Lithuanian football continues to build momentum both inside stadiums and on television screens, with Toplyga broadcasts on BTV attracting increasingly larger audiences throughout the 2026 season.
According to viewing figures released by BTV, Toplyga matches have generated a cumulative reach of 744,000 viewers since the start of the campaign, highlighting the growing visibility of the league across Lithuania.
The biggest television success stories of the season have been the meetings between Vilnius Žalgiris and Kauno Žalgiris. The first derby of the season, played on 5 April, generated a reach of more than 125,000 viewers, making it the most widely viewed Toplyga broadcast of the year so far. The return fixture on 31 May also attracted significant interest, reaching 112,000 viewers.
While the two Žalgiris clubs dominate the list of the season’s most-viewed broadcasts, other fixtures have also delivered strong numbers. Matches involving Žalgiris Vilnius against Hegelmann, Sūduva and Panevežys featured among the most popular broadcasts, while Kauno Žalgiris encounters with Sūduva and Panevežys also ranked highly.
The strongest television audiences have come from men aged 35 and older, particularly in Lithuania’s two largest cities, Vilnius and Kaunas, where interest in local football continues to increase.
The figures offer further evidence that Lithuanian football’s recent growth is extending beyond stadium attendance. The rivalry between Vilnius Žalgiris and Kauno Žalgiris has developed into one of the country’s strongest domestic sports products, capable of attracting both large crowds and substantial television audiences.
With the next Žalgiris derby scheduled for 2 August in Vilnius and set to be broadcast live on BTV, another major audience is expected as Toplyga’s growing popularity shows little sign of slowing down.
Source: https://toplyga.lt/naujiena/zalgirietiskame-derbyje-transliacijos-ziurimumo-rekordas/9454
