Ratings: Nine Network 2023 Ratings Report - survey

[TV.Cynic]

The 9Network has ended the year as No.1 in all key demographics in the five major capital cities.

For the fifth year in a row, 9Network has once again asserted its dominance as the most watched network in the five major capital cities with the demographics that matter most to advertisers.

Across the calendar year, the 9Network has swept to an emphatic victory as the outright No. 1 in all of the key demographics with People 25-54, 16-39 and Grocery Shopper + Child.

Furthermore, the 9Network recorded the highest ever commercial shares of any network with People 25-54 and 16-39.

Michael Healy, Nine’s Director of Television, said: “Nine is proud to have delivered Australia’s best content yet again to engage our audiences. As a dominant force with all key demographics, we have increased our lead over our competitors. Our continued success is a testament to a consistent programming slate featuring the biggest moments on television, including the nation’s most talked about programs in Married at First Sight and The Block. Our sports broadcasts wield immense cultural impact as evidenced by this year’s Ashes series and thrilling NRL Grand Final. Our news and current affairs output is world-class, underscored by our remarkable achievements at this year’s Walkley Awards. We are also proudly home to the country’s No. 1 BVOD player, with 9Now boasting almost half of the commercial share.”

The network’s continued dominance in the key demographics is underpinned by an unrivalled content slate that began in January with the Australian Open and continued throughout the year with hit after hit - Married At First Sight, LegoMasters, Parental Guidance, The Summit, The Block, Love Island Australia, Travel Guides and The Hundred with 9News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes, as well as sporting blockbusters State of Origin, the NRL and NRLW, The Ashes, and the ICC World Cup.

When Australians unite around content, they turn to the 9Network, which is the home of the highest rating entertainment program of the year (The Block - Winner Announced), the No. 1 reality series (Married at First Sight), No. 1 new reality series (The Summit), No. 1 metro light entertainment series (Travel Guides), No. 1 daily current affairs program (A Current Affair) and the No. 1 weekly commercial free-to-air current affairs program (60 Minutes).

Linear Television – Network commercial shares
6pm to midnight - 2023 calendar year (Jan 1 - Nov 30)
Key Demographics

Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 1 January 2023 – 30 November 2023, 18:00 – 23:59, Network Nine, Network Seven, Network 10, Key Demos + Total People, Commercial Share, Consolidated 28 as at 1 December 2023.

Linear Television – Network commercial shares
6am to midnight - 2023 calendar year (Jan 1 - Nov 30)
Key demographics

Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 1 January 2023 – 30 November 2023, 6:00 – 23:59, Network Nine, Network Seven, Network 10, Key Demos + Total People, Commercial Share, Consolidated 28 as at 1 December 2023.

With an unparalleled slate of engaging content, from gripping dramas and reality shows to award-winning news coverage and live sports events, the 9Network has consistently outperformed its rivals with the audiences so eagerly sought by advertisers and marketers.

The strength of 9Network’s entertainment franchises including Married At First Sight and The Block has the ability to deliver valuable under 50 audiences, with 9Network able to lay claim to being the ‘Under 50 Network’, with a greater share of this lucrative metro audience than any of its competitors.

Linear Television – Network commercial shares
6pm to midnight - 2023 calendar year (Jan 1 - Nov 30)
Under 50s

Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 1 January 2023 – 30 November 2023, 18:00 – 23:59, Network Nine, Network Seven, Network 10,0-49, Commercial Share, Consolidated 28 as at 1 December 2023.

Our stellar performance also extends to Broadcast Video On Demand (BVOD) viewing, where 9Now is once again an unrivalled No. 1 with all key demographics and Total People.

Michael Stephenson, Nine’s Chief Sales Officer, said: “The future of TV is Total TV - a combination of terrestrial, live streaming and on-demand. We license, create and curate our content schedule to maximise audiences across live, live streaming and on-demand. The growth of 9Now is critical to advertisers and reflective of changes in consumer behaviour.”

Broadcast Video on Demand commercial shares
2023 calendar year (Jan 1 - Nov 30)

Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, 1 January 2023 – 30 November 2023. Metric: CFTA Minutes, duration 0+, includes coviewing on Connected TV

In 2023, 9Now has reached more Australians than any other commercial free-to-air BVOD platform. On average, 4 million Australians tune into 9Now every month - 17% more than 2022.

