Blockbuster NRL grand final peaks at 4.2m and grabs a bigger national audience than AFL
Last night’s blockbuster NRL grand final where the Queensland Cowboys overcame the Brisbane Broncos with a golden point win gained a larger audience than the AFL on Saturday with 4.227m viewers at its peak.
The national audience of 3.667m was higher than the AFL’s 3.523m, although the five city metro audience was down on the AFL with 2.437m compared to 2.635m viewers due to no Sydney side being in the final.
However the 4.227m peak was well above the AFL’s 3.989m for a match that went down to the last kick.
While it was also down on last year’s audience of 3.95m the combined metro and regional audience makes it the second most watched show of the year behind the second State of Origin clash.
Given this was the first ever all-Queensland NRL Grand Final, I was surprised the regional audience was down on last year. It must also be noted that since the match was simulcast on the main channel and Gem, the audience figure and share on Gem for the match would also be counted in the main channel share. It was similar to last Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
NRL can still get a bigger audience when they finally expand into South Australia & Western Australia. The national television potential would be even bigger. OTOH, AFL is dying. Their clubs in Queensland & Victoria have experienced some of their lowest attendance figures in years this past season.
Makes Nine’s bid for expanded coverage and exclusive streaming look all the more sweeter.
It was not the most watched show of the year, it was the third most watched show of the year behind Origin 2 & Origin 1.
Hi John,
Thanks for flagging – according to Nine’s numbers its the second most watched, but we’re just clarifying something with them on those.
Cheers
Alex, editor, Mumbrella
“just 1.3 per cent on Gem to watch in HD”.
The ratings for the NRL on GEM are included with the ratings for Nine. That GEM figure is only for the non-simulcast time, which I think only occurred during Nine News in Perth.
Hi Newtaste,
You’re right, updated that now.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
Still can’t understand why the figure for the HD telecast on GEM was so tiny. Surely a good percentage of viewers have either HD TVs or set top box. What is it about older Australians and “new” technology? My next door neighbour has an HD TV but refuses to watch any of the “digital” channels because, well, it’s new and “I dont like it.”
Also until the AFL moves the GF to prime-time it will always be out rated by the NRL GF.
As for the AFL dying Viewer a record TV deal, average game day crowds of over 33’000, AFL club membership now at over 830’000.
Yeah they really need to panic.
@Brett Ramsay … most people, young or old, don’t watch the digital channels because 90 per cent of the time they’re loaded with crap – leftovers and repeats. Channel 9 also has a major problem with its NRL commentators. Ray Warren is well past the pension off date as he gibbers on about his old leagie mates from yesteryear or what he shot on the golf course last week while tries are being scored. And Andrew Johns? Well, let’s not go there.
It’s that time of year again! Here we go: 4.277M viewers did NOT watch the NRL.
Who did?
A large proportion of the 4,000 or so OzTam homes sample – let’s say 3,000 for argument’s sake.
At no point is anyone (including Mumbrella) honest enough to acknowledge the sample and that the “4.227M” is a grossly extrapolated number, which assumes absolute factorial compliance. Which would be a ridiculous claim.
It’s as if we all keep pumping the mythology that market research samples = reality.
As long as advertisers are silly enough to believe it, and agencies are dishonest enough to spin it, the game, the fantasy and the scam will continue.
I heard the difference in peaks was different.
NRL 4.4 million
AFL 3.9 million
so what if the NRL grand final outrates the AFL grand final. one is on saturday afternoon and one is on prime time. that’s like comparing apples and oranges. at the end of the day the NRL is still a distant 2nd to the no.1 football competition in the country. membership, revenue, crowds, the list goes on.
Mike, just wondering if you are [Edited by Mumbrella] and familiar with statistics at all?
What it does show is that the NRL does rate well in cities like Melbourne – 400k. People in Melbourne DO watch NRL despite what you may hear.
@paul – I’m no expert on statistics, but these are statistics designed to suit a pre-determined narrative, profitable to those who are in on it. It suits TV networks who own OzTam, it suits agencies who flog TV advertising, it suits marketers who are duchessed by both TV and agencies to keep spending. The loser is the brand and its owners.
The ratings are the equivalent of sitting at a full MCG and asking the person on either side of you what they watched, then assuming it applies to the whole crowd. It explains why the shotgun approach of TV advertising is failing to successfully reach the precise audiences that brands need to reach.
Surprising given the all qld grand final is as interesting as Andrew Johns hosting getaway