The NRL Grand Final headline number was 3.422 million, the average audience for last night’s game. That compares to the national audience of 3,404,000 for last year’s game. Coverage filled the top three places with the pre-game entertainment on 1.744 million (1.783m in 2023) while the post game had 1.658 million (1.725m in 2023). That helped Nine a 49.99% audience share, that in an Olympic year was only the 16th best result of the network this year. The network share compared to a metro share of 52.4% last year.
The nearest competition was The Voice that recorded a season low 675k, down 379k on last Sunday while The Amazing Race managed 457k, only down 60k. Return to Paradise dropped by almost 200k on ABC.
Earlier, Seven News was just ahead of Nine’s bulletin that had non-standard start times in three markets. 9News Late that followed the NRL coverage scored very well with over 500k.
At breakfast Sunrise had a 100k win over Today that was live in four markets.
Nine’s bulletin had the highest average audience. It was 30 minutes and only aired at 6pm in Sydney and Melbourne. Perth had to wait until about 7pm - Brisbane was 5pm and Adelaide 5.30pm
The NRL Grand Final had a lower national reach than last month’s AFL Grand Final (5.349 million vs 6.087 million) but a higher BVOD rating (762,000 vs 655,000).
It will be interesting to see if some of those viewers will return next Sunday. The catch-up figures will be interesting.
The NRL Grand Final dominated Sunday night viewing achieving an average audience across Total TV of 3.422 Million (up 0.3% year-on-year). This is the highest Total TV Audience for an NRL Grand Final since 2022. It achieved a National Total TV Reach of 5.349 Million.
The NRL Grand Final has recorded the highest ever BVOD Audience for a NRL Grand Final at 762,000. This is an increase of 26% year-on-year.
The NRLW Grand Final recorded the highest ever BVOD Audience for Women’s Grand Final at 101,000. This is an increase of 15% year-on-year. It achieved a National Total TV Reach of 1.452 million and a Total TV National Audience of 691,000.
9News was the No. 1 news bulletin in Australia with Total People, People 25-54 and People 16-39. The combined national bulletins achieved a National Total TV Reach of 1.814 million and a Total TV National Audience of 1.219 million. On 9Now, its BVOD Audience of 160,000.
The 9Network was the No. 1 Network across the 5 City Metro on Sunday with all key demos and Total People
9Now was the No. 1 CFTA BVOD platform on Sunday with all key demos and Total People
A 600k gap to the AFL GF, despite the contest being closer, much higher audiences in Brisbane, regional and bvod and fairly negligible differences with Sydney AFL vs Melbourne NRL and Melbourne AFL vs Sydney NRL.
It appears Adelaide and Perth’s huge 300k / 350k audiences for last week’s game, impressive when you consider Swans v Lions, was the main reason and as it turns out major factors and vital here.
Wonder if the NRL will look to drive more promotion and exposure in Adelaide and Western Australia or perhaps more importantly introduce new team(s)?
Note that these are broadcast TV numbers. That may sometimes lead to PR releases seeming to differ as to which program won a market if the network is using Total TV numbers that included live BVOD.
NRL
Total TV
5 City
Syd
Mel
Bri
Ade
Per
NRL
2,243,000
917,000
529,000
567,000
100,000
131,000
Ent
1,098,000
395,000
278,000
314,000
49,000
62,000
Post
1,073,000
515,000
151,000
249,000
55,000
103,000
Comparison of broadcast numbers to last year (excl BVOD) show all markets were lower except Melbourne. The BVOD figure last year was 607k nationally
NRL grand final between Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm pulls national TV audience of 3.42 million
“The ratings for the closely-fought match between the Panthers and the Melbourne Storm were up on last year’s NRL centrepiece but were easily outstripped by the TV audience for the lopsided AFL Grand Final a week earlier”.
Surprised nobody anywhere has been discussing these figures today (given the same numbers for the AFL were widely talked about online)… Considering the good contest and prime time plus a Sydney and non-traditional interstate (Melb) teams.
They’re rather poor, historically speaking and given all the fuss of 2020’s, even on par or worse than that COVID year IIRC.
Brisbane (NRL market) lower than Melbourne and both barely 400k for the Grand Final, with just 85k in Adelaide and barely 6 figures in Perth. Even Sydney for a population over 5m and RL heartland including a local team with only mid-600k. Brisbane also lower than the AFL GF!
The splits now better explain the total average 600k gap to the AFL GF, which was confusing when TVT initially reported them. Before adding the bvod 9Now, which makes up for things a bit.
I reckon the reason for the lower NRL grand final figures are a bunch of reasons. But mainly people are sick of Penrith Panthers winning. 5th straight grand final and 4th straight win.
Many believe Panthers are protected in the NRL and Melbourne Storm are a bunch of cheats.
Both teams that don’t resonate well with the supporter base. Compare this with the Canterbury Bulldogs and the West Tigers with huge supporter bases. Imagine the ratings if these teams made it to the grand final.
The Brisbane ratings are quite low. Not sure why. Adelaide and Perth couldn’t really care less it seems. Melbourne is high as expected because the Melbourne Storm were playing.
Hopefully next year we get some new teams with larger supporter bases making the NRL grand final to see what the ratings do just how the Swans and Lions made it in the AFL. Swans are traditionally very well supported and look at the lopsided grand final got incredible ratings for the AFL.