Football’s do-or-die TV rights deal
Roar Rookie By sport_media, 16 May 2011 sport_media is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- A-League, a-league tv coverage, AFL television rights, Australian Football, football, Fox Sports, Foxtel, NRL, Socceroos
303 Have your say
4,941 readsRelated coverage
- Football news
- A-League news
- Socceroos news
- Socceroos Fixtures news
- NRL news
- Socceroos 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying news
Media and TV rights have been the focus for domestic sports leagues in Australia over the last few months, and the AFL has somehow taken the largest deal of all sports leagues.
Foxtel was a big player in this new plus billion dollar deal and the AFL wouldn’t have been able to do it without a few very generous companies.
While the NRL and Socceroos take the biggest ratings for Foxtel regularly, the AFL has somehow convinced business leaders in Telstra, Foxtel and Channel Seven that they deserve the most money for TV rights when Australian Rules is known to be a spectator sport and not as popular over broadcast.
The domestic media will say that NRL and football will get their fair share of the TV rights pie when their deals come up for negotiation, but there is only so much money Foxtel and Channel Seven can give out, isn’t there?
Foxtel believe their subscription rates in places like Melbourne will go up when there is a general trend of ditching pay TV for new free-to-air digital television.
The prices of Foxtel are rising due to this new AFL deal and recently the NRL have stated they will ditch Foxtel for free-to-air providers if the company can’t give NRL what it deserves, which is much more than AFL.
This could prove catastrophic for Foxtel if the majority of the country’s population in New South Wales and Queensland ditch their pay TV subscriptions and free-to-air reap the benefits.
Football on the other hand hasn’t been arguing or threatening Foxtel but have been submissive to premature calls for the new A-League television rights to be smaller than the original deal. While the FFA are worrying about this they aren’t focusing on Australian footballs golden egg that is Socceroos games.
Socceroos have produced the highest rating Foxtel program ever and regularly feature in the top 10 or 50 rating programs. It is undeniable that the Socceroos are the most valuable sporting broadcast product in Australia and they deserve one of the biggest deals in comparison to all other sports.
While Foxtel might not be prepared to cough up what is deserved for international football, there is definitely potential for the FFA to ditch pay TV in search of new free-to-air money.
Channel Nine would be likely destination and who knows if a new deal doesn’t just include World Cup qualifiers but all friendlies and qualifying matches? This would kill Foxtel and prove that the FFA have just a bit of power over the company that is denying football its deserved wealth.
When considering the A-League, companies like Foxtel cannot deny that it has grown in popularity and quality and while it doesn’t get particularly big viewership, there is no doubting its potential.
If A-League games moved to free-to-air, shared over a few channels it could seriously increase the competitions popularity and then would prove a further rights deal big money.
Why should football suffer the same fate of Super Rugby, disappearing from the majority population and only left for the most attached rugby fans willing to pay for it.
The FFA need to be smart over a new deal and I would strongly recommend separating Socceroos negotiations to the A-League and trying to secure a high earning long term deal for Socceroos. The A-League deal should be more short term, exposing the free-to-air market and then after a couple of years negotiating something new with a significantly appreciated new deal for an enlightened market.
There is no doubting the A-League’s potential and it already on-sells highlights packages to some 100 countries so it must be somewhat financially beneficial.
The FFA would be wrong to package Socceroos with A-League because Socceroos are just so valuable and can get their own share of revenue which would be undermined if packaged with another asset.
Some say the A-League cannot stand on its own feet and produce a good enough deal but it has already proved that wrong with a long stretch on Foxtel. Maybe when the A-League was starting it was too immature to be sold stand-alone but look at how much it has grown.
Foxtel have become too comfortable with the fact that they will keep A-League rights and that no other broadcaster wants them.
Well I can name two free-to-air channels, (who haven’t wasted their money on AFL rights) that could produce a very high quality joint broadcast product and who’s to say a deal with pay TV other than Foxtel cannot be made? Why not get SBS and Channel Ten involved with Setanta Sports or ESPN?
New free-to-air broadcasting would benefit everyone involved due to huge increases in A-League interest. It’s like we have a nation of A-League fans who don’t know it yet. The A-League engages sports fans across Australia on the national level and not out of Melbourne or Sydney.
Foxtel might continue to deny sports like rugby league and football their deserved revenue streams but the alternatives are looking brighter and brighter as the AFL shows no signs of recouping the ‘giant’ media investment made from Foxtel, Seven and Telstra. There could be a big bidding war for the two highest rating Australian sports and who knows what will result.
Foxtel is definitely in for a reality check, its overwhelming monopoly on sports broadcasting has gone on for far too long.
May 16th 2011 @ 7:54am
mds1970 said | May 16th 2011 @ 7:54am | Report comment
The Socceroos rate very well, but they don’t have many games. Over the remainder of this year, there’s only a few friendlies; usually involving second-string teams in late-night timeslots. The first round of World Cup qualifiers is still a year away.
The AFL will get good money because they offer their best product every week. The FFA could definitely increase their rights value by having more games involving full-strength Socceroos games in prime time. But getting them released from their clubs to play those games would be problematic.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:07am
peeeko said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
agreed, the socceroos only play a few games each year on foxtel
May 16th 2011 @ 10:55am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Actually, if you follow football you would understand that the first round of qualifiers Brasil 2014 is less than 4 months away.
Australia’s first games for the 2014WC qualification are likely to be on Friday, 2 September 2011 and/or Tuesday, 10 September 2011.
Football never sleeps … and, neither do its fans.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:48pm
me, I like football said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
No wonder they (soccer fans) can’t seem to think clearly. not to metion a little irritable
May 17th 2011 @ 10:29am
mds1970 said | May 17th 2011 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I stand corrected on the dates of the World Cup qualifiers. I hadn’t heard anything about the dates for 2014 qualifiers; but I remember last time round, which was our first in Asia, the first qualifier was early 2008 against Qatar at Docklands.
But other than that, the point remains. There’s not a lot of product for the Socceroos – the full-strength team will only play a handful of games per year in prime time. If it were possible to schedule more games, the value of the TV rights would increase considerably; but with most of the players based overseas it’s not going to happen.
May 17th 2011 @ 10:49am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 17th 2011 @ 10:49am | Report comment
I don’t think you can automatically assume that “more games” leads to more dollars.
