2026 TV and Streaming Ratings thread

[comeinpeace]

Is it? Did you ask them? Didn't know you were so well connected with CEOs.

it doesn't matter what facts say when you can live in your own little fantasy thought bubble of the 'national game' fumblethon being loved nation-wide.

It's a pretty uncontroversial fact that Toyota pay around $10 million to be the naming rights sponsor of the AFL and Telstra (inferred via their other media deal) pay around $6 million to be the naming rights sponsor of the NRL. Again, I work in the industry and I believe that's generally understood/public in the industry.

 

[i0Nic]

But you miss the point that media revenue isn't the only thing that matters.

The AFL might get 30k TV viewers in Brisbane, to Brisbane Lions games. But say they got 100k instead. What benefit is that to the AFL? They might be able to sell media rights for a few million more a year.

Umm if they got 100k viewers in brisbane it might indicate the sport is actually, you know, followed and supported in Brisbane?

But Brisbane Lions get 300,000 attendees to their home games a year. 10 years ago, when they were bad, they were only getting 200,000 a year. The benefit of that 100,000, via memberships and ticket purchases (and more minor things like merchandising) is worth a lot. If we use a rule of thumb that they benefit $30 from each additional attendee, that's another $3 million.

Not saying ticket sales and merch sales are not worth anything, I'm talking about overall popularity in Brisbane. Not by the token few that come to games that are likely a broad mix of Victorians and ex-Victorians anyway.

What does the AFL spend this additional 3 million on? Subsidising Auskick in Queensland. It is cheaper to do Auskick if you live in Brisbane or Gold Coast than mod league. Which is why AFL don't just care about how many people in Brisbane watch a Brisbane Lions game on TV, they care about participation numbers.

They spend that money cause they are on a decades-long mission to make AFL a national sport. Which is failing.

Now, the AFL are not doing this out of their goodness of their heart because they love the idea of little Johnnie running around kicking a sherrin over a steeden. They would hope that, in 20 years' time, as little Johnnie becomes big Johnnie and he moves to Sydney to become a bigwig at a bank and is too busy to care about sport, NRL or AFL otherwise, he holds a more positive view of the AFL having played it as a tacker, and therefore will convince his bank to sponsor the AFL instead of the NRL.

There's more to the AFL and NRL strategies than discussed here. It's complex.

Strange take here.

 

[Barney Stubble]

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what you or I think.
The CEOs and boards of Toyota, AAMI, Carlton and United Breweries, Coles, Telstra, NAB, McDonald's and Virgin Australia understand it's a national game.

That has zero influence in half the country , couldn't sell a can of baked beans
National my arse

 

[i0Nic]

It's a pretty uncontroversial fact that Toyota pay around $10 million to be the naming rights sponsor of the AFL and Telstra (inferred via their other media deal) pay around $6 million to be the naming rights sponsor of the NRL. Again, I work in the industry and I believe that's generally understood/public in the industry.

Sure but what's that got to do with being 'the national game'? Was it like a conversation between the CEOs of Toyota and Telstra they were like "hey Jim, I'm spending a few extra mill on the AFL because you know, it's the national game". And were you part of that conversation? Maybe Toyota have got more ad placements or more value for their deal I dunno, the whole commercial deal is not soley focused on which comp is the national game... I guess you being in the industry might know a bit about that.

 

[Barney Stubble]

Racism, classy move.

The corner stone of fumbleball ?

 

[i0Nic]

The corner stone of fumbleball ?

Speaking of racism in sport, let's get a recap:

https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/afl-apology-adam-goodes

Nicky Winmar stands up to racism in the AFL

It was a hard time to be Indigenous in the AFL, but they stayed strong and sought help where they could. On the 17th of April 1993 Collingwood faced St Kilda on the magpie’s home ground at Victoria Park. During the warm up before the game, St ...

deadlystory.com

'Something we want to work on': AFL boss opens up about racism in the game

Ten years after AFL great Adam Goodes was forced to leave the game, Indigenous player numbers have dwindled, online racist abuse is rife and insiders say elite private schools have dramatically narrowed the talent pathways. How can the league turn it around?

www.abc.net.au

Racism in the AFL | Margalit Injury Lawyers

margalitlawyers.com.au

 

[Barney Stubble]

But you miss the point that media revenue isn't the only thing that matters.

The AFL might get 30k TV viewers in Brisbane, to Brisbane Lions games. But say they got 100k instead. What benefit is that to the AFL? They might be able to sell media rights for a few million more a year.

But Brisbane Lions get 300,000 attendees to their home games a year. 10 years ago, when they were bad, they were only getting 200,000 a year. The benefit of that 100,000, via memberships and ticket purchases (and more minor things like merchandising) is worth a lot. If we use a rule of thumb that they benefit $30 from each additional attendee, that's another $3 million.

What does the AFL spend this additional 3 million on? Subsidising Auskick in Queensland. It is cheaper to do Auskick if you live in Brisbane or Gold Coast than mod league. Which is why AFL don't just care about how many people in Brisbane watch a Brisbane Lions game on TV, they care about participation numbers.

Now, the AFL are not doing this out of their goodness of their heart because they love the idea of little Johnnie running around kicking a sherrin over a steeden. They would hope that, in 20 years' time, as little Johnnie becomes big Johnnie and he moves to Sydney to become a bigwig at a bank and is too busy to care about sport, NRL or AFL otherwise, he holds a more positive view of the AFL having played it as a tacker, and therefore will convince his bank to sponsor the AFL instead of the NRL.

There's more to the AFL and NRL strategies than discussed here. It's complex.

So why do the paddle pop wions , you know
the 3 GFs in a row , back to back winners .... still need 35 million PA from derpball house .. double most teams in Vicdopia & 3rd only to the 2 latest basket cases ?

that & the highest amount of poker machine revenue in singletball ... to barely break even ?

