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Germany’s 7-1 World Cup defeat against Brazil last night has broken records to become the most-watched TV programme ever in Germany.
German broadcaster ZDF said the match was watched by an average 32.6 million viewers, making it the highest-rated show since viewing data began to be collected in Germany.
The match on ZDF gave the channel a 87.8 per cent share of viewers watching TV in the country at the time, which is also one of the highest figures ever.
The figures suggest 40 per cent of the country’s 80 million citizens tuned in to watch the semi-final, but does not include data for larger groups of people that watched the game together.
The previous record was set during the last World Cup, when 31.1 million viewers watched Germany lose against Spain 0-1 in the semi-final of the 2010 South Africa tournament.
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Show all 15 1 /15Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A Brazilian football fan cries as she watches a live telecast of the semifinals World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Germany in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react The Brazilian fan then begins to cry during the telecast as Germany score its fifth goal against the host nation
AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A Brazilian football fan cries as she watches a live telecast of the semifinals World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Germany in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A fan of Brazil kneels in dejection as he watches the FIFA World Cup semi-final football match between Brazil and Germany at the Fan Fest public viewing event in Sao Paulo, Brazil
AFP PHOTO/Miguel SCHINCARIOLMiguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A fan of Brazil watches his team play against Germany in a semi-final match at the FIFA Fan Fest during the 2014 soccer World Cup, in Sao Paulo
AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react Brazil fans are devastated while watching the first half on Copacabana Beach
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react brazil13.jpg Brazil fans comfort one another
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react Fans of Brazil at the FIFA Fan Fest in Rio de Janeiro, show their emotion during the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal held at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte
AFP PHOTO/TASSO MARCELOTASSO MARCELO/AFP/Getty Images
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A Brazil soccer fan wearing contact lenses that mimic the Brazilian flag watches her team lose to Germany in a World Cup semifinal game via live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach
AP Photo/Leo Correa
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A Brazilian fan watches her team be humiliated during a live telecast and cries
AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A Brazil soccer fan, with her face painted with the national colors, holds a crucifix, as she watches her team lose the World Cup semi-finals match against Germany on a live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach
AP Photo/Leo Correa
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react Brazil fans react during the 2014 World Cup semi-finals between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte
REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A fan of Brazil cries at the Fan Fest public viewing event in Sao Paulo, Brazil
AFP PHOTO/Miguel SCHINCARIOLMiguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react Brazil fans dejected in the stands during the FIFA World Cup Semi Final at Estadio Mineirao
Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Brazil vs Germany: The host country's fans react Brazil fans react A young Brazil fan tears up as she watches the World Cup semifinal game between Brazil and Germany on a screen set up in the street in Belo Horizonte
AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes
In the UK, the BBC’s coverage of Germany vs Brazil averaged 11.5 million with a peak of 13.8 million.
More than 20 million Brits tuned in to watch England lose 2-1 to Uruguay in the match that determined whether Roy Hodgson’s team would make it through to the round of 16.
The match attracted the highest TV audience since the London 2012 Olympics.
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