Seven expects Aus Open audience decline after Kyrgios exit, signals plans for more mobile sports coverage

January 28, 2015 12:41

The Seven Network will look to continue with more extensive coverage of sporting events after hailing the success of its widest ever coverage of the Australian Open.

However, chief revenue officer for Seven West Media Kurt Burnette said he expected to see audiences fall for the rest of the tournament after 1.7m metro viewers watched Aussie rising star Nick Kyrgios lose in straight sets to Andy Murray in the quarter finals.

“I think will start to see the numbers drop back to where they were last year,” he said. “We haven’t had an Australian in the second week for a while and we certainly didn’t last year.”

But he said the take-up of the most extensive coverage ever by an Australian broadcaster has been “overwhelming” from viewers, keen to watch matches on outside courts which are normally not broadcast, with streaming via mobile and an internet connected TV channel. The network has also signed a new agreement to carry exclusive matches from Wimbledon from next year.

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Nic Christensen

Nic Christensen worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2016, in roles including deputy editor and media & technology editor. He is former media writer for The Australian and has also worked as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph and senior producer for Radio 2GB.

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