If you are lucky enough to control a premium product, it is likely the product will be devalued by increasing supply. If you have a product that people desperately crave, then it’s always nice to “keep the punters wanting more” …
I am not a cricket fan but, from what I’ve heard from cricket fans, the increasing number of Cricket internationals has devalued their product.
Now that we’ve moved to the AFC, there are more than enough meaningful Football internationals every year for our lads and a couple of practice matches against top opponents.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:07am
dasilva said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:07am | Report comment
The reason why Foxtel is threatening to give a reduce deal is becasue Socceroos World Cup qualifying match are placed in an anti-siphoning list
the major cashcow as you put it off this deal WILL go to free to air
Once that gone, what’s left for Foxtel to bid?A-league matches and low profile socceroos matches.
I really think that you are overplaying the bargaining position that FFA have as well.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:22pm
Football Fan said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Well said dasilva. there’s a lot of ignorance in this article.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:39pm
BigAl said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Agreed ! – in fact ‘…a lot of ignorance…’ is being far too gentle
May 16th 2011 @ 8:08am
Tigranes said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Have a look at the top 100 rated sporting programs, and you will see that overwhelmingly NRL dominates and then AFL, then association football and rugby about par.
So what if the Socceroos have pulled the biggest television crowd in Australian television history, the NRL and AFL deliver week in week out top quality ratings.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:16am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:16am | Report comment
What he said.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:47am
punter said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:47am | Report comment
The Socceroos have pulled the biggest TV crowds because it’s the only football code with a strong national following. The A-League has to marketed as the breeding ground for most of the socceroos, either currently playing or started out & now playing in O/S league.
This national unity (the Socceroos) is something niether the AFL (especially) or the NRL have. We need to make the fact that we have an int’l sport to our favour instead bemoaning that the best football in the world don’t reside in Australia, unlike non int’l sports like AFL or minimum Rugby league where the best is here already.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:25am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:25am | Report comment
punter is absolutely correct.
The population spread across the 5 major capital cities is:
Syd: 34%; Mel: 30%; Bri: 15%; Ade: 9%; Per: 12%
And, when you analyse the FTA TV ratings for all the major team sports, the ratings for Football on FTA TV closely reflects the National psyche.
FOOTBALL FTA TV spread in 2010: Syd: 35%; Mel: 29%; Bri: 14%; Ade: 8%; Per: 14%
Using total figures for 2010 FIFA WC tournament – not just the 3 games involving Australia’s National Football team – which was the last major international Football event on FTA TV.
It’s uncanny how the spread of interest in Football on FTA TV closely corresponds to the spread of the Aussie population!
By contrast, the spread of interest for RL and AFL is extremely polarised:
AFL FTA TV spread in 2010: Syd: 5%; Mel: 49%; Bri: 8%; Ade: 18%; Per: 21%
NRL FTA TV spread in 2010: Syd: 60%; Mel: 1.4%; Bri: 37%; Ade: 0.2%; Per: 0.3%
May 16th 2011 @ 12:26pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Nice work Fussball.
Although the polarising for the NRL is due to the fantastic work of Channel Nine hoarding the game outside of NSW & QLD.
Worthy of note when referencing FTA figures for Mel, Ade & Per is that NRL games are played after midnight, whereas it is possible for AFL to be viewed at a reasonable time into Syd and Bri.
National teams do fit into the psyche no matter what code. I’d even watch an international AFL test match if not too one sided.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:47pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Boomshanka
And, whhen referencing the FTA figures I posted for Football, it’s worth noting that the majority (perhaps 75-80%) of those Football matches were broadcast between midnight-600 a.m. on the East Coast of Australia.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:02pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Fussball
Agree, however I was referring to the polarisation as the NRL is shown into so called AFL states some 4 – 9 hrs delayed in the small hours of the morning versus prime time for Sydney and Brisbane.
This whole mess where the best games are cherry picked for FTA’s while leaving rats and mice stuff to subscription TV does nothing to increase the real value for the respective codes. The only code to seemingly benefit under this arrangement is the AFL as it only has one competition of any substance (ie no internationals, representative or tournaments) and therefore can realise value from its strongest (and only comp).
May 16th 2011 @ 1:16pm
Jon said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Hey Fuss, I am still intersted to know how these figures are calculated? A mate and I went to watch the A-League final at his local pub. The place was packed and there was three screens showing three different Fox programs – one was the A-League Final – but who was watching what screen? We ended up going to another venue that had the final on a larger screen with full volume so we could actually hear the coverage. Throughout the game, there were people who flowed into and out of the venue who stopped briefly enough to watch some of the action before moving on – were they counted? And who counted? And who’s to say they werent watching one of the other screens? It should be noted that if you search for a news article online and read that one article, that particular newspaper counts the hit as part of their circulation (no different from briefly watching five minutes of the A-Leauge final). Advertisers tend to pay more for larger circulations so maybe it is time for the A-league to run an independant survey on how many actually watch?
May 16th 2011 @ 2:09pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
@Jon
I’m not an expert on how ratings are assessed but it appears OzTAM is the official source of FTA television audience measurement in households in Australia’s 5 capital cities.
OzTAM’s figures do NOT account for viewing audiences in Darwin, Canberra or Hobart, any of the regional areas, or viewing in public venues, such as pubs, clubs, etc.
And, according to one of Australia’s leading statisticians, Gary Morgan from the Roy Morgan Research, the OzTAM system has significant flaws, which leads to TV audiences on SBS TV being significantly underestimated.
Morgan claims OzTAM figures underestimate SBS TV audiences since there are inadequate representation of SBS-viewing households in the TV rating panel.
Additionally, Morgan suggests the OzTAM system underestimates light and very-light TV viewing households.
So, special events (e.g. FIFA WC), which attracts large audiences, who don’t normally watch television, are underestimated due to the OzTAM TV household panel being skewed towards heavier TV viewing households.
For instance, for the Italy v Aust match at WC2006
* OzTAM estimate: 2.8 million average audience
* Roy Morgan’s estimate: 5.1 million average audience
i.e. OzTAM had underestimated the audience by a whopping 2.3 million – out by nearly 50%!
