Norway vs Portugal match sets TV viewership record

The recent football match between Norway and Portugal at Ullevaal Stadion has set new television viewership records in Norway. According to data from TV 2, the match attracted a total of 1,679,000 viewers, with an average of 1,251,000 people watching the entire game. This surpasses the previous record of 1,244,000 viewers set during a 1995 World Cup qualifying match between Norway and the Czech Republic.

At its peak, 1,365,000 people were watching simultaneously, and the broadcast achieved an 85.8 percent market share at the conclusion of the match. TV 2 noted that this is the most-watched match involving the Norwegian national team on their channel outside of major championships.

Beyond the broadcast success, the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese squad caused significant disruption in Oslo. Large crowds, including many children and teenagers, gathered outside the Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen. Security firm ProSec and local police reported challenging conditions as individuals ignored barriers and attempted to enter the hotel. Security officials compared the level of public frenzy to the arrival of Justin Bieber in Oslo in 2015.