Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus debut attracted 2.3m viewers in Italy, the fourth-highest total in Sky Italia’s history.
The Portuguese superstar made his debut in a 3-2 win for the Bianconeri at the Stadio Bentegodi, playing 90 minutes without scoring.
According to today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, the match attracted 2,330,234 unique viewers, with an audience share of 11.9 per cent.
That’s a 68 per cent increase in viewers on Juve’s first match of last season, when they faced Cagliari at home.
It’s also the fourth-highest total since the Italian branch of Sky launched, surpassed only by the Derby d’Italia in 2013 and 2016, and Roma-Juventus in August 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a winning start to his Juventus career as his new club came from behind to beat Chievo 3-2 in a dramatic start to the Serie A season.
Federico Bernardeschi scored a 93rd-minute winner, moments after Juve had a goal ruled out by VAR with Ronaldo at the centre of the incident.
The Portugal captain, a £99.2m signing from Real Madrid, handled the ball before colliding with Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino in the build-up to Mario Mandzukic’s goal, which referee Fabrizio Pasqua ruled out on review.
Sami Khedira had put Juventus, who have won the past seven Serie A titles, ahead from close range in the third minute, before Mariusz Stepinski headed in the equaliser.
Emanuele Giaccherini won and scored a penalty to put Chievo in front on 56 minutes, but a Mattia Bani own goal pegged them back before Bernardeschi struck late on.
Ronaldo forced several saves from 39-year-old Sorrentino, who left the match on a stretcher after his late collision with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo, 33, scored in his first game for the Old Lady – their traditional pre-season friendly against the Juventus B team.
That match was held in the small Italian town of Villar Perosa. Its population is 4,000 – but Ronaldo’s appearance drew 5,000 fans.
His presence in Verona led to Chievo selling out their 39,000-seater Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, as they more than doubled their average attendance.
Speaking before the match, coach Massimiliano Allegri said he had yet to decide Ronaldo’s best position in the team.
With Gonzalo Higuain on loan at AC Milan, the former Manchester United forward started up front on his own against Chievo, with Paulo Dybala in the number 10 role and Douglas Costa and Juan Cuadrado on the wings.