Source: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2006/4043/
May 17th 2011 @ 12:00am
Alvaro said | May 17th 2011 @ 12:00am | Report comment
I noticed watching the Womens Football yesterday a one Wayne Swan being interviewed at full time , treasurer of something ( tounge in cheek ) saying Football will be fine financially for the future.
May 17th 2011 @ 2:51pm
Whites said | May 17th 2011 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
@Fussball
Yes. Oztam covers the 5 metro markets and you can get the daily ratings at tvtonight.com.au
Regional figures are harder to come by. They’re produced by RegionalTAM. ThinkTV release an overall regional top 40 every Monday. Actually the 5city top 40, regional top 40(VIC, QLD, NorthernNSW and SouthernNSW) and an overall “nationwide” top 40.
http://www.thinktv.com.au/content_common/pg-2011-releases.seo
Now you can also get a breakdown of the regional top 20 but it is usually delayed 3-4 weeks. This also has a seperate top 20 for Tasmania.
http://www.agbnielsen.net/whereweare/dynPage.asp?father=223&lang=english&id=605&country=Australia
TV ratings are probably pretty accurate for everything but live sport. Simply because people don’t meet at the pub to watch Dancing with the Stars.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:21pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Look forward to an analysis of A League (national league) ratings split against the demographic and compared to the AFL/NRL.
it’s where your stats fall down. A League ratings are nowhere near the AFL/NRL despite the national footprint
May 16th 2011 @ 1:46pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Redb
I’m not sure if you aware, but the A-League is not – and, never has been – broadcast on FTA TV in Australia.
If we ever get FTA TV coverage, I promise to provide details in the future – keep logging in to The Roar.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:13pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
I’m talking about Foxtel where you can compare.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:58pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
@Redb
As far as I am aware, ratings for Foxtel are accumulated and are NOT provided on a “per city” basis.
Regardless, Foxtel is not an appropriate product to use when analysing the viewing pattern of the broad Aussie public, since the broad Aussie public does NOT access Foxtel.
By contrast, FTA TV is a product that would be broadly used by 99.9% of the Aussie population.
May 16th 2011 @ 2:48pm
Whites said | May 16th 2011 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
That’s not even the point of the post. The post clearly shows that Aussie Rules and Rugby League interest is not uniform nationwide but that the level of interest in Football is pretty uniform irrespective of which state you are talking about. Rugby Union would probably be similar to Rugby League.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:19pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
That’s hardly a revelation Whites. The issue is how does it supposedly help?
May 16th 2011 @ 4:50pm
me, I like football said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:50pm | Report comment
where did you pull those figures from?
May I suggest you get some rest
May 16th 2011 @ 8:21pm
TJ said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
Nice numbers fuss.
And I can agree working in the industry that there is a lot of scepticism with the OzTam numbers, and many people value the Roy Morgan numbers more. However, because the OzTam numbers are the official usage for measurement and evaluation, as a result they drive much of the decision making. The Roy Morgan numbers use a sample size of 3.5 times OzTam, survey regional people, and have a methodology less open to manipulation. That said the Roy Morgan numbers are not derived from real time usage, so can not be used officially.
Having said that the Oz Tam numbers drive most of the decision making because of it’s offical use for ratings, the Roy Morgan survey is still considered. This is best exemplified by the AFL broadcast deal. One of the things that the Roy Morgan numbers indicates is the greater per game broadcast reach of AFL v NRL per head of population, plus a greater socio-demographic appeal of the AFL v NRL to advertisers. It’s a very loose argument that propositions somehow because 54% of the population live the states where NRL is king that should to lead to equitable broadcast deals between NRL and AFL. That assumes every single person living the southern states watches AFL and every single person in the northern states watches the NRL. Living in Sydney I can assure you that a lot people don’t watch the NRL. With the greater sample size of the Morgan research this fact is better represented. In favour of the NRL is the power of state of origin, which is the most valuable sporting property in Australia, again driven by reach across the population including socio-demographic profile.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:56pm
Bale3 said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
What is more valuable 5 poorly rating programs of AFL each week, that go for over two hours each inc. ads.
Or a few high quality international football fixtures getting the whole nation involved?
Not to mention A-League as well, you AFL people are talking about football like only Socceroos exist and there is no such thing as club level.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:08pm
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
AFL games on TV go for 3 hours, what 5 poorly rating AFL games are you talking about, A-league ratings are pathetic on Fox bar the GF.
The last international soccer game between Germany and Australia drew 25,000 viewers on Fox, which is not very good.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:17pm
Bale3 said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
I stand corrected, 3 hours is much worse!!!
So you choose to talk about the one Socceroos fixture that was on at about 4 in the morning and the A-League which has no FTA coverage? nice…
May 16th 2011 @ 4:36pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
SBF
The international match to which you refer was:
a) a practice match
b) broadcast on Foxtel from 5:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m.
Q1. What would you consider to be “good ratings” for Foxtel at that time of the morning?
Q2. Suppose the AFL & GAA scheduled a practice match between Ireland v Australia at 5:45 a.m. (AEST) what sort of ratings could we expect?
May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm
Jaceman said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
The point is there are 160 other high rating AFL games the rest of the year. A few Socceroos friendlies and some important WC qualifier games every 3-4 years (many in a bad timeslot) is hardly going to get the networks interested. However there is a halo effect for being the Socceroos broadcaster. Has SBS ever run a campaign that the A-League and Socceroos should be on FTA?. They certainly ran a campaign for the EPL highlights to be on FTA first.. Perhaps they know the hand that feeds..
May 16th 2011 @ 6:23pm
Whites said | May 16th 2011 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
St George Ilawarra Dragons vs Wigan at roughly the same time had twice the audience of the Australia vs Germany game. I should say I watched both games.
May 16th 2011 @ 6:29pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 6:29pm | Report comment
Whites – that’s good information to have.
The only other question to ensure we’re comparing “like with like”:
Q. Was the St George Ilawarra Dragons vs Wigan match a “meaningful match” or a practice match – the Germany v Australia game was a practice match.
Regardless, I’m sure those ratings are excellent for that time of the morning and for a match involving clubs as opposed to national teams.
May 17th 2011 @ 11:59am
Whites said | May 17th 2011 @ 11:59am | Report comment
It was the NRL winner vs the Super League winner. Although it basically decides the rugby league world club champion I wouldn’t rank it any more important then an Australia vs Germany friendly. It was played several weeks before the start of the NRL season and is generally treated like a friendly by the NRL club involved.
