Taylor's finale brings peak TV audience of 1.6 million

Katie Taylor’s final fight drew a peak television audience of 1.6 million on RTÉ, giving the Irish broadcaster one of its biggest sporting audiences.

The Bray boxer’s victory over Flora Pili made her a three-time undisputed world champion. The programme averaged 973,000 television viewers on Saturday night, representing 74% of the available viewing audience. It also attracted 552,000 streams on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ provided radio coverage through 2FM and broadcast the fight free to air from Croke Park. Steve Carson, RTÉ’s director of video, said Irish audiences had turned out in large numbers for Taylor’s farewell.

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On a historic Saturday night, Irish audiences came together in huge numbers to celebrate the extraordinary career of an Irish sporting icon. Katie Taylor's final victory was a national moment that will be remembered for many years to come.

“On a historic Saturday night, Irish audiences came together in huge numbers to celebrate the extraordinary career of an Irish sporting icon,” Carson said. “Katie Taylor’s final victory was a national moment that will be remembered for many years to come.”

Taylor successfully defended her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles and won the WBC super lightweight title in the fight. DAZN broadcast the event internationally and helped facilitate RTÉ’s free-to-air coverage.

The broadcast formed part of RTÉ’s recent sports coverage, which has also included the World Cup, Gaelic games, European Athletics and European Swimming.

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RTÉ Sport felt it was important to be able to bring live coverage from Croke Park to viewers and listeners, free-to-air, right across the country.