The debate between Luís Montenegro (AD) and Pedro Nuno Santos (PS) was the “most watched of the entire series” this year and “recorded a greater turnout on SIC”, according to analysis by Universal McCann (UM).
The most anticipated face-to-face meeting less than a month before the March 10th Legislatures took place on Monday, having been broadcast simultaneously on RTP1, SIC, TVI, SIC Notícias, CNN Portugal and RTP3, between the leader of the Democratic Alliance ( AD), Luís Montenegro, and the general secretary of the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos.
The confrontation “was seen by more than 2,6 million Portuguese people, corresponding to a total share of 55,8%”, was moderated by Clara Sousa (SIC), Sara Pinto (TVI) and João Adelino Faria (RTP1) and “recorded a greater turnout on SIC, being the station that managed to attract the most viewers to television in that period, exceeding 860 thousand”.
In turn, “TVI recorded an average of 813 thousand and RTP1 626 thousand”.
“The debate between Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos thus becomes the most watched of the entire series, followed by the clashes between André Ventura x Pedro Nuno Santos, with an average audience of 1,2 million viewers and Luís Montenegro x Mariana Mortágua, with an average audience of 1,1 million viewers”, says UM, media agency of the Mediabrands group.
If you compare it with the face-to-face between António Costa (PS) and Rui Rio (PSD), in the 2022 elections, it is concluded that the “interest of the Portuguese in yesterday’s debate [February 19] was lower”.
This is because on January 13, 2022, “the confrontation between the leaders of the PS and PSD had an average audience of 3,1 million Portuguese, 15% more compared to the 2,6 million registered” on Monday.
Universal McCann highlights the information channels (RTP3, SIC Notícias and CNN Portugal), “which registered an increase in their average audience when compared to the 2022 debate between António Costa and Rui Rio”.
On Monday, “around 160 thousand viewers chose to watch the debate through SIC Notícias (vs. 159 thousand in 2022), while “CNN Portugal reached an average audience of 141 thousand viewers (vs. 85 thousand in 2022) and RTP3 had an average audience of 41 thousand viewers (vs. 18 thousand in 2022)”.
In total on February 19th, “SIC was the leading channel in terms of audiences with a share of 16,4%, followed by TVI with a share of 16,1% and RTP1 with a share of 10,5%. %”, says the analysis.
“The debate broadcast on SIC was the second most watched program of the day behind the program 'Big Brother Desafio Final' which had an average audience of 944 thousand viewers”, he adds.
An analysis of the average audience throughout the debate, “it is possible to observe that SIC led with some advantage over TVI between 20:30 pm and 21:20 pm”.
Between 21:20 pm and 21:46 pm, he continues, “SIC and TVI remained very close to each other, alternating in the lead”.
Meanwhile, “with the debate approaching its end, SIC once again registered new growth, increasing the difference to TVI, but in a very slight way” at the end “the information channels, which also broadcast the debate, recorded an increase in their audience, with the Portuguese showing interest in the analysis and aftermath of the debate”, he concludes.
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