'Live Earth' no match for Diana or Venus (original) (raw)

BBC One's coverage of the Live Earth concerts on Saturday averaged just 2.7 million viewers and a 16.5% share.

The concert, organised to highlight the environmental problems of climate change, featured performances from the likes of Madonna, Razorlight and Duran Duran, and was staged at eight venues around the globe.

But BBC One's five hour coverage from 5.30pm only broke the 3 million mark at 8.30pm, taking 3.1 million and a 17.4% share. The show's final act, Madonna, saw viewing peak at 4.5 million with a 24% audience share at 10.15pm. BBC Two's coverage from 12.30pm to 5.20pm drew 865,000 and a 9% share.

Last weekend's coverage of the Concert for Diana on BBC One took a 44% share over seven hours between 3.30pm and 10.30pm, averaging 8.9 million viewers. The Sunday July 1 concert opened with 3.9 million viewers at 3.30pm, hitting 10 million by 8pm and peaking at 14.8 million.

Before Live Earth on BBC One, a higher percentage tuned in to see Venus Williams go on to win the Wimbledon womens singles title, with its coverage from 1.30pm to 5.20pm averaging 2.9 million and a 30.4% share. The coverage peaked at 3.9 million and a 38.8% share. BBC Two's Wimbledon coverage averaged 1.8 million and a 12.5% share, peaking at 4.1 million and a 15.6% share at 8pm.

On ITV1, coverage of the qualifying heat for motor racing's British Grand Prix averaged 1.7 million and a 20.1% share. The channel also did well with film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at 4.50pm pulling in 3.5 million and a 25.8% share, with documentary Harry Potter: Behind the Magic at 7.30pm taking 3.4 million and a 19.7% share. Sing It Back: Lyric Champion 2007 at 8.30pm managed 3.2 million and a 17.3% share, below ITV1's slot average of 4.9 million.

The 100 Greatest War Films at 7pm averaged 1.6 million and a 8.7% share for Channel 4, while CSI: NY took 2.4 million and a 12.2% share at 9.10pm on Five.