2025 Streaming and TV Ratings Discussion

[Wb1234]

That's exactly my piont.

The NRL and players treat international footy as a joke, no wonder the fans do too.

The fact that the NRL prefers club games on Anzac day over the Anzac Test proves what little reagrad they hold internationals.

We have the first Ashes series in 2 decades and players are pulling out for friends weddings and surgery that didn't stop them playing NRL but does stop them playing for thier country.

Samoa V NZ had stars on both teams, Haas has made headlines all year about playing for Samoa, Brown has been front page all year.... and yet the game couldn't pull the same crowd of a warroirs game or the TV audience of an NRL game.

You guys must be smoking some seriously good crack if you think a crowd of 21k and FTA TV audience of 415k is a good result.

Ch 9 get the pacific games free. Based on the low ratings they'll continue to get them free in the next broadcast deal

I’m going to repeat it again

The crowd was higher than the average nrl game

The ratings probably were too or on par

Seven just paid 12 million for the World Cup.

So you would think the Pacific cup is worth at least half that

Samoa v Tonga is going close to a sell out

Going to complain about that too ?

I do think the tests should be played mid season with origin

Even if it means Islander players don’t play origin

 

[BuffaloRules]

That's exactly my piont.

The NRL and players treat international footy as a joke, no wonder the fans do too.

The fact that the NRL prefers club games on Anzac day over the Anzac Test proves what little reagrad they hold internationals.

We have the first Ashes series in 2 decades and players are pulling out for friends weddings and surgery that didn't stop them playing NRL but does stop them playing for thier country.

Samoa V NZ had stars on both teams, Haas has made headlines all year about playing for Samoa, Brown has been front page all year.... and yet the game couldn't pull the same crowd of a warroirs game or the TV audience of an NRL game.

You guys must be smoking some seriously good crack if you think a crowd of 21k and FTA TV audience of 415k is a good result.

Ch 9 get the pacific games free. Based on the low ratings they'll continue to get them free in the next broadcast deal

This game which did not involve Australia, did rate similar to some NRL Sunday 4pm games on Australian television … and did you note my point about casual fans switching off after the GF? That was the case for Origih as well as I noted above, so internationals will cop it worse for interest …

what is Nine going to be showing otherwise on a Sunday afternoon in October ? Do you think they are getting those ratings for showing Rocky 2 for the fifth time this year ? I’m sure they will continue to have an appetite to show these games …

Do you have a source that Nine get the rights to the tournament for free ? I find that a little dubious…although I would think any payment would be modest … I note that 7 purchased the World Cup rights for $12 million… again a modest figure …but perhaps a sign that the market is changing

I will also add that the Poms need to win a series or two to get some real interest over here… they stopped playing these games because it was too one sided

There was a time when people used to have some interest in the Bledisloe back in the 90s when the Wallabies used to win a series occasionally… those days are long gone

 

[i0Nic]

That's exactly my piont.

The NRL and players treat international footy as a joke, no wonder the fans do too.

The fact that the NRL prefers club games on Anzac day over the Anzac Test proves what little reagrad they hold internationals.

We have the first Ashes series in 2 decades and players are pulling out for friends weddings and surgery that didn't stop them playing NRL but does stop them playing for thier country.

Samoa V NZ had stars on both teams, Haas has made headlines all year about playing for Samoa, Brown has been front page all year.... and yet the game couldn't pull the same crowd of a warroirs game or the TV audience of an NRL game.

You guys must be smoking some seriously good crack if you think a crowd of 21k and FTA TV audience of 415k is a good result.

Ch 9 get the pacific games free. Based on the low ratings they'll continue to get them free in the next broadcast dea

This is so wrong on many levels.

Firstly players are not just pulling out for minor reasons. Tedesco had his *brothers* wedding on where he is the best man, why would he skip that? Other players getting surgery or rehab is fair enough. If they were 50/50 about it and spoke to kevvie maybe they agreed it would be better to sit it out considering the depth of talent Australia has.

Second the ratings being this time of year were good. And I think it was something like 465k than 415k in the end. Remember this didn’t feature Australia and was played at the wrong time of year for footy. It outrated tentpole Wallabies games that were played in footy season. nd it didn’t feature Australia. It had 95% higher ratings than last year.

Crowd was pretty good considering much higher ticket prices than Wahs games, the time slot etc

Ofcourse we would love it if it rated 1m average viewers like the upper echelon of nrl games but we’re not there, yet. But to say it did poorly is not how the nrl or nine would see it. It shows significant growth of a very promising comp the last couple of years.

