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File image of the Oprah Winfrey interview with Harry and Meghan. PA

Harry and Meghan make top 5 as Ireland's most-watched TV broadcasts of 2021 are revealed

The Toy Show was once again the most-watched programme of the year.

LIVE SPORT MADE up seven of the top 10 most-watched Irish TV broadcasts last year, but the Toy Show still reigned supreme in the viewership stakes. 

The other non-sport shows in the top 10 were the Six One News on 5 January 2021, when it was decided that schools would remain closed, and the recorded broadcast of the interview between Oprah Winfrey and British royals Harry and Meghan

The interview with Harry and Meghan was fifth in the list, bringing in 836,5000 live viewers, ahead of sporting events including the All Ireland hurling final and all of Ireland’s Six Nations rugby matches. 

The most-watched sporting event was the All Ireland Football final between Tyrone and Mayo, which was second in the list ahead of England’s Euro 2020 final and semi-final. 

Several other big Euro 2020 games make the list, with Ireland’s football qualifiers against Portugal in September and November the highest rated broadcasts for the national team, in 16th and 27th place.  

However, no broadcast from last year’s Olympics in Tokyo feature in the list despite gold medals for Irish boxer Kellie Harrington, and rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy. 

The list of Ireland’s most-watched shows of 2021 demonstrates the increasing dominance of live events for broadcast TV, as people continue to look to streaming services for non-live TV. 

top 50 RTE RTE

(Click here for larger image

The most-watched scripted show in the top 50 was the pilot episode of RTÉ crime drama Kin, which comes in in 15th place. Kin does not feature again in the top 50.  

Of the top 50 shows, 44 were broadcast by RTÉ with six by Virgin Media. The six on Virgin Media were Ireland’s Six Nations matches and an episode of I’m a Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here! 

PastedImage-62932 RTÉ RTÉ

To demonstrate this effect, RTÉ has also released the top 25 shows on the RTÉ Player last year, with Australian soap Home and Away the most popular programme on the State’s streaming service ahead of EasterEnders in second and Fair City in third. 

Love/Hate, which last aired a new episode in 2014, remained in the top 10 of the most streamed shows on the RTÉ Player in 2021. 

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    May 9th 2014, 8:40 PM

    Meanwhile, the fatcat bond holders were compensated fully. Didn’t happen though when ordinary working men and women were persuaded by Mary O Rourke to beg borrow or steal to buy shares in Eircom…..

    96
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    Mute Michael G O'Reilly
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    May 9th 2014, 10:31 PM

    You may be sure that the majority of the managers and higher level workers lost out on nothing . As usual Mulvey, an ex trade union leader, is a disgrace !

    23
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    Mute Philip
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    May 9th 2014, 8:46 PM

    Bloody whingers they were happy when the bank was doing well.
    They were happy when the bonuses were coming in.
    Lucky to be getting anything should only be statutory and be glad of it.

    58
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    Mute Patrick O'Rourke
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    May 9th 2014, 8:45 PM

    Frankly, they suffer because they are playing golf with the wrong crowd

    54
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    Mute scooter mcgavin
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    May 9th 2014, 8:47 PM

    My heart bleeds

    50
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    Mute gerbreen
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    May 9th 2014, 9:40 PM

    No bank in receipt of state funds should have been allowed to offer anything beyond statutory redundancy. Maybe not a reflection on the person but the company was dead. I await with interest to see where John Moran pops up now he has allowed recapitalisation of banks.

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    Mute Rehabmeerkat
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    May 9th 2014, 10:25 PM

    Staff who resigned not entitled to redundancy… Shock Horror

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    Mute Kevin Brady
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    May 9th 2014, 8:52 PM

    my dad got his mortgage from anglo when it was a fella in an office.he got €4000 to build the house in dublin, and in the height the house was worth €650,000. in walkinstown. mental stuff

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    May 9th 2014, 9:46 PM

    But he built it in the rare old times yeah ?

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    Mute Jonny Martin
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    May 9th 2014, 10:08 PM

    Anglo Irish Bank never offered residential mortgages

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    Mute Kevin Brady
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    May 9th 2014, 10:18 PM

    rare old times is right mate. even in walkintown… the house is big and had an extension with utility room and jax. it really makes ye remember how crazy it all was

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    Mute Kate Foley
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    May 10th 2014, 2:19 AM

    Maybe I’m Missing something, but if you leave a job for a better offer, even if the company you work for is in trouble, you are not entitled to any redundancy. How is this even an issue for reporting in the media????

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    Mute Andrew Potts
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    May 9th 2014, 10:26 PM

    I have no sympathy for Anglo staff they did a crap job building a busted bank, paid themselves well and the country was left holding a bill for their collective stupidity. Just suck it up the same as contractors who never got paid or small business that went bust. I shared a lift with a stupid girl who had worked for Anglo and she could see no connection with the loss of services in society and her former company’s bad business decisions

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    Mute Deirdre Whelehan
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    May 9th 2014, 10:05 PM

    Comments closed for Seanie et pals court case-but open for actual current staff working 9-5 same as u-shame on you Journal

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    Mute Owen Kennedy
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    May 9th 2014, 9:47 PM

    Good. Finally a little bit of justice. It appears the country is slowly releasing its head from its anoos

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    Mute Kate Foley
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    May 10th 2014, 2:21 AM

    Maybe I’m Missing something, but if you leave a job for a better offer, especially if the company you work for is in trouble, you’re not entitled to reduntancy!!!!!!

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    Mute Jeffrey McMahon
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    May 10th 2014, 12:24 AM

    “The reason for this, according to the IBOA, is because creditors of the IBRC could legally pursue payments made to those who left early.”

    Excellent. They can go after Fitzpatrick then, biggest payout in one person right there.

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    Mute mark o leary
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    May 9th 2014, 10:28 PM

    The lapdogs for the leprechauns who ruined the country,let them starve,call it the Anglo famine.

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