubaix.

Shall we then conclude that casual italian fans are more interested in mountain stages?
This was part of the original meaning of this post btw

 

[SafeBet]

Shall we then conclude that casual italian fans are more interested in mountain stages?
This was part of the original meaning of this post btw

They clearly are.
But I would argue this is true in whatever part of the world.