 

[Diesel]

What doesn’t help is games set to Sydney time. It was 3pm QLD time and 6pm on a Sunday night in Auckland with school/work the next day.

this weekends Tonga/Samoa game is going to be on at 3pm and it’s already hot in QLD this time of year. It should be 4pm local time and Nine can shove their news up their arse for the next round of tv deals

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Let's just say the ARU would kill to see the level of interest in Union that would see two foreign nations playing in NZ draw 451k on Australian TV. Even the Wallabies themselves have rarely rated that well.

 

[nko11]

That's exactly my piont.

The NRL and players treat international footy as a joke, no wonder the fans do too.

The fact that the NRL prefers club games on Anzac day over the Anzac Test proves what little reagrad they hold internationals.

We have the first Ashes series in 2 decades and players are pulling out for friends weddings and surgery that didn't stop them playing NRL but does stop them playing for thier country.

Samoa V NZ had stars on both teams, Haas has made headlines all year about playing for Samoa, Brown has been front page all year.... and yet the game couldn't pull the same crowd of a warroirs game or the TV audience of an NRL game.

You guys must be smoking some seriously good crack if you think a crowd of 21k and FTA TV audience of 415k is a good result.

Ch 9 get the pacific games free. Based on the low ratings they'll continue to get them free in the next broadcast deal

To be fair, is there any other sports that could pull 400k+ on FTA for a game that doesn't involve Australia - outside of World Cups.

I don't think Cricket, Football (Soccer) or Rugby Union could do that. That's not to downplay their internationals at all. But shows the competitive advantage that Rugby League has, that all the top players play in Australia - so Australians will watch. AFL would be in the same boat, but they have an inability to create internationals and even if they did, I would struggle to imagine their fans would be interested.

 

[parrawentyfan]

It is a good point. I can't really see many sports that would rate that high in the context you have put it - ie outside of Australia, not involving Australia and outside a world cup. Only things I can think of are big soccer matches if they just happened to be televised on FTA (which they wouldn't be) like England vs Brazil. Or perhaps India v Pakistan in the cricket.

 

[Trifili13]

It is a good point. I can't really see many sports that would rate that high in the context you have put it - ie outside of Australia, not involving Australia and outside a world cup. Only things I can think of are big soccer matches if they just happened to be televised on FTA (which they wouldn't be) like England vs Brazil. Or perhaps India v Pakistan in the cricket.

Soccer could potentially but big club or international games are not usually shown live in a favourable time here so difficult to compare.

What does Super Bowl get which is shown during working hours here in australia?

 

[Steel Saints]

That's exactly my piont.

The NRL and players treat international footy as a joke, no wonder the fans do too.

The fact that the NRL prefers club games on Anzac day over the Anzac Test proves what little reagrad they hold internationals.

We have the first Ashes series in 2 decades and players are pulling out for friends weddings and surgery that didn't stop them playing NRL but does stop them playing for thier country.

Samoa V NZ had stars on both teams, Haas has made headlines all year about playing for Samoa, Brown has been front page all year.... and yet the game couldn't pull the same crowd of a warroirs game or the TV audience of an NRL game.

You guys must be smoking some seriously good crack if you think a crowd of 21k and FTA TV audience of 415k is a good result.

Ch 9 get the pacific games free. Based on the low ratings they'll continue to get them free in the next broadcast deal

Those one off ANZAC Tests didnt feel right in terms of scheduling. It was played before Origin. Plus test football needs to be played in a series or tournament format to be treated seriously, and not a one off isolated game.

What ANZAC day has done is provide a team like the Melbourne Storm to host a marquee game at AAMI Park. This game has helped the profile of the Storm in Victoria, by having sell out crowds or close to it.

 

[Dr T]

Let's just say the ARU would kill to see the level of interest in Union that would see two foreign nations playing in NZ draw 451k on Australian TV. Even the Wallabies themselves have rarely rated that well.

Exactly.

I think we have been spoiled with record breaking ratings this year - set against that benchmark of course the figures look disappointing, but if you take the rose coloured glasses off for a second it is clear to see that there is growth in the international game and we should capitalise on it rather than complain how the ratings don't live up to our unrealistic expectations.

Those who have claimed that players are treating the international season as a joke didn't see the absolute passion in the eyes of the Kiwis and Samoans on Sunday, before and during the game. These boys are doing it for their family, community and ancestors. Some have taken career risks to choose the nation of their heritage rather than representing the nation which raised them and will likely be their home for them and their children.

As a child of migrants to Australia, I know all too well the position these players are put in - torn between the land of your birth (and future) and the land of your family. It has taken me years to understand that I can be both a representative of my past and of my future. I don't judge when players switch allegiances from Australia to another country, because I get it.

