Patrick Kielty's Toy Show debut the most watched show of 2023

Newly-released viewing figures by  TAM Ireland/Nielsen Media show that over 1.5 million people in Ireland tuned in to watch the Late Late Toy Show in 2023, helmed for the first time by Patrick Kielty.

Kielty's Late Late Show accounted for 3 of the top 50 most watched programmes.

However, one of the most pronounced takeaways from the figures was how sport-heavy the top 10 programmes were; with four Rugby World Cup games, two episodes of the Sunday Game and two Six Nations matches.

Sporting events made up over 60% of the top 50 programmes for last year and 80% of the top 10.

The heartbreaking Ireland vs New Zealand rugby quarter final, which saw Ireland's dream of becoming Rugby World Winners shattered, received a viewership of 1.4 million.

The 8 sporting programmes joined two episodes of The Late Late Show — the Toy Show and Kielty’s first show as host — in the top ten.

The third episode of the Late Late Show to feature in the top fifty was Kielty's New Year’s Eve Late Late Show.

Over 1,575,800 people tuned into Kielty’s first Toy Show on November 24, which took place the day after the Dublin riots. While 833k viewers watched the co. Down man's debut as host on September 15 after he took on the mantle from Ryan Tubridy, who at that point was in the full throes of the RTÉ payment scandal.

The third top 50 spot for Kielty came in the form of The Late Late Show's New Year’s Eve special, drawing over 538k viewers.

The Nine O’Clock News on RTÉ One on November 23 — the day of the Dublin riots — was the 11th most-watched programme of 2023. While the episode of Prime Time that aired following the news programme that evening and continued coverage of the events as they unfolded in the city was the 29th most-watched programme, with 527,000 viewers.

It was also a promising year for women's sport as the Women’s World Cup coverage made an appearance in the top 50 with over ½ a million people cheering on the girls in green.

In a year where many people did not see the value in paying their TV license, RTÉ did surprisingly well, with 42 of the Top 50 of 2023’s most-watched shows on Irish TV.

Dancing with the Stars, Room to Improve, Kin, Ireland’s Fittest Family, Fair City The Rose of Tralee and The Tommy Tiernan Show all scored highly with Irish viewers.

RTÉ Player also did well, with a record breaking 2023 with over 105 million streams.

Homegrown content remains the biggest attraction for Irish audiences across entertainment, sport, news and current affairs, and drama, with Irish-produced programming making up 49 of the Top 50 programmes.

The only non Irish made show to make the top 50 was UK made 'I'm a Celebrity...', which garnered over 500,000 viewers.

The average Irish adult in a TV home watches Broadcaster TV on a TV set for 2 hrs 32 mins per day, making up over 76 hours a month or 28% of our leisure time spent with our favourite form of entertainment.

84% of this daily viewing is consumed live (i.e. at the time the programme is broadcast) and 16% is viewed as catch-up online.