NRL grand final helps Nine dominate Sunday viewing – but ratings no match for AFL

The biggest disappointment for viewers was the fact that neither the NRL or AFL grand finals was broadcast in HD. Harvey Norman and other goods stores as part of their flatscreen HD TVs sales pitch claimed that you can watch your sporting grand finals in HD. Nine and Seven for what ever reason, despite having additional digital channels at their disposal, did not broadcast in HD.

@Viewer I know, I said the same thing on Twitter on Saturday….

https://twitter.com/martinwalsh/status/251890793244139520 – @afl It’s year 2012, we have the biggest sporting event in Australia on today but we cannot watch AFL Grand Final LIVE in HD. Unbelievable!

https://twitter.com/martinwalsh/status/251918985032003584 – Sports, mktg & broadcasting excellence in Australia, @AFL GF=no live HD, shocking TVCs from advertisers, no innovative 2nd screen experience

That’s because NRL is no match for AFL. It’s Australia’s game.

if there were 2 old school sydney teams in teh finals the ratings would have been higher.

I wonder which Grand Final earns the most TV advertising revenue?

So another 20,000 people turn on to watch the presentation over the actual game? That sounds strange. I would’ve thought Bulldog supporters would’ve switched off in their droves.

Not a fair comparison. You need to include the massive, NRL regional audiences of NSW and QLD. AFL doesn’t have much of that, given the small regional populations of AFL-centric states.

@The Boss – Australia’s game? Bit of a stretch.

Would have thought a decent number of Sydney-siders would have watched the AFL (because of the Swans) but almost no one in Melbourne would have watched the NRL, even with the Storm playing…..

Old Hand,

Here’s your regional audiences

NRL: 1,316,000
AFL: 1,152,000

Now let’s lob these into the Metro Figures:

NRL: 3,717,000
AFL: 4,089,079

Take into account that AFL is daytime viewing vs. NRL that runs from Fringe into Peak dayparts I’d say that AFL truly is Australia’s Greatest Game (and Cricket too!)

@WD It’ll be because after the Storm won everyone in Victoria would have watched the wrap up for the highlights.

Fair point Old Hand. In the Regional areas the GF was NRL 1.281m and the AFL was 0.865m. So, combined AFL was 3.802m and NRL was 3.682m.

But have you also considered the more favourable NRL timeslot?

In the Metro markets AFL got a 75.5% share, while NRL got a 52.8% share. In the regional markets AFL got a 55.4% share while NRL got a 50.6% share.

Given this data, Australian sports fans have spoken. If AFL is not Australia’s (football) game … then what is?

OK Singo and John Grono. I eat my words. But I’d be very surprised if a non-Sydney Swans grand final would perform anywhere near as well. Anyone know? 2010 or 11 figures?

Excuse time. Factor the administrative ineptitude of NRL, and the AFL’s massive war chest via media rights deals and its perhaps no wonder. But NRL with its recent $1.2bil media win might regain a bit of lost ground of aerial ping-pong. Still can’t watch that game.

2010
====

AFL Grand Final #1
————————–
Metro 2.768m (71.6% share)
Regional 0.781m (51.6% share)
Total 3.549m

AFL Grand Final Replay
——————————–
Metro 2.687m (67.5% share)
Regional 0.770m (49.7% share)
Total 3.457m

NRL Grand Final
———————–
Metro 2.169m (46.8% share)
Regional 1.154m (49.2% share)
Total 3.323m

2011
====

AFL Grand Final
———————-
Metro 2.641m (66.4% share)
Regional 0.789m (50.0% share)
Total 3.430m

NRL Grand Final
———————–
Metro 2.172m (46.5% share)
Regional 1.200m (47.5% share)
Total 3.372m

So, while the gross audiences are similar and slightly in AFL’s favour, the audience shares tell the story, with NRL getting just under a 50% share in both Metro and Regional, but AFL getting slightly regional shares but massively higher metro shares.