The 2020 AFL Finals series has made an explosive start with a combined average audience of 1.618 million fans tuning in on Seven and Foxtel platforms
Seven’s broadcast of Port Adelaide’s 16-point win over Geelong attracted an average national free-to-air audience of 1.189 million – the second-highest audience ever for a Thursday night final.
TV Blackbox can reveal the Thursday night final also attracted a cumulative audience of 429K across the platforms Foxtel, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO and Kayo.
The Foxtel Group audience was up 41% on the 304K who watched West Coast (5th) eliminate Essendon (8th) by 55 points in the Thursday night fixture in the 2019 season.
The strong result was driven by a significant increase in Kayo subscribers during COVID-19 lockdown. The sports streaming platform recently reported it had increased its paid subscriber base to just over 600,000 customers
Seven’s metro audience last night of 918,000 was 34 per cent up on last year’s opening final between West Coast and Essendon, and exceeded every final in weeks one and two of the AFL’s 2019 series.
The result drove Seven’s biggest daily ratings win this year, with the network recording a 49.4 per cent commercial share – 19.1 points ahead of Nine and 29 points ahead of Ten.
Melbourne fans flocked to last night’s broadcast in huge numbers, with Seven’s audience up 46 per cent on last year’s West Coast-Essendon elimination final.
Port Adelaide fans made a huge noise at Adelaide Oval but also tuned in to the LIVE and FREE coverage in force, with Seven’s Adelaide audience double that of last year’s opening final.
The AFL’s big year in Sydney and Brisbane also continued, with Seven’s audiences there up a whopping 259 per cent and 112 per cent respectively year on year.
Ratings – Seven and 7mate
- Melbourne – 497k
- Adelaide – 183k
- Perth – 116k
- Sydney – 53k
- Brisbane – 70k
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin commented:
“Last night’s extraordinary result underlines how much fans have embraced a 2020 season that just continues to deliver the unexpected. After missing the past two past finals series, the Power are now in a preliminary final, just one win away from their first Grand Final appearance in 13 years.
“What surprises has the rest of this weekend got in store for us? Fans won’t want to miss a second of the action on Seven.”
AFL Chief Executive, Gillon McLachlan, added:
“Footy has been the constant in Australian lives during a difficult period for the community and fans and supporters have rallied behind their clubs and heroes in a different way in 2020. Through our television screens we have celebrated and applauded the players who have provided us with the entertainment we have craved.”
“We have been blown away by the loyalty and commitment footy fans around the country have demonstrated this season. To have one in six Australians tune in to an AFL match every weekend highlights the strength of the game.”
The finals coverage continues tonight (Friday) at 7.00pm AEST with the Second Qualifying Final between the Brisbane Lions and Richmond at the Gabba.
Tomorrow on Sudden-Death Saturday from 4.00pm AEST fans will enjoy back-to-back elimination finals: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, followed by West Coast v Collingwood at Optus Stadium.
