Michael Kelly
Figures show that more people tuned in to RTÉ to watch the election of Pope Francis than events in Britain
Popes don’t wear Tiaras anymore or any of the trappings of a royal court but when it comes to popularity, the Pope is more popular that the Queen of England, at least among Irish television audiences.
While President Michael D. Higgins visit last week to Britain has been hailed a triumph, it didn’t rouse as much interest among Irish people as the election of Pope Francis last year.
Figures show that more people tuned in to RTÉ to watch the election of Pope Francis than events in Britain, despite the fact that the national broadcaster covered the Papal event with a fraction of the staff.
Ratings figures show that an average of 480,000 people tuned in to watch President Higgins toast Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday night. The national broadcaster said that some 800,000 people tuned in at some point during the live transmission.
However, significantly more Irish people sat down to watch the white smoke that heralded the election of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013. An average of 700,000 saw the announcement of the election of the new Pope, with viewership peaking just shy of 1million people as 992,000 viewers watched the Pope Francis give his first blessing from St Peter’s.
At the time of the election of Pope Francis, RTÉ was criticised by Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte for sending 12 staff to Rome to cover the historic event. In contrast, the national broadcaster sent 48 staff – four times as many – to Britain to provide coverage for the President’s visit.