An astonishing 18.7 billion minutes of content has been streamed on 9Now in 2023 - a year-on-year increase of 16%.

[TV.Cynic]

Nine is home to the biggest shows in Australia
No. 1 reality television series - Married at First Sight
No. 2 reality television series -The Block
No. 1 metro light entertainment series - Travel Guides
No. 1 daily current affairs program - A Current Affair
No. 1 weekly commercial free-to-air current affairs program - 60 Minutes

Source: OzTAM Metro (5 City Metro) + Regional TAM Regional (Combined Agg Mkts), 1 Jan - 29 Nov 2023, excludes “ENCORE” “RPT” “R”, Programs grouped based on primary description and by genre (L1 / L2 where applicable / L3 where applicable), FTA primary + multi channels, Total People, AUD (ranked on Metro + Regional), consolidated 28 data (at 30 Nov 23).

Nine’s highest rating program of the year was the thrilling NRL Premiership decider between the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos which recorded a Total TV audience of 3.6 million. It secured a streaming audience of 605,000 on 9Now - the largest for a rugby league game in history. This year’s NRL season boasted year-on-year growth of 36.2% in BVOD and 1.7% in Total TV.

Our next three highest rating programs of the year were the 2023 State of Origin Series, which recorded Total TV audiences of 3.4 million (Match 1), 3.2 million (Match 2) and 2.6 million (Match 3). This year’s State of Origin Series enjoyed year-on-year growth of 22.6% in BVOD and 2.8% in Total TV.

The Australian Open Men’s Final was Nine’s fifth highest rating program of the year with a Total TV audience of 2 million.

The Block - Winner Announced is the highest rating non-sports program of the year and recorded a Total TV audience of 2.5 million.

In its incredible 19th series, The Block achieved a Total TV average audience of 1.4 million per episode - an increase of 43% on its overnight audience. An average of 294,000 viewers watched each episode on 9Now.

Married at First Sight achieved a Total TV average audience of 2 million per episode - an increase of 71% on its overnight audience. An average of 669,000 viewers watched each episode on 9Now. This year’s series of MAFS recorded year-on-year growth of 22.3% in BVOD and 1.2% in Total TV.

Lego Masters achieved a Total TV average audience of 1.1 million per episode - an increase of 53% on its overnight audience. An average of 166,000 viewers watched each episode on 9Now.

Travel Guides achieved a Total TV average audience of 1.2 million per episode - an increase of 41% on its overnight audience. An average of 184,000 viewers watched each episode on 9Now. In 2023, Travel Guides achieved year-on-year growth of 31.4% in BVOD and 3.6% in Total TV.

The Summit achieved a Total TV average audience of 766,000 per episode - an increase of 33% on its overnight audience. An average of 147,000 viewers watched each episode on 9Now.

My Mum Your Dad has achieved a Total TV average audience of 610,000 per episode - an increase of 48% on its overnight audience. An average of 157,000 viewers are watching each episode on 9Now.

Love Island Australia is once again a smash hit on 9Now, averaging 293,000 viewers per episode on the BVOD platform.

9News has completely dominated its opposition in the BVOD space, winning every single week of the year. Each night, an average of 47,000 viewers stream 9News via 9Now, compared to 35,000 streaming 7News on 7Plus.

Today has also completely dominated its breakfast opposition in the BVOD space, winning every single week of the year. Each morning, an average of 24,000 viewers stream Today via 9Now, compared to 19,000 streaming Sunrise on 7Plus.