And those who say these players are treating this international season, where they are representing these pacific island nations, as a joke are, unfortunately, bringing the great, inclusive, people's game of rugby league down (and backwards)...

 

[Wb1234]

Exactly.

I think we have been spoiled with record breaking ratings this year - set against that benchmark of course the figures look disappointing, but if you take the rose coloured glasses off for a second it is clear to see that there is growth in the international game and we should capitalise on it rather than complain how the ratings don't live up to our unrealistic expectations.

Those who have claimed that players are treating the international season as a joke didn't see the absolute passion in the eyes of the Kiwis and Samoans on Sunday, before and during the game. These boys are doing it for their family, community and ancestors. Some have taken career risks to choose the nation of their heritage rather than representing the nation which raised them and will likely be their home for them and their children.

As a child of migrants to Australia, I know all too well the position these players are put in - torn between the land of your birth (and future) and the land of your family. It has taken me years to understand that I can be both a representative of my past and of my future. I don't judge when players switch allegiances from Australia to another country, because I get it.

And those who say these players are treating this international season, where they are representing these pacific island nations, as a joke are, unfortunately, bringing the great, inclusive, people's game of rugby league down (and backwards)...

FMD that’s a good post

And Samoa v Tonga should be huge this weekend

The crowd tonga got yesterday in Logan was going off

How good is stuff like this

 

[Dr T]

FMD that’s a good post

And Samoa v Tonga should be huge this weekend

The crowd tonga got yesterday in Logan was going off

How good is stuff like this

Wow that video was awesome!
How could you not be excited for the potential this game has to change lives in this region? Now imagine that same community passion applied in other countries, and imagine how we can grow this game organically and authentically rather than through old rich boys' networks (ahem, like some other code)....
And notice how these communities are so proud of their representatives, even though they know these boys all grew up in Australia and there is some distance between them and the lives of the local boys. But does that matter? No. They are so proud of who these young men are and are happy that they remember where they came from.

I know we've spoken about 'Pacific Origin' as a concept, but if you can see how this sort of passion is similar to that shown by Queenslanders in our local State of Origin context, you can see there the best path for the growth of international rugby league is - authentic, genuine connection with community and culture. This is why I am also a huge fan of what is happening with PNG despite the challenges they face logistically etc. It means so much more than the challenges and it is totally worth it to give it a shot....

 

[Wb1234]

2023 Samoa v Kiwis ratings 180k
2024 tonga v kiwis ratings 218k
2025 Samoa v kiwis 425k

 

[Canard]

Wow that video was awesome!
How could you not be excited for the potential this game has to change lives in this region? Now imagine that same community passion applied in other countries, and imagine how we can grow this game organically and authentically rather than through old rich boys' networks (ahem, like some other code)....
And notice how these communities are so proud of their representatives, even though they know these boys all grew up in Australia and there is some distance between them and the lives of the local boys. But does that matter? No. They are so proud of who these young men are and are happy that they remember where they came from.

I know we've spoken about 'Pacific Origin' as a concept, but if you can see how this sort of passion is similar to that shown by Queenslanders in our local State of Origin context, you can see there the best path for the growth of international rugby league is - authentic, genuine connection with community and culture. This is why I am also a huge fan of what is happening with PNG despite the challenges they face logistically etc. It means so much more than the challenges and it is totally worth it to give it a shot....

Samoa v Tonga was a fixture on the Origin weekend for a few years.

 

[newc18]

Seven have announced a new RL show for next year called the Agenda Setters.

Also interesting was this bit in the press release about the RLWC which Seven are hosting.

'Kicking off with a blockbuster clash between Australia and New Zealand at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, Seven’s month-long coverage will showcase the very best of international rugby league with 18 men’s, 15 women’s and 20 wheelchair matches.'

 

[eels4lifee]

Samoa Tonga ratings is going to be bee beeee beeeeeeeee huge

 

[Canard]

Seven have announced a new RL show for next year called the Agenda Setters.

This is the same name as the AFL show that started this season.

Good to see some more content on other stations though.

Be good to see a NRL version of the Front Bar.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I

FMD that’s a good post

And Samoa v Tonga should be huge this weekend

The crowd tonga got yesterday in Logan was going off

How good is stuff like this

live in Logan and there are Tongan and Samoan flags hanging out of car windows everywhere... And it's only Wednesday

 

[eels4lifee]

I

live in Logan and there are Tongan and Samoan flags hanging out of car windows everywhere... And it's only Wednesday

And Western Sydney aswell

 

[Diesel]

In the next TV deal, you could shut down the NRL comp for 4 weeks and play origin on Wednesday night and PAC Champs on weekend. No need for a finsl
If it’s 3/4 teams, just the most wins or F/A if 2 teams are on same points.