12 Live: Rugby League: World Club Challenge Fox Sports 3 56,000
It started about 6am on a Monday morning.
This may be of interest. The game was watched by 24,268 fans at the DW Stadium in Wigan. The day before only 18,140 turned up to watch Wigan go down 4-0 to Manchester United. Before anyone jumps on me I know there are reasons for this(Wigan are crap, limited space for away fans etc).
May 17th 2011 @ 12:14pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 17th 2011 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
I’m sure that’s an excellent PayTV ratings figure for that hour of the morning.
Although, I get the feeling …
… if the HAL winner (Brisbane Roar) played the EPL champion (Man United) we may see a new record for Foxtel TV ratings – for any time of the day … just my opinion.
Interestingly, the practice match GER v AUS attracted a crowd of 30,152 to Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach and I’d reckon it would have been viewed by a couple of million Germans on TV.
May 17th 2011 @ 3:18pm
Ian Syson said | May 17th 2011 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Whites. You forgot one reason: Wigan is a Rugby League town.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:11am
Stevo said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:11am | Report comment
I would love football on free to air, but the reality is that the A-League is funded primarily by Foxtel money, and Foxtel only paid so much for the rights because it also got exclusive Socceroos WCQs and friendlies. The A-League wouldn’t exist without Foxtel money, and it wouldn’t have that money if Foxtel couldn’t have exclusive rights to Socceroos matches.
The Government is planning to put WCQs on the new anti-siphoning list, meaning they will be on free to air at the end of the current broadcast agreement with Foxtel in 2013 – but don’t think that Seven, Nine or Ten are interested in paying anywhere near the amount Foxtel did, or that they have any interest in showing the A-League.
Like it or not, football is a niche market in Australia (save for the World Cup once every four years) and will never attract the mass audience that justifies week-in week-out coverage on commercial television.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:35am
Bale3 said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:35am | Report comment
I agree,
A-League needs to be on FTA and it is ridiculous the threats some business leaders have been making towards a new HAL deal.
Socceroos are the best product and have more game than Wallabies and Kangaroos combined.
Either Foxtel needs to start paying up for its huge share of the football market or FFA will take it elsewhere.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:34pm
The Bush said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
“Socceroos are the best product and have more game than Wallabies and Kangaroos combined.”
Do you mean “game” like as in they are “awesome” and they “bring it”, or do you mean game(s), as in the amount they play?
This year the Wallabies will play only a minimum nine (9) games, due to the World Cup, but could play as many as twelve (12) plus (depending on Qualification and a tentative November Tour). In a normal year the Wallabies play thirteeen (13) games at least.
The Kangaroos now play a minimum four (4) games a year (mid-year Test, and three (3) in the Four Nations, plus usually the final). That means that most years the combined number of times these teams play is somewhere in the sixteen (16) plus vicinity per annum…
Do the Socceroos play more than sixteen (16) times in a year? No…
A quick review shows that the Socceroos played twelve (12) games in 2010; twelve (12) games in 2009 and thirteen (13) games in 2008.
That means that on average the Socceroos actually play only as frequently as the Wallabies…
May 16th 2011 @ 4:06pm
Bale3 said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
I mean games,
but ‘game’ as well if you want…
Socceroos played at least as many as Wallabies- if you count 2010/11 as a season then would be more than both combined.
Rugby league only has a couple of int’s anyway.
And it really helped for you to ask a question and then answer it straight after, thanks for highlighting that!
May 16th 2011 @ 4:31pm
The Bush said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Bale3,
It doesn’t matter how you structure the “season” they still only play twelve (12) or thirteen (13) games in a season or a calendar year, just like the Wallabies (sometimes less than the Wallabies – who are an over “milked” team if ever one existed).
The facts are however, that the Socceroos command a much larger audience these days (than the Wallabies), and should, in theory, get a big pay day out of their next FTA television deal (as opposed to the amount the A-League will recieve).
The question then is can/will/do the FFA use that pay day to help prop-up the A-League if it’s television deal is pitiful (as Foxtel may or may not be willing to forkout now that they don’t have the Soccerros included in the deal)…
As a Roar fan, I hope the money flows, but unfortunately I’m not a TV exec…
May 16th 2011 @ 8:39am
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:39am | Report comment
The AFL didn’t get a massive TV rights deal out of the blue – it has been receiving the biggest chunk of TV money for 20 years now, in other words, the broadcasters have been paying over the odds and been making a terrible decision for the last 20 Years!
Now why would broadcasters fall over themeselves to continually throw their money away on a product no one watches?
Here’s one good reason: when Nine won the rights about 10 years ago, it was the market leader, as soon as Seven won the rights back, it became the market leader – that’s 10 years of data right there.
How about the ratings for week 19, May 1 to May 7 for Fox:
1 LIVE: AFL GOLD COAST V BRISBANE LIONS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:00 351
2 LIVE: NRL BRONCOS V STORM FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 327
3 LIVE: AFL COLLINGWOOD V W BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:31 286
4 LIVE: AFL RICHMOND V FREMANTLE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 16:00 285
5 LIVE: NRL RAIDERS V WESTS TIGERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 231
6 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V GOLD COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:00 230
7 LIVE: AFL PRE GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:00 196
8 LIVE: AFL WESTERN BULLDOGS V SYDNEY FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 13:00 180
9 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V PANTHERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 12:00 153
10 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH FOX SPORTS 1 Mon 20:30 148
Seven of top ten shows are AFL.
Two of these seven are actually AFL talk shows – which helps explain why Fox has created half a dozen new talk shows over the past 12 months.
As the penetration of Fox improves in the Southern states, those ratings will get even bigger.
Lastly, as another post has already mentioned, the Socceroos might be able to match the AFL in TV money if it was playing 200 games per annum – that’s a big if by the way. When the Socceroos managed a historic win against Germany, only 24,000 tuned in on Fox.
In other words, seven times as many people watched an AFL talk show as watched the Socceroos defeat Germany.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:38am
punter said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Pip, the game was actually at 5am in the morning, but lets not get the true facts.
Another couple of facts more people in NSW would be more willing to watch the socceroos than a Collingwood v Carlton match.
