NafisaCeltic produced one of the most emphatic results of their Premiership campaign on Sunday afternoon, dismantling Hearts 7-1 at Parkhead in a performance that sent a powerful message to their title rivals.
Yet despite the extraordinary scoreline, the Hoops reportedly attracted a smaller television audience than Rangers’ frustrating 2-2 draw against Dundee the previous evening.
According to viewing figures shared on social media and reported by Celts Are Here, approximately 150,000 people watched Celtic’s demolition of Hearts on television.
Rangers’ draw at Dens Park reportedly attracted an audience of 160,000, putting the Ibrox side 10,000 ahead despite failing to secure all three points.
The comparison is likely to generate debate among supporters, particularly after Celtic delivered a performance that left Hearts completely overwhelmed and strengthened their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
However, the numbers require context, and there are several possible reasons why Rangers attracted the larger reported audience.
RANGERS EDGE CELTIC IN SURPRISING VIEWING FIGURES
The reported figures place Rangers ahead of Celtic in television viewership across the two fixtures.
Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Dundee attracted approximately 160,000 viewers, while Celtic’s seven-goal performance against Hearts reportedly drew around 150,000.
That represents a difference of 10,000 viewers, although the figures have been shared on social media and have not been independently verified here.
The comparison also does not establish which club has the larger overall support or which fixture generated greater interest across every platform. Television audiences are influenced by scheduling, broadcast availability and whether supporters attend matches in person.
Celtic were playing at home, with thousands of their supporters inside Celtic Park rather than watching on television.
Rangers, meanwhile, were away at Dundee, where the allocation for travelling supporters was more limited. Some supporters who could not attend may therefore have watched the match elsewhere.
Those factors make it difficult to interpret the reported figures as a straightforward measure of the two clubs’ popularity.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES ALSO AFFECTED CELTIC’S AUDIENCE
The scheduling of Sunday’s fixtures may also have influenced Celtic’s reported television audience.
Celtic’s match against Hearts kicked off at 3pm, placing it in competition with other football broadcasts available to viewers.
Leeds United’s meeting with Manchester United began at 2pm on Sky Sports, overlapping with the opening stages of Celtic’s match. Nottingham Forest against Arsenal then kicked off at 4.30pm, coinciding with the closing stages at Parkhead.
That gave viewers following English football alternative matches to watch throughout the afternoon.
Rangers’ meeting with Dundee took place on Saturday evening, a different broadcast window that may have appealed to a different audience.
Without detailed information about the channels, measurement methods and viewing platforms included in the figures, it is impossible to determine precisely how much the scheduling affected the final totals.
CELTIC’S SEVEN-GOAL SHOW LEAVES TITLE RIVALS WITH WARNING
While Rangers reportedly attracted the larger television audience, Celtic provided the more emphatic result on the pitch.
The champions dismantled Hearts 7-1, racing into a 5-1 half-time lead before adding further goals after the break.
Callum Osmand scored twice on his first professional start, while Benjamin Nygren also registered a brace in a devastating attacking display.
The result moved Celtic four points clear at the top of the Premiership, increasing the pressure on their title rivals as the campaign continued.
Hearts struggled to contain Celtic’s attacking threat, with defensive errors and a lack of control allowing the hosts to exploit spaces repeatedly.
The scoreline also gave Celtic supporters plenty to celebrate, with the team delivering a performance that demonstrated the damage they can inflict when their attacking players find their rhythm.
VIEWING FIGURES TELL ONLY PART OF THE STORY
The reported television numbers have created an interesting talking point, but they should not be treated as a definitive verdict on the relative popularity of Celtic and Rangers.
A difference of 10,000 viewers across two separate fixtures is a limited comparison without a fuller breakdown of broadcast reach, audience measurement and attendance.
Celtic’s home advantage, Rangers’ away fixture and the competing Premier League matches are all relevant considerations.
Ultimately, Rangers may have edged the reported television audience, but Celtic enjoyed the more decisive afternoon on the pitch.
Their 7-1 victory over Hearts strengthened their position in the title race and ensured that the result, rather than the viewing figures, would dominate the football conversation.
Nafisa
