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Television
A massive year in Television for the NRL with an estimated audience of more than 174m for the year up to and including the Grand Finals of the NRL and NRLW. This is up from 149.35m in 2022, even accounting for the lack of NRLW in the 2022 figures.
As always note that this data is Australian only unless specified. We simply cannot get the data we would like and many would seem happy for us to fabricate.
Preason
The preseason was exclusive to Foxtel, where it puilled an audience of 932,000 in the first week, averaging 103,000 on Foxtel and 1.104m in the second, averaging 123,000 viewers per match. The preseason was down on the 2.891m who watched in 2022.
The Indigenous Allstar clash was watched by 134,000 on Foxtel, with a similar number believed to have streamed the event.
Home and Away season
Despite fantastic ratings for the season, the NRL was challenged by both the mid year Ashes series and the Womens world cup right before the finals.
The most watched match of the season was thjefirst Dolphins/Broncos derby with a record 1.441m viewers on Fox and Nine.
The Home and away season tallied an estimated 140m viewers (well up from the 118.964m viewers we estimated in 2022). including
In Brisbane, the Broncos average 170,000, the Dolphins average 126,000. Other Queensland regional teams average 131,000 on Nine, while matches involving no Queensland sides average 98,000.
In NSW, Sydney sides average 163,000 per game, while sides from regional NSW average 163,000 as well. Matches with no teams from NSW average 146,000.
The leading clubs on television during the season werre Brisbane, Sth Sydney, Penrith and Melbourne.
The NRL Finals series had 13.879m viewers, with 3.404m tuning in to watch the Grand FInal. This is down from the 15.54m that watched last year.
The most watched final leading up to thje grand final was week 1s Brisbane v Melbourne wich was watched by 1.504m viewers.
Grand Final audience
State of Origin
State of Origin had 10.681m viewers across Mens and womens matches this year. This was up from the 9.939m that watched last year, but with an extra womens origin thrown in.
Andrew Abdo stated that around 6 million people had watched NRLW leading into the Grand Final. 916,000 viewers tuned in across Foxtel and Nine, and when BVOD comes back I expect viewership to hit a million for the NRLW Grand Final.
Origin 1 had 761,000 viewers, while Origin 2 had 677,000 viewers
Stand alone womens matches during the season attracted 83,326 to home and away matches.
NZ and other overseas locations.
Sky reported 700,000 viewers for the week 1 final. We have not been able to clarify exactly whether this is average, peak or reach. NZ media also report this didnt include numbers from Skys sport streaming service.
With no other data to draw on, and no substantial data since 2015, we are unable to even make an educated guess at what the ratings would be now. If that offends you, Im not sorry. Theres literally nothing I can do about it until such a time as data is available.
www.footyindustry.com
A massive year in Television for the NRL with an estimated audience of more than 174m for the year up to and including the Grand Finals of the NRL and NRLW. This is up from 149.35m in 2022, even accounting for the lack of NRLW in the 2022 figures.
- FTA 62.786m
- Foxleague (STB) 52.365m
- FoxBVOD est 52.257m*
- NRLW ~6.916m
- Total 174.134m
As always note that this data is Australian only unless specified. We simply cannot get the data we would like and many would seem happy for us to fabricate.
Preason
The preseason was exclusive to Foxtel, where it puilled an audience of 932,000 in the first week, averaging 103,000 on Foxtel and 1.104m in the second, averaging 123,000 viewers per match. The preseason was down on the 2.891m who watched in 2022.
The Indigenous Allstar clash was watched by 134,000 on Foxtel, with a similar number believed to have streamed the event.
Home and Away season
Despite fantastic ratings for the season, the NRL was challenged by both the mid year Ashes series and the Womens world cup right before the finals.
The most watched match of the season was thjefirst Dolphins/Broncos derby with a record 1.441m viewers on Fox and Nine.
The Home and away season tallied an estimated 140m viewers (well up from the 118.964m viewers we estimated in 2022). including
- 42.345m viewers on Nine (up from 32.267m)
- 49.141m viewers on Foxtel Set top boxes (up from 42.74m)
- up to 48.631m viewers on Foxtels streaming services.
- Sydney average 161,000
- Melbourne average 12,000
- Brisbane average 111,000
- Adelaide average 7,000
- Perth average 8,000
In Brisbane, the Broncos average 170,000, the Dolphins average 126,000. Other Queensland regional teams average 131,000 on Nine, while matches involving no Queensland sides average 98,000.
In NSW, Sydney sides average 163,000 per game, while sides from regional NSW average 163,000 as well. Matches with no teams from NSW average 146,000.
The leading clubs on television during the season werre Brisbane, Sth Sydney, Penrith and Melbourne.
- Brisbane were the dominant club on Nine averaging 620,000 viewers per game.
- Penrith 586,000
- Parramatta 569,000
- Sth Sydney 549,000
- Dolphins 521,000
- Melbourne 518,000
- Sydney 510,000
- Sth Sydney 270,000
- Melbourne 267,000
- Nth Queensland 259,000
- Penrith 257,000
The NRL Finals series had 13.879m viewers, with 3.404m tuning in to watch the Grand FInal. This is down from the 15.54m that watched last year.
The most watched final leading up to thje grand final was week 1s Brisbane v Melbourne wich was watched by 1.504m viewers.
Grand Final audience
- Metro 1.841m
- Regional 957,000
- BVOD 607,000
- Total 3.404m (according to VOZ)
State of Origin
State of Origin had 10.681m viewers across Mens and womens matches this year. This was up from the 9.939m that watched last year, but with an extra womens origin thrown in.
- Origin 1: 3.421m
- Origin 2: 3.191m
- Origin 3: 2.631m
Andrew Abdo stated that around 6 million people had watched NRLW leading into the Grand Final. 916,000 viewers tuned in across Foxtel and Nine, and when BVOD comes back I expect viewership to hit a million for the NRLW Grand Final.
Origin 1 had 761,000 viewers, while Origin 2 had 677,000 viewers
Stand alone womens matches during the season attracted 83,326 to home and away matches.
NZ and other overseas locations.
Sky reported 700,000 viewers for the week 1 final. We have not been able to clarify exactly whether this is average, peak or reach. NZ media also report this didnt include numbers from Skys sport streaming service.
With no other data to draw on, and no substantial data since 2015, we are unable to even make an educated guess at what the ratings would be now. If that offends you, Im not sorry. Theres literally nothing I can do about it until such a time as data is available.
State of the Game 2023: NRL & NRLW TV Ratings, Attendances, Social Media, Memberships and Finance - Sports Industry AU
Well after one of the best grand finals seen in many a year, its time to say goodbye to the NRL season and hello to the forthcoming internationals, but first we take a good look at the metrics from what was a record breaking season for the National Rugby League. Attendance its all good news...
www.footyindustry.com
