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A survey by German pubcaster ZDF estimates that more than 12 million "uncounted" viewers in addition to the 28 million tallied in the official ratings watched the final of the Euro 2008 soccer tournament between Germany and Spain on June 29.

If that is accurate, at least 40 million -- in a country with a population of 82 million -- watched the match.

The official record is held by ZDF's coverage, four nights earlier, of the semifinal match against Turkey, which drew an official 29.4 million average (81.5% market share).

The web said the extra 12 million watched the final in bars, at friends' houses and at public viewing venues set up around the country, including 500,000 who stood like sardines in front of giant screens set up near Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

The 2008 European Championships made surprising inroads in gender demographics, as more women tuned in for the first time.