TV ratings in March: slight minus for ORF, ServusTV increases

According to Teletest data, the ORF broadcasting group slightly reduced its market share to 35.3 percent compared to the same month last year (minus 0.7 percentage points). The decline is due to ORF 2, whose losses could not be fully compensated by the expanding ORF 1. In the private sector, ServusTV and ATV grew, while Puls 4 was confronted with a decline in market share. ORF 1 increased its market share in the overall target group (12+) from 10.4 percent to 11.4 percent and thus achieved the best March value since 2017. However, among the 12 to 49 year olds (core target group) there was a decrease of 12 .7 percent to 11.9 percent market share. ORF 1 scored particularly well with the new season “Dancing Stars”, the eco-thriller series “Der Schwarm” or sporting broadcasts of Formula 1 and the European Championship qualification of the men’s national soccer team.

ORF 2 had to accept declines in both target groups. In the overall target group, the public broadcaster had a market share of 20.9 percent (minus 1.3 percentage points) and in the core target group a market share of 9.7 percent (minus 3 percentage points). The broadcaster was thus below the values ​​of the information-heavy Corona years 2020 to 2022. In addition to the usual high-rating programs “ZiB 1” and “Bundesland heute”, “Tatort: ​​Magic Mom” ​​also attracted an audience of millions on March 5th. A “Consciously Healthy” focus on “Our Heart” reached more than three million viewers (widest circle of viewers). The live coverage of the Carinthian state elections met with somewhat higher interest with around 3.2 million viewers.

ServusTV: Strongest March in broadcaster history

ServusTV was able to increase significantly and referred to the strongest March in the history of the channel. In the 12+ category, the Salzburg private broadcaster increased its market share to 4.4 percent (plus 0.5 percentage points), making it Austria’s leading private broadcaster. The market share among 12 to 49 year olds grew from 3.0 to 3.6 percent. ServusTV was able to score with Formula 1 and European Championship qualifiers for the men’s national soccer team, but also with the evening news programs “Servus am Abend” (8.4 percent market share) and “Servus Nachrichten” (8.7 percent market share), which posted monthly records.

The ProSiebenSat.1Puls4 Group, with its four Austrian channels (Puls 4, ATV, ATV2, Puls 24), achieved a total market share of 7.4 percent and thus ended up with the same value as in March of the previous year. In the core target group, the group had a market share of 11.5 percent and thus also remained largely stable.

atv was the strongest Austrian station in the group with a market share of 2.9 percent (plus 0.4 percentage points). A 4.7 percent market share in the core target group (plus 0.6 percentage points) also means first place among Austrian private broadcasters. For ATV, the 17th season “Teenager werden Maman” (12.5 percent market share) and the 9th season “Business with Love” (10.3 percent market share) performed above average among 12 to 49-year-olds.

pulse 4 achieved a 2.6 percent market share in the 12+ category (minus 0.5 percentage points). In the core target group, the private broadcaster had a market share of 4.4 percent (minus 0.9 percentage points). For example, the breakfast television program “Café Puls” met with keen interest, with a market share of 34.3 percent (12-49).

pulse 24 remained stable with a 0.8 percent market share in the overall target group. In the core target group, the news channel lost 0.2 percentage points and ended up with a market share of 0.8 percent. In addition to information reporting such as the special broadcasts on the Carinthian state elections, Puls 24 also scored with sports. The ice hockey semi-final game KAC versus Red Bull Salzburg on March 26 gave the broadcaster a market share of up to 4.5 percentage points (12-49).

Oe24.tv remained stable with a market share of 1.2 percent. In the core target group, however, the station of the Austrian media group recorded a decline with a market share of 1.0 percent (minus 0.4 percentage points). The show with the most viewers was the analysis of the Carinthian election on March 5 with a total of 164,000 viewers.