The BBC's first-ever Premier League game attracted a peak TV audience of 3.9million viewers on Saturday night.
BBC One's broadcast of Bournemouth's defeat by Crystal Palace Crystal Palace was the first top-flight match the Beeb have broadcast live since 1988.
A record TV audience had been expected to tune in to watch the action from the Vitality Stadium but the figure fell just sort of the 4.04million who watched the Manchester derby in 2012.
Goals from Luka Milivojevic and Jordan Ayew helped Roy Hodgson's Palace side move into the top half of the table while another defeat worsened Bournemouth's chances of staying in the Premier League.