Or in Victoria, more people more willing to watch the socceroos than St George v Brisbane.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:54am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:54am | Report comment
You seem to be pinning your hopes on the Socceroos Pay Tv ratings, whilst good, they’re barely a dozen games a year. The NRL have 26 rounds with 5 games a week = 130 games. The AFL have 24 rounds with 4 games a week = 96 games.
Next year this will increase to 9 games a week for the AFL all live for the latest rights. That’s 216 games not including finals. That’s a lot of content that regularly rates in the top 10 each week for 7 months.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:08am
punter said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Redb, I not pinning my hopes on the Socceroos. I was just correcting Pip.
I understand why a media outlet would pay more for a product that is available week in week out than the ‘novelty’ events
If you look at my post above, i was suggesting we need to market the A-League to harness the support we do get for the Socceroos.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:20am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Good, becuase its a moot point.
The author also seems to think along with the NRL, the Socceroos are only worthy of Foxtel dollars.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:28am
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:28am | Report comment
The author is either trolling, or about ten years old, ……. my guess is the author is probably both.
“the AFL wouldn’t have been able to do it without a few very generous companies.”
“While the NRL and Socceroos take the biggest ratings for Foxtel regularly, the AFL has somehow convinced business leaders in Telstra, Foxtel and Channel Seven that they deserve the most money for TV rights when Australian Rules is known to be a spectator sport and not as popular over broadcast.”
“the AFL has somehow taken the largest deal of all sports leagues”
“as the AFL shows no signs of recouping the ‘giant’ media investment made from Foxtel, Seven and Telstra”
“Well I can name two free-to-air channels, (who haven’t wasted their money on AFL rights)”
and etc etc
May 16th 2011 @ 10:35am
Matt F said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:35am | Report comment
whilst i do agree that the afl deserve more tv rights money, the foxtel stats put up are a bit misleading. it’s taken from a week where because of the RL test and city/country there were only 3 NRL matches on in that week. There was no monday night match which generally tops weekly ratings by some distance and only 1 saturday night match instead of 3. a fairer comparison would be this weeks (or any other weeks) where regular comparisons can be made.
one thing that i’ve always found curious is that whilst the NRL matches generally top foxtel’s ratings the AFL talk shows consitently outrate the NRL ones.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:12am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Matt F,
I think you’ll find AFL games regularly make the Top 10 sports programs. That week was the best result including being head to head with the Broncos-Storm game on Foxtel.
The AFL talk shows reflect the rusted on nature of fans in AFL, even though in the ‘AFL’ States there is lower Foxtel penetration, those that do subscribe are rusted on. Cant get enough.
This is type of rusted on generational support will be difficult for the A League to replicate in large numbers in a short period of time. That statement is obvious but true, most sports fans in Australian have AFL and NRL teams as first choice in their TV diet.
May 16th 2011 @ 2:23pm
Matt F said | May 16th 2011 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
don’t get me wrong i’m well aware the afl rates very well on foxtel. and the brisbane GC game rated exceptionally well. i was just pointing out that a more accurate comparison of the two codes on foxtel would be a week where the NRL has a full quota of games shown.
as for the talk shows that was my theory. personally whilst i love both sports i watch the afl talk shows more often then the nrl ones. i think they’re better produced anyway.
May 16th 2011 @ 5:08pm
MagpieFlag said | May 16th 2011 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Foxtel has a number of exclusive, prime time NRL games on Saturday and Monday nights of most weeks.
Foxtel rarely has AFL games that are not on at the same time as another FTA game in prime time. The Suns vs Lions game was a rare exception. Also, outside of Victoria, all games involving a local team are also shown on FTA. Also, the game goes for 3 hours.
The “talk” shows are obviously all exclusive
May 16th 2011 @ 10:51am
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Hardly a typical week.
In the week May 1st – May 7th there were only two NRL games shown live on Pay TV so of course the AFL will romp in, particularly when it has a free run for much of the weekend.
Got any figures for a normal weekend? Where did you come by these figures?
May 16th 2011 @ 11:03am
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:03am | Report comment
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/category/pay-tv/page/3
You have to scroll back through the weeks, quite clearly the ratings change week by week, and some weeks the NRL have 4 or 5 of the top ten whilst other weeks the AFL will have more, but generally the NRL will have more, but quite clearly they have far more games featuring the “popular teams”.
I think you sould look at what claim the cattery is responding to, i dont think it is to prove that the AFL has better ratings than the NRL on fox.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:25am
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:25am | Report comment
SBF
Appreciate the heads up. I generally agree with what The Catterry is responding to particually on a soccer article. The ratings that week tend to make Victorians gushy about their sport. Just after a little balance.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:32am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Cut out the Victorians rubbish. Half the AFL fans on the roar are not from Victoria. dolt.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:00pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
So you didn’t write three days ago;
“Not last week on Pay TV. Foxtel is loving AFL and pays more for the better game for a reason.”
from http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/05/13/the-afl-dedicated-channel/
May 16th 2011 @ 1:14pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
You have a problem with Foxtel paying for AFL, you’ll just have to get over it.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:23pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
So it wasn’t you going all gushy then.
I’m OK with paying for my Rugby League and Ted’s post below shows FOX gets extremely good value. Shame the NRL and grass roots rugby league see bugger all.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:18pm
pike64 said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
and you know this how?????
