Young England Soccer Team Secures Wins Featured by Channel 4
Let's Talk About That Sweet U21 Euros Victory on Channel 4!
Looks like Channel 4 hit a home run with their coverage of the Under-21 Euros games, especially the epic battle against the Netherlands. The semi-final victory, secured by none other than Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, was the most sought-after programming on the UK telly at that hour, attracting a peak linear audience of 1.8m (streaming not included) and an average audience of nearly a million for the whole three-hour broadcast.
Channel 4 executives couldn't be happier – almost one in four 18-34-year-olds tuned in to cheer on our Young Lions, setting the stage for an exciting battle against Germany, winners of their semi-final match against France. Let's hope they bring the trophy home for the second time in a row!
Speaking of Crowded Saturdays, their quarter-final win over Spain – a repeat of the 2023 final – was even more popular, thanks to its prime-time TV slot. The 3-1 victory attracted a peak audience of 1.9m with an average of 1.2m for the broadcast, playing host to nearly a fifth (19.4%) of TV-watching 16-34-year-olds.
So, what's the big deal about Channel 4 showing the Under-21 team in the first place? Well, it's all part of their strategy to acquire one-off sports events to complement their flagship coverage of the Paralympics and Formula 1. Heck, they're all about showcasing young talent, appealing to the younger audience, and finding the next big breakout stars!
Pete Andrews, head of sports at Channel 4, spilled the beans to City AM earlier this month, stating: "We know that young people like to watch young people play. That younger audience is sometimes harder for television to get. It's really appealing, and it's really good football. We're all interested in who the breakout stars are, and hoping England do a good job for us as well."
And if you're wondering, this strategy is just a piece of Channel 4's overall "Fast Forward" transformation strategy. They're aiming to become a genuinely digital-first public service broadcaster by 2030, with a focus on accelerating their digital streaming capabilities and adopting agile content acquisition approaches. So, stay tuned for more epic sports coverage on Channel 4, mate! 🚀🏆🎉
Channel 4's focus on acquiring one-off sports events includes the Under-21 Euros games, showcasing young talent such as Liverpool's Harvey Elliott. The Champions League, a prestigious European football competition, could also benefit from this strategy, becoming a platform for the next breakout stars.
