‘Whether You’re 8 or 80 You’ll Tune In’ – RTE Expect HUGE Audience for Katie Taylor’s Farewell
RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett predicts Katie Taylor’s Croke Park farewell will rank among the broadcaster’s biggest sporting broadcasts of the year.
The Irish Sporting great brings a historic career to a close on September 5 when she takes to the ring for the last time in front of 80,000 fans at the famous stadium.
The bout and massive occasion has also been given the broadcast platform it deserves, as national broadcaster RTÉ ensures one of the sweet science’s most influential boxers bows out under deserved and significant TV spotlight.
It also means homes across the country can tune in and wave goodbye to the great – and McBennett expects them to do so in numbers.
Speaking to Irish-boxing.com, Head of Sport at the national broadcaster was reluctant to put a specific figure on the potential audience, but he believes the unique nature of the Irish Icon’s farewell will prove a massive draw.
“I think it’ll be right up there, to be perfectly honest,” McBennett said when asked where he expects the broadcast to rank among RTÉ’s biggest audiences of the year.
“We never get ahead of ourselves, we never project numbers, but I think given the timing, given the nature of everybody back from holidays, school starting off again, so everybody should be at home and I think Saturday night the 5th of September it’ll be a really special night.
“It’s going to be a National moment.”
The scale of Taylor’s appeal is one of the major reasons RTÉ believes the broadcast could attract an enormous audience.
McBennett believes the Bray woman has transcended boxing and become a sporting figure capable of bringing together generations of Irish fans.
“I think Katie goes across the generations,” he explained.
“So I think whether you’re eight or 80, you’re going to be tuning in to see it.”
That cross-generational appeal is central to RTÉ’s plans for the night.
The broadcaster does not simply want to show the fight. The broadcaster wants to reflect on the trailblazing career and ensure the significance of the occasion is captured before she makes the walk for the final time.
“This is about Katie and it’s Katie’s night,” he adds.
“It’s not just a normal boxing arena. We need to reflect Katie’s journey and we will be doing that on the night.”
Considering RTE were there at the start of a career that changed a sport, McBennett believes it’s only fitting they are present for the end.
“Katie’s journey has been amazing and, as I say, because RTÉ were there at the start, it’s fitting that we’re there at the end.
“Katie is a multiple winner of the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award,” he adds
“We value Katie. We put her on the same pedestal as all the Irish great sporting icons.”
He went even further.
“She’s right up there at the top. You know, many would consider her to be the greatest Irish sports person of all time.”
And while the audience figure will undoubtedly be watched closely, McBennett insists that success cannot simply be measured by ratings.
“It’s not just about the audience figure,” he explained.
“It’s about a sense of occasion. It’s about a national moment.”