*Header Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 2019 - 2023 Survey Years as at 30/11/2023 (excluding 23/07/21-08/08/21), 18:00 – 23:59, Network Nine, Network Seven, Network 10, Key Demos, Commercial Share, Consolidated 28 as at 30 November 2023.* *Strongest Share Source: Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 2001 - 2023 to 28/11/2023, 18:00 – 23:59, Network Nine, Network Seven, Network 10, P 25-54, P 16-39, Commercial Share, Consolidated 28 as at 29 November 2023.* *Program Source: OzTam (5 City Metro & Regional Combined Panel) Nine Network, Nine Content Affiliates, Excluding Encore, Average Audience, Total People, Consolidated 28; OzTAM Live VPM, NRL Grand Final (1/10/2023), State of Origin Games 1-3 (31/5/2023 - 12/07/2023 v 8/06/2022 - 13/07/2022), NRL Premiership -Matches Only (2/03/2023 - 1/10/2023 v 10/03/2022 - 2/10/022), Australian Open Men's Final (29/01/2023), Nine News Hour Sunday - Saturday (1/1/2023 - 9/11/2023. 29/11 based on pre-logs), Today (2/1/2023 - 9/11/2023. 29/11 based on pre-logs), includes coviewing on connected tv devices; The Block Winner Announced (5/11/2023), based on pre log; OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, 9Now Only, Con28, The Block (6/8/2023 - 5/11/2023), Married at First Sight (30/01/2023 - 3/04/2023 v 31/01/2022 - 4/04/2022), Lego Masters (10/04/2023 - 8/05/2023), Travel Guides (19/04/2023 - 14/06/2023 v 30/03/2022 - 18/05/2022), The Summit (14/05/2023 - 4/06/2023), My Mum, Your Dad (31/10/2023 - 20/11/2023); OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Rolling Cume, Love Island Australia (30/10/2023 - 29/11/2023), includes coviewing on connected tv devices. *The Block and My Mum, Your Dad consolidated 28 as at 29/11/2023*

[Sully]

@TV.Cynic

No. 1 weekly commercial free-to-air current affairs program - 60 Minutes

That’s interesting, I know Seven’s Spotlight had been doing well if not dominating last year and/or this year more than not. I also thought Cynic had noted more than once “lows” for 60 Minutes? Unless it’s in the fine print/Nine’s wording

[TV.Cynic]

@Sully

That’s interesting, I know Seven’s Spotlight had been doing well if not dominating last year and/or this year more than not. I also thought Cynic had noted more than once “lows” for 60 Minutes? Unless it’s in the fine print/Nine’s wording

60 Minutes looks to be well ahead of Spotlight. While Spotlight has had some wins it has also had some very poor results and averages well below 400k.

[JohnsonTV]

Nine had another great survey, especially for 9Now. It had a couple of ratings duds (The Summit and My Mum Your Dad) but they didn’t affect the overall result.

I reckon it could have won the survey if not for FIFA Women’s World Cup.

[Sully]

I don’t think Seven even tried to claim anything ‘No. 1’ in ctv-bvod, so definitely a stellar year for 9Now (helped by livr rights for Aus Open, NRL and Ashes plus vod powerhouse in Married, Block and Love Island, depsite Seven’s FIFA WWC).

[spw68]

Why is 9 quoting from 1 January as their measure? When did the unofficial official ratings start this year?

[Sully]

@spw68

Why is 9 quoting from 1 January

Because calendar year includes the summer of tennis (out of survey in Jan), so the Australian Open ratings can be included, particularly for 9Now and live streaming shares. As well as the Final rating 2m total average.

Also Nine (and 10) have been strong on their stance of “programming for 52 weeks” rather than the old fashioned “survey”, even though the networks still do an annual survey wrap (like above) and spin and counter-claim each other, same with OzTAM’s calendar, perhaps still a higher rates thing with advertisers?

[spw68]

Yeah I know. It was kind of rhetorical.
I love the “what’s important with advertisers”… who cares? It’s about the viewers not the advertisers.

[killy06]

This press release is not for viewers, it’s squarely aimed at advertisers - that’s why it matters.

[spw68]

Yes. I understand that. But they need to remember its all viewers that count. Advertisers may be interested in different demographics, but your total audience is the sum total of who is watching your channel. You’re an idiot if you forget that. Lose your audience and you’ve got nothing to sell to advertisers anyway.
And I think advertisers actually underestimate how much money the older viewers have and how much they actually spend. In tough times, the younger ones run out of dollars but the older folk still have plenty!

[killy06]

I get that’s your opinion, but it’s just not reality.

There is literally a whole media and wider industry which operates on the same basis of very specific target demographics. Networks make decisions about this, what viewer groups they want to target with various commissions etc.

That data is highly important to them when making decisions, and in turn advertisers wanting to target audiences for their products or services - one size fits all does not work here.

Of course it doesn’t stop people outside of that tuning into various programming which may not necessarily be targeted for them, but they really can’t account for all people and hence why demos are important.

All viewers only count when the networks want to crow about reach or total views, most of the time they’re talking about demographic groups.

Case in point the press release above.