May 16th 2011 @ 8:24pm
Dingo said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
I’m from Queensland.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:29pm
Ted Skinner said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Here’s all the Top 10 Pay TV Ratings since the Super 15 commenced this year:
Week 1 Super 15
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/39e2fc05ec30a045fe437ceab7adc6d1/ASTRAWeek8data.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 5 SYD V GC FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 20:55 312 – 1482 521
2 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 5 GWS V GC FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 21:50 287 – 1290 462
3 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 5 GWS V SYD FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:00 245 – 1347 568
4 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: REBELS V WARATAHS FOX SPORTS 2 Fri 19:30 231 – 1312 516
5 LIVE: RUGBY LEAGUE: CHARITY SHIELD FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 19:03 224 – 1434 482
6 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 3 WC V HAW FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 19:30 185 – 1487 443
7 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 3 HAW V FRE FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 20:56 173 – 1406 363
8 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: BRUMBIES V CHIEFS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 139 – 1447 408
9 LIVE: CRICKET: WORLD CUP WARM-UP FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 19:40 124 – 1258 572
10 LIVE: RUGBY LEAGUE: CHARITY SHIELD PRE GAME FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 18:30 121 – 1196 226
Week 2 Super15
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/b26e2f4888a26cd71c44f90d509d81d3/ASTRAWeek9dataV2.pdf
1 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V ZIM S1 FOX SPORTS 3 Mon 20:00 290 – 1045 925
2LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 6 N MEL V WB FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:54 201 – 1346 341
3 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: WARATAHS V REDS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:30 186 – 1392 472
4 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 6 GEE V WB FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 18:05 172 – 1230 298
5LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V NZ FOX SPORTS 2 Fri 19:30 172 – 1213 1027
6LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP QF#1 MELB V ESSENDON FOX SPORTS 1 Thu 19:00 165 – 1144 507
7LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP POOL 6 GEE V N MEL FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 15:30 159 – 1227 293
8LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: REDS V FORCE FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 17:30 156 – 1254 399
9LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: PRE MATCH FOX SPORTS 3 Mon 19:30 131 – 1044 282
10 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V ZIM S2 FOX SPORTS 3 Mon 23:13 112 – 420 395
Week 3 Super15
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/134087d320d3c9324ffc727879e39aa4/ASTRAWeek10.pdf
1 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 20:30 169 – 1404 536
2 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: SRI V AUS FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 21:00 158 – 1289 784
3LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: BRUMBIES V REDS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:30 148 – 1483 410
4 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: CHIEFS V REBELS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 17:30 119 – 1223 361
5 LIVE: AFL: NAB CUP QF#4 W CST V G CST FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 19:30 119 – 1245 454
6ICC WORLD CUP: SRI V AUS S1 FOX SPORTS Sat 20:00 112 – 1490 267
7LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: CRUSADERS V WARATAHS FOX SPORTS 1 Fri 17:30 107 – 919 341
8LIVE: CRICKET: NATIONAL ONE DAY CUP FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:43 106 – 1220 639
9 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: IND V ENG FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 19:58 98 – 816 617
10 LIVE: RUGBY LEAGUE: WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE FOX SPORTS 3 Mon 6:00 80 – 286 186
Week 4 Super15, Round1 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/6710836f9e60ba2f218ead519ec55559/ASTRAWeek11.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL TITANS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 329 – 1419 710
2 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V EELS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 262 – 1241 634
3 NRL STORM V SEA EAGLES FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 21:20 165 – 1281 523
4 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: ENG V RSA FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 19:05 134 – 1087 950
5 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: IND V RSA FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 19:40 121 – 1241 680
6 LIVE: NRL SATURDAY PRE GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 16:55 109 – 1170 230
7 LIVE: RUGBY LEAGUE: TOYOTA CUP FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 15:15 88 – 1177 275
8 CRICKET: WORLD SERIES CLASSICS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 18:33 84 – 1069 199
9 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: NZ V PAK FOX SPORTS 3 Tue 19:40 81 – 856 599
10 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: REBELS V SHARKS FOX SPORTS 1 Fri 19:30 75 – 1070 307
Week 5 Super15, Round 2 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/c42be65af09e0e3112bf22969664eaf4/ASTRAWeek12.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL BULLDOGS V WESTS TIGERS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 365 – 1243 798
2 LIVE: NRL WESTS TIGERS V WARRIORS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 310 – 1446 668
3 LIVE: NRL STORM V TITANS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 267 – 1231 649
4 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V KEN S1 FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 20:02 250 – 1116 1000
5 LIVE: FOOTBALL: A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL FOX SPORTS 3 Sun 17:00 232 – 1219 718
6 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V CAN S1 FOX SPORTS 3 Wed 20:00 215 – 1089 861
7 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: AUS V PAK FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 20:00 197 – 1357 990
8 LIVE: NRL COWBOYS V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 21:30 197 – 1266 547
9 LIVE: NRL RAIDERS V SHARKS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 194 – 1203 486
10 LIVE: NRL MONDAY POST GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 20:50 122 – 1124 459
Week 6 Super15 Round 3 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/6f8efa01c9065480fa2c8e17d4d12a62/ASTRAWeek13.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: QF#2 AUS V IND FOX SPORTS 3 Thu 20:00 391 – 1162 1201
2 LIVE: NRL SHARKS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 339 – 1232 670
3 LIVE: NRL WESTS TIGERS V RAIDERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 307 – 1397 709
4 LIVE: NRL PANTHERS V SHARKS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 234 – 1152 595
5 LIVE: NRL RABBITOHS V BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 222 – 1173 460
6 LIVE: AFL COLLINGWOOD V PORT ADELAIDE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 14:00 205 – 1125 486
7 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: QF#2 AUS V IND FOX SPORTS 3 Thu 23:40 179 – 488 608
8 LIVE: AFL BRISBANE LIONS V FREMANTLE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 20:00 162 – 1316 593
9 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: QF#2 FOX SPORTS 3 Fri 02:00 114 – 233 213
10 LIVE: NRL MONDAY POST GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 20:55 112 – 1068 430
Week 7 Super 15 Round 4 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/546d5561f9b47169f1a73f00cc372375/ASTRAWeek14.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL EELS V COWBOYS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 407 – 1491 733
