(Article originally published on our sister site endurance.biz in November 2023.) The organising team at DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep has released a media report of this year’s event, which took place on June 25, 2023.
Having previously reported 300,000 spectators in Roth, southern Germany, TEAMCHALLENGE noted that the appeal of ‘the world’s largest long-distance triathlon’ remains strong and reached a new peak in 2023.
The popularity of Challenge Roth was underlined by the fact that entries for the 2024 event, set for July 7, 2024, were reportedly sold out in 40 seconds.
The record-breaking race with two new world best times over long-distance triathlon also set new media records. Overall, DATEV Challenge Roth 2023 reported a cumulative reach of 324 million people across all media channels. In 2022, this figure was 145 million people; while in 2021 it was 128 million.
Triathlon fans and sports enthusiasts followed the race on 11,265 programmes via various national and international TV channels, the free livestream, print and online media and social media.
Overall, TEAMCHALLENGE reported that around 42 million people watched Challenge Roth on TV in 200 markets. In Germany, the race was broadcast in full on BR Television and streamed online. Challenge Roth was shown in a longer summary on ARD Sportschau and ZDF. The private broadcasters RTL and Sat1 also reported on the event.
In Germany, a total of 14 broadcasters showed the event via 50 programmes and a reach of 19 million – an increase of 80% compared to the previous year.
Internationally, a reach of 22.5 million was generated in 200 markets, while the livestream achieved a cumulative reach of 4.8 million viewers.
Citing a PR value of €101.2 million, the event broke the €100 million mark for the first time.
The PR value indicates what a paid advert of the size of the respective coverage would have cost. Compared to the previous year, an increase was also achieved, mainly due to social media and online articles.
“DATEV Challenge Roth powered by hep on 25 June 2023 went down in the sporting history books,” said Race Director, Felix Walchshöfer.
“I am particularly pleased for the athletes, the entire triathlon district of Roth and the sport itself that the race received attention in many leading media outlets on all channels. Many thanks to all those who contributed to such a result and who support the event year after year.”
The media data was collected and evaluated externally by Karlsruhe-based market & media research institute Intelligent Research in Sponsoring (IRIS), which specialises in the sports sector. Its clients include international sports associations, various clubs and leagues, such as Borussia Mönchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as international brands such as Audi and Tissot.
TEAMCHALLENGE added that the figures relate to a period limited to June 18 to July 9, 2023… ‘meaning the reach achieved is by no means definitive and only represents an interim result.’