More Than 11 Million Watch England Gobble Up Turkey

More than 11 million viewers tuned in to BBC1 last night to watch England’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey, according to unofficial overnight figures from BARB.

Audiences for the match, which kicked-off at 8pm, peaked during the dying minutes of the second half, as around 12 million viewers watched David Beckham score the penalty that clinched a 2-0 victory.

The game, which saw England move to the top of their European Championship qualifying group, helped BBC1 to command a 43% share of viewing between 8pm and 9.45pm. In comparison, just 22% of the available audience tuned into to ITV1 to watch The Bill, followed by the ITV News and then At Home With The Braithwaites.

Last month more than a third of the viewing public tuned in to BBC1 to watch the FA Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Chelsea. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, attracted the largest audience in the Saturday late afternoon/early evening slot since 2001 and the England vs Germany World Cup qualifier (see Football Nets 14.6m Viewers).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

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