In an extended week for sport, the AFL had a massive round of tv ratings led by strong performances on ANZAC Day and ANZAC Day eve, while the NRL continued its dominance of the Foxtel ratings.
Super Netball held its first matches of the new season with some excellent ratings on Nine. Super Rugby held steady, while the A-league limped to the end of its season and will be hoping for a massive finals series to boost its morale.
Australian Rules Football
The AFL had a massive week in the ratings department, helped by the Thursday ANZAC Day clash at the MCG which rated 1.47 million over the Seven Network and Fox Footy. More than 5.97 million viewers watched the round of footy across five days, including almost 3 million in the capital cities and 1.9 million on Foxtel.
To no surprise, ANZAC Day was the highest rated fixture of the round on both Foxtel and Seven, with 821,000 metro viewers, 281,000 regional viewers and 315,000 watching on. Wednesdays ANZAC Day Eve clash rated 1.129 million in total (612,000 metro, 225,000 regional and 292,000 on Foxtel).
The Q-Clash rated relatively poorly at just 31,000 FTA viewers on Saturday afternoon, despite being on 7’s main channel, while the Sydney Derby rated better at 87,000 with a further 65,000 watching in regional NSW.
The AFL continues its stellar start to the season with all markets except Perth up. Total ratings are up 18%, led by the Brisbane (+22%), Melbourne (+19%) and Sydney (+18%). Foxtel Ratings are up 9.5% as the league recovers from a poor showing in the 2018 ratings.
For lovers of state football, the SANFL rated 27,000, while the VFL rated 38,000.
Only one game was reported on Fox streaming with the Saints/Adelaide match scoring 17,000 but well and truly beaten by the NRL on the weekend.
Rugby League
Like the AFL, the NRL also had a big week in the ratings with two matches shown on ANZAC Day on the Nine Network. More than 4.3 million viewers watched the round of league across four days including 1.35m metro viewers and 2 million viewers on Fox League.
Thursday nights Storm/Warriors fixture drew in 866,000 viewers, just edging out Friday nights Panthers/Rabbitohs clash with 859,000.
The Storm/Warriors match was the highest rating fixture on the Nine network with 608,000 with the Panthers/Rabbitohs not far behind on 605,000. Saturday nights Broncos/Sharks match up was the most watched on Fox League with 313,000 viewers.
NRL markets are up 1.39% on the first seven rounds of 2018, with the metro ratings up by 0.74% led by Sydney (+6.7%) with Foxtel also up (+1.39%).
Followers of the Intrust Cup in Queensland should note that it rated 14,000 in the Brisbane metro area on GEM.
Streaming through 9now continues its steady growth, with 4 million minutes streamed, up 128% on Round 7 last year.
Super Netball
The Super Netball season had a great start to its 2019 season with 145,000 tuning in including 92,000 metro and 53,000 regional viewers watching on Nine on Saturday, backed up by 92,000 and 36,000 on Sunday afternoon.
Football
Still no real joy for the A-league in its final round of the season as ratings continued to stay down. Saturday nights Wanderers/City match could only manage 33,000 on 10 bold – the last five rounds of the season averaging just 30,500, while the three reported Foxtel matches rated no higher than 20,000, with Friday night coming in at only 10,000. A-league averaging ratings finish the home and away season with an average of around 32,000 per game on Foxtel (112/135 matches reported).
The Premier League managed to attract 134,000 to SBS late on Saturday night. (Metro 107,000 Regional 27,000)
Rugby Union
The Waratahs match against the Sharks on Saturday had an ok result for Super Rugby pulling in 61,000 viewers on Foxtel. Australian Rugby this season is averaging less than 66,000 per game from the data we have available, while Super Rugby ratings in Australia are somewhere less than 56,000 per game.
The Sunday morning replay on 10 bold had 14,000 metro viewers, while the Shute Shield had 20,000 viewers in Sydney.
Jason Lassey is a sports industry blogger focussed on the Attendances, Financials and TV Ratings of professional sport in Australia. A long time Carlton supporter, he longs for the heady days of 1995 to come around once more.
Twitter – @footyindustryAU
Website – http://www.footyindustry.com/