2 LIVE: NRL COWBOYS V STORM FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:10 354 – 1244 737
3 LIVE: NRL RAIDERS V TITANS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 294 – 1244 649
4 LIVE: NRL BULLDOGS V ROOSTERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 249 – 1229 520
5 LIVE: AFL FREMANTLE V GEELONG FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 20:30 210 – 1429 622
6 LIVE: AFL WEST COAST V NORTH MELBOURNE FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 19:00 191 – 1177 654
7 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V WESTERN BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:00 185 – 1214 466
8 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: FINAL FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 23:30 170 – 682 503
9 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 12:00 163 – 1049 405
10 LIVE: CRICKET: ICC WORLD CUP: FINAL. FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 20:00 158 – 1424 871
Week 8 Super 15 Round 5 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/4fa3327a449bd96b590e891d22132b3c/ASTRAWeek15.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL STORM V BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:03 350 – 1297 694
2 LIVE: NRL KNIGHTS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 294 – 1195 581
3 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V ROOSTERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 270 – 1316 680
4 LIVE: NRL PANTHERS V RAIDERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 233 – 1449 597
5 LIVE: AFL WEST COAST V SYDNEY FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 20:00 218 – 1334 669
6 LIVE: AFL HAWTHORN V MELBOURNE FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:32 207 – 1186 594
7 LIVE: NRL SHARKS V WARRIORS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 12:00 201 – 1025 450
8 LIVE: AFL ADELAIDE V FREMANTLE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 15:00 174 – 1210 499
9 LIVE: AFL W BULLDOGS V BRIS LIONS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:00 142 – 1179 449
10 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH FOX SPORTS 1 Mon 20:30 132 – 1220 254
Week 9 Super 15 Round 6 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/a0e2e1cca89da515666407ff18a3fecd/ASTRAWeek16.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL ROOSTERS V BRONCOS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 349 – 1578 701
2 LIVE: NRL BRONCOS V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 338 – 1326 701
3 LIVE: AFL ST KILDA V ESSENDON FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:30 305 – 1190 740
4 LIVE: NRL STORM V EELS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 267 – 1303 540
5 LIVE: NRL SEA EAGLES WARRIORS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 249 – 1275 622
6 LIVE: AFL MELBOURNE V BRISBANE LIONS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:01 161 – 1240 522
7 NRL COWBOYS V RAIDERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 21:20 154 – 1350 435
8 LIVE: AFL PRE GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:00 153 – 1214 280
9 LIVE: AFL HAWTHORN V WEST COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 14:00 150 – 1039 476
10 LIVE: AFL: AFTER THE BOUNCE FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 19:30 143 – 1183 291
Week 10 Super 15, Round 7 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/6227665334e7cdfe1d775e15db68bfa6/ASTRAWeek17.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL RABBITOHS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 392 – 1344 738
2 LIVE: NRL BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 300 – 1398 619
3 LIVE: NRL SHARKS V COWBOYS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 250 – 1311 583
4 LIVE: AFL PORT ADELAIDE V GOLD COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 15:00 232 – 1261 571
5 LIVE: NRL KNIGHTS V SHARKS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 224 – 1097 472
6 LIVE: AFL FREMANTLE V NORTH MELB FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:31 189 – 1136 633
7 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: REDS V WARATAHS FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 19:30 188 – 1386 410
8 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: POST GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 3 Sat 21:30 144 – 1156 277
9 LIVE: NRL MONDAY POST GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 20:49 125 – 1174 388
10 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH FOX SPORTS 1 Mon 20:30 119 – 1312 220
Week 11 Super 15, Round 8 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazon…STRAWeek18.pdf
Quote:
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL STORM V WARRIORS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 353 ‐ 1566 746
2 LIVE: NRL COWBOYS V SEA EAGLES FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 352 ‐ 1658 609
3 LIVE: NRL ROOSTERS V DRAGONS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 16:00 307 ‐ 1242 608
4 LIVE: NRL TITANS V ROOSTERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 306 ‐ 1359 669
5 LIVE: AFL NORTH MELBOURNE V RICHMOND FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:30 271 ‐ 1155 702
6 LIVE: AFL FREMANTLE V WESTERN BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 1 Mon 20:30 233 ‐ 1251 595
7 LIVE: NRL RAIDERS V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 224 ‐ 1105 494
8 LIVE: AFL RICHMOND V BRISBANE LIONS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:00 192 ‐ 1594 706
9 NRL STORM V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 21:20 191 ‐ 1332 505
10 LIVE: AFL: AFTER THE BOUNCE FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 19:30 160 ‐ 1267 328
Week 11 Super 15 Round 9 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/66f4d18e9a5d33025af50874f6e12a88/ASTRAWeek19.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: AFL GOLD COAST V BRISBANE LIONS FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:00 351 ‐ 1659 952
2 LIVE: NRL BRONCOS V STORM FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 327 ‐ 1732 726
3 LIVE: AFL COLLINGWOOD V W BULLDOGS FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:31 286 ‐ 1179 707
4 LIVE: AFL RICHMOND V FREMANTLE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 16:00 285 ‐ 1307 731
5 LIVE: NRL RAIDERS V WESTS TIGERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 231 ‐ 1266 489
6 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V GOLD COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:00 230 ‐ 1218 601
7 LIVE: AFL PRE GAME SHOW FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 16:00 196 ‐ 1121 334
8 LIVE: AFL WESTERN BULLDOGS V SYDNEY FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 13:00 180 ‐ 1045 458
9 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V PANTHERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 12:00 153 ‐ 1016 341
10 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH FOX SPORTS 1 Mon 20:30 148 ‐ 1158 234
Week12 Super 15, Week 10 NRL
http://assets.astra.org.au.s3.amazonaws.com/a882592a5bb7456def0764dbab13a7e5/ASTRAWeek20.pdf
Top 10 Sport Broadcasts
1 LIVE: NRL RABBITOHS V WESTS TIGERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 19:30 344 ‐ 1448 738
2 LIVE: NRL STORM V RAIDERS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 17:30 326 ‐ 1341 752
3 LIVE: NRL SEA EAGLES V RAIDERS FOX SPORTS 2 Mon 19:00 254 ‐ 1199 615
4 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V WEST COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sun 13:00 211 ‐ 1066 556
5 LIVE: NRL TITANS V WARRIORS FOX SPORTS 2 Sun 14:00 177 ‐ 1094 399
6 LIVE: AFL ADELAIDE V GOLD COAST FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 15:00 175 ‐ 1258 541
7 NRL COWBOYS V EELS FOX SPORTS 2 Sat 21:20 167 ‐ 1284 450
8 LIVE: AFL SYDNEY V PORT ADELAIDE FOX SPORTS 1 Sat 19:30 135 ‐ 1411 624
9 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH FOX SPORTS 1 Tue 20:30 127 ‐ 1051 196
10 LIVE: SUPER RUGBY: REDS V BLUES FOX SPORTS 3 Fri 19:30 118 ‐ 1078 348
May 16th 2011 @ 12:37pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
As Redb says: “Foxtel is loving AFL and pays more for the better game for a reason.”
Can’t wait to see what FOX pays for the best games!
