If you've ever wondered which sporting events have created the biggest TV pick ups, see the table below:
| Year |
Date |
Programme |
Pick-up (MW) |
| 1990 |
4 July |
World Cup semi-final
West Germany v England
(after penalty shoot out) |
2800 |
| 2002 |
21 June |
World Cup match
England v Brazil
(half time) |
2570 |
| 2002 |
12 June |
World Cup match
Nigeria v England
(half time) |
2340 |
| 2003 |
22 November |
Rugby World Cup final
England v Australia
(half time) |
2110 |
| 1998 |
30 June |
World Cup match
England v Argentina
(half time) |
2100 |
| 1990 |
3 July |
World Cup semi-final
Italy v Argentina
(after penalty shoot out) |
2000 |
| 2006 |
1 July |
World Cup match
England v Portugal
(after penalty shoot out) |
1960 |
| 2006 |
20 June |
World Cup match
England V Sweden
(half time) |
1830 |
| 1999 |
21 April |
Champions' League match
Juventus v Manchester United
(half time) |
1820 |
| 2002 |
21 June |
World Cup match
England v Brazil
(full time) |
1820 |
As the table shows, nine of the biggest sporting top ten have been generated by televised football matches, and eight of those have been when England have played.
It's perhaps not surprising to learn that England's defeat and Gazza's infamous tears in the 1990 World Cup tournament have registered the biggest pick-up at 2,800 MW, roughly equivalent to boiling 1,120,000 kettles.