Overview
- ZDF’s free‑to‑air broadcast of Germany’s 2:1 win over Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday averaged about 18.26 million linear viewers and registered a roughly 72.1 percent market share, according to AGF.
- That figure is down from the tournament opener, when ARD’s 7:1 win over Curaçao drew about 23.4 million viewers at an earlier kickoff, showing large match‑to‑match swings tied to timing and context.
- AGF’s published numbers cover only linear TV and exclude MagentaTV and livestream audiences, so official reach understates total viewing across platforms and makes cross‑platform comparisons incomplete.
- Device‑level data from All Eyes On Screens show a halftime dip and a late rebound with most viewers staying until the end, but those household samples are not population‑representative and serve only as behavioral signals.
- Strong World Cup lead‑ins are lifting non‑sport shows and smaller channels, exemplified by extra 3’s all‑time 14–49 demo high, and broadcasters are adjusting schedules and ad plans in response to the changed viewing mix.