Interesting to note how well the Storm rates as well. It only disappeared off the top 5 in the week Channel Nine had the rights.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:31pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Storm is a top team in the NRL but kept on pay due to the small tv audience they attract in Melbourne. Last time the Storm got 37,000 in Melbourne live on FTA.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:39pm
NF said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
Redb
To be fair to the Storm didn’t have the advertising and promotion of say the Swans game who are LIVE every week every season on FTA get good media and all yet still rate just as badly in Sydney. If the Storm was given the same chance as the Swans/Lions on FTA with adequate promotion,etc then ratings would be a tad better. Furthermore, the Lions & Suns up here in QLD get a dream run with the media and get promoted to the hilt of FTA and get the same terrible ratings despite being live every
week only exception was the Q-Clash.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:49pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
That’s a myth. Both the Herald Sun and CH 9 plug the Storm with Adverts. People forget they are a top 2 team and have been on top (apart from 2010) for 3-4 years.
The Swans had much better in the TV ratings in the mid 2000′s when they were a top team, but have had nowhere the success of the Storm.
Both papers in Melb and Sydney are dominated by AFL and NRL teams respectively. There is no way the Swans get the same publicity in terms of coverage compared to the NRL in Sydney and the same with the Storm in Melbourne. (advertising aside)
May 16th 2011 @ 2:13pm
Boomshanka said | May 16th 2011 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
“The Herald Sun and Channel 9 plug the Storm”
What revision do you read?
I’ve yet to see an advertisement for the Storm on Channel Nine. In fact considering they’ve only been on Channel Nine once this year why would they bother.
It was only after a late programming change (which I only noted when watching the delayed Footy show) that the Penrith game was shown on the Sunday afternoon.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:18pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Ch 9 do advertise Storm games, I’ve seen them around the news and all the time during football shows not that it makes one iota of difference to the crowds at Storm games.
Also heard Bellamy on SEN (sports radio Melbourne) plugging it in drive time both radio jocks were very generous tried to pump it, free entry for under 15,etc.
They play in a 30,000 seat brand new stadium are a top 2 team. What excuse will you use now?
May 16th 2011 @ 4:53pm
Jaceman said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Maguire used to have Storm players on the AFL Footy show occasionally and plug the Storm occasionally (less so under Lyon etc) because the network had the rights. I dont recall the Swans ever being obn the NRL Footy show (barring Roos for the 96 GF). The Herlad Sun gives the Storm a good run because they are trying to pump up pay-TV subs. I fear with the new AFL rights that the northern teams may take a back seat on FTA to justify the money Fox paid for the rights…
May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Speaking of TV ratings, the Sydney footy show should be put away at the end of this year, the southern states are holding up ratings across the country, but seriously Sydney ratings are shocking.
I dont watch the show very often, but IMO the southern states one must have nearly run its race as well.
May 16th 2011 @ 5:38pm
Brissy Boy said | May 16th 2011 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
Aussie rules coverage in QLD is actually pretty p–s poor. Friday Night Footy doesn’t get screened on 7 until late in the evening, which annoys a lot of people up here to no end. My friends in the US got to watch the Pies v Cats game live over the weekend, while we had to kill a few hours playing chess at the pub before heading home to watch the game on 7. Travesty.
May 16th 2011 @ 7:55pm
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
It’s incredible that we have reached a situation where people overseas can watch games live while some in Australia are in capable of doing so.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:10pm
Crosscoder said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
NF
Agree,however the cheer squad will not, surprise surprise.
Compared to what the Swans do in promotion in Sydney the Storm get SFA.The FTA the Swans receive in comparison to the Storm is chalk and cheese,but you wil get the howdy ho boys from the south say it isn’t so.
The Swans have been here for 32 years,which some still can’t get through their skulls.
To suggest the Swans in sydney get the equivalent coverage by Melbourne media,would suggest there must be separate editions to please both codes FHS.They are coming 6th,and have been in the top 8 more than a few occasions in the last decade.
In Sydney the Herald and D.T provide decent coverage for the swans,the Herald Sun do what they have to do (nothing more) and the Age virtually ignores the Storm.
What I find amusing,one minute you get the AFL people, say no one is interested in rl there is little media coverage in melborune.The next they suggest the NRL does get decent coverage.Talk about an each way bet.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:19pm
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
This represents the 30th season the Swans have been in Sydney, and have reached a level of very solid support, for instance, their playing strip achieves the highest sponsorship of any playing strip in Australia.
The Storm are about 15 years behind the Swans.
May 16th 2011 @ 7:55pm
Crosscoder said | May 16th 2011 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
The Storm is kept on Pay due to the small audiences in Melbourne.Another RedB theory.
Wouldn’t have anything to do ,with the ratings that club achieves in the nthn states.
The Swans got 50,000 ratings on FTA in sydney against Port.Maybe the Swans should be designated for Pay TV, based on your theory.The swans are not dragging the chain in the comp either BTW.50,000 on FTA against 37,000 on pay is hardly anything to cheer about.In fact after 30 odd years ,one would say embarrassing.
if you have any idea about how the NRL Tv is decided ,FTA 9 gets 1 & 2 and Fox no3 for mondays.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:05pm
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
Sydney vs Port got 67,000 in Sydney.
It also got 140,000 in Adelaide, plust it was shown live on Fox, where it got either 105,000 or 135,000 (both numbers are shown on this thread).
May 16th 2011 @ 8:22pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
@ The Cattery
In Sydney, which is the most important and biggest consumer market in Australia, the AFL match on Saturday night was the LOWEST rating show of all the major FTA TV channels …
… no wonder Lachlan Murdoch at Channel 10 said to the AFL: “thanks but no thanks”.
Sydney TV ratings 14/05/11 730 pm-1030 pm:
Channel 10 & 1HD: AFL (Swans v PA) 67,000
ABC1: Dr Who 181,000, Spooks: 173,000, A Quiet Word with Catherine Tate: 80,000, The Graham Norton Show 73,000
7: Movie: Fantastic Four: 157,000, Movie-Pirates Of The Caribbean: 191,000
9: Movie: Get Smart 102,000; Movie: Yes Man: 70,000
SBS1: Eurovision: 114,000, Rockwiz (a repeat): 68,000
Heck, