Oprah Royal Interview Tops RTÉ2 Ratings

The interview by Oprah Winfrey with the former British Royals topped RTÉ2's Monday night programming. The programme aired earlier in the night on ITV. The average audience for the show was 725,000 making it the second of the most watch show on RTÉ2 over the last 12 months. The GAA Football Final had an average of 876,600 in December.

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According to RTÉ's head of News and Current Affair, Jon Williams, the show had more than half the TV viewing audience.

RTÉ had come under criticism of Sinn Féin and the Irish Labour Party for buying the programme when the broadcaster is consitantly looking for money.

Some reports suggest that the programme was bought for less than €10,000. RTÉ2 recently axed Soccer Republic and has no news or current affairs coverage on the channel.

Many point to the advertising revenue generated for the broadcaster, however RTÉ2's auience share was 4.7% in 2020, and in Janurary 2021 only managed 3.88%.

A member of the RTÉ Executive Board, Mr. Williams had been Managing Editor at ABC News in New York, prior to this he was a BBC News Editor for their UK news, World News and the Deputy Editor of the BBC's Six O'Clock News.