In Iceland, 30% fewer viewers watched the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Grand Final compared to the previous contest.
Iceland is normally the country that records the highest TV audience share of any participating country, however, this year audiences opted not to watch the contest. Viewing figures for the Grand Final are down 30% year on year, with 111,580 viewers recorded for the 2024 final compared to 158,000 viewers in 2023. The audience share fell to 60.3%.
The Eurovision Song Contest remained the most viewed shows on Icelandic television last week, but audiences were their lowest for the final since 2018 and lowest for a Semi-Final since 2008. Overall figures for each show were:
- Semi-Final One – 92,980 viewers – 53.3% share
- Semi-Final Two – 73,650 viewers – 43.6% share
- Grand Final – 111,580 viewers – 60.3% share
RÚV stated following Semi-Final One that viewing figures for the contest in Iceland were lower than in recent years, while advertisers had also opted not to buy slots surrounding the contest.
Hera Björk represented Iceland at Eurovision 2024 with “Scared of Heights”. She failed to qualify for the final, finishing last in Semi-Final One scoring 3 points.
Image source: EBU / Alma Bengtsson | Source: Gallup
Iceland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986 and, aside from 2 years of relegation in 1998 and 2002, has participated every year since. The contest is incredibly popular in Iceland, regularly being one of the most-watched programs of the year. Iceland has yet to win the contest but has finished in 2nd on two occasions. In 1999, Selma missed out on victory in Jerusalem by 17 points, and in 2009 Yohanna became the most successful Icelandic entrant ever finishing 2nd in the final with the song “Is it True?”. She scored 218 points, yet still finished 169 points behind the runaway winner Norway.
They knew they were not going to qualify.
Would the viewership have been different if Bashar Murad had won Söngvakeppnin?