 

[storm1999]

that & the highest amount of poker machine revenue in singletball ?

I wouldn't go down that road, half of the Sydney NRL clubs would be dead today if not for Leagues Clubs pokies revenue.

 

[Barney Stubble]

I wouldn't go down that road, half of the Sydney NRL clubs would be dead today if not for Leagues Clubs pokies revenue.

Like the Broncos wanker ?

 

[storm1999]

Speaking of racism in sport, let's get a recap

Racism exists in all sporting codes, cherry-picking incidents relating to AFL says nothing.

 

[comeinpeace]

And yet it still rated about the same as the NRL overall - what does that tell you about the importance of those smaller markets like Adelaide and Perth dummy?

Remember as well - 1 game vs 2 games to get to the same outcome.

Btw once NRL establishes itself in WA like it has in VIC, which will be easier and quicker given the demographics and existing pathways that VIC never had, and NRL is regularly getting even just 20-25k viewers there - it will make it that much harder for AFL to win any game at all - double stacked or not.

An average viewer in Perth is far more valuable to a free to air broadcaster average viewer in Newcastle mate, even if their population numbers are similar.

Perth's economy is three times bigger on a per-person basis. Their audience is made up of richer people. That is more appealing to advertisers scrambling on a Perth AFL broadcast to a NRL Newcastle one.

This isn't to denigrate the proud history of Newcastle football - the nature of its economy contribues to the rich culture and character of the Knights. It's just that an average Knights fan simply has less disposable income than a Eagles or Dockers fan to spend money on things.

 

[storm1999]

Like the Broncos wanker ?

Geography not your strong suit? I said Sydney NRL clubs.

 

[Barney Stubble]

Racism exists in all sporting codes, cherry-picking incidents relating to AFL says nothing.

yes
all sports order indigenous players to get their partners to abort their babies & insist they have one white parent eh ?

 

[Barney Stubble]

Geography not your strong suit? I said Sydney NRL clubs.

the paddle pop wions are in Brisbane wanker... lets keep it there

 

[comeinpeace]

Umm if they got 100k viewers in brisbane it might indicate the sport is actually, you know, followed and supported in Brisbane?

Not saying ticket sales and merch sales are not worth anything, I'm talking about overall popularity in Brisbane. Not by the token few that come to games that are likely a broad mix of Victorians and ex-Victorians anyway.

They spend that money cause they are on a decades-long mission to make AFL a national sport. Which is failing.

Strange take here.

People's interest in a sport matters only so much that they can extract revenue from them mate. The leagues are corporate. Why do the AFL care that only 60,000 people in Brisbane care about Brisbane Lions games? They make their millions from those 60,000 people every year no matter whether it's from ticketing, or media rights. Money spends all the same. Subsidising auskick in Queensland so it's free is what they would spend that money on either way.

The AFL much prefers to have 60,000 fans benefitting them $10 million a year than 100,000 fans benefitting them $7 million a year.

 

[Barney Stubble]

An average viewer in Perth is far more valuable to a free to air broadcaster average viewer in Newcastle mate, even if their population numbers are similar.

Perth's economy is three times bigger on a per-person basis. Their audience is made up of richer people. That is more appealing to advertisers scrambling on a Perth AFL broadcast to a NRL Newcastle one.

This isn't to denigrate the proud history of Newcastle football - the nature of its economy contribues to the rich culture and character of the Knights. It's just that an average Knights fan simply has less disposable income than a Eagles or Dockers fan to spend money on things.

oh

is that why the NRL is going to sail past bumbleballs current deal then ?

 

[Barney Stubble]

People's interest in a sport matters only so much that they can extract revenue from them mate. The leagues are corporate. Why do the AFL care that only 60,000 people in Brisbane care about Brisbane Lions games? They make their millions from those 60,000 people every year no matter whether it's from ticketing, or media rights. Money spends all the same. Subsidising auskick in Queensland so it's free is what they would spend that money on either way.

The AFL much prefers to have 60,000 fans benefitting them $10 million a year than 100,00 fans benefitting them $7 million a year.

maybe the 2 billion dollars they've spent in QLD since 1987 & the sport is still only watched by the wankers who've moved there from vicdopia ?

they could have spent $4.50 for the same result

 

[comeinpeace]

So why do the paddle pop wions , you know
the 3 GFs in a row , back to back winners .... still need 35 million PA from derpball house .. double most teams in Vicdopia & 3rd only to the 2 latest basket cases ?

that & the highest amount of poker machine revenue in singletball ... to barely break even ?

Good thing the Lions will soon have a bigger stadium to play in to further help them not have to take money from head office.

And if your argument is that professional football clubs might rely on lots of pokies revenue... I mean, how is the NRL ever winning that argument?

 

[storm1999]

An average viewer in Perth is far more valuable to a free to air broadcaster average viewer in Newcastle mate, even if their population numbers are similar.

Spot on. Corporate sponsors looking for a product with a national footprint to advertise with care primarily about the big 5 metro markets: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Not Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle or Townsville. Not Auckland or PNG.
The AFL has a weekly game on average in all 5 key metro markets and at least 2 teams in each. This is a national game.
The NRL, while heading in the right direction with Perth Bears, is a long way behind.

 

[comeinpeace]

oh

is that why the NRL is going to sail past bumbleballs current deal then ?

Because, among other elements of the media rights deal, the NRL structure their rounds so no game is simultaneous. The AFL does not have that luxury. But that makes no difference in the sense of being able to generate attendance, matchday revenue. Which is why the AFL has more of that. The NRL would have more if it was able to schedule fewer games on a Thursday and Friday and more on a Saturday or Sunday but it would come at a cost of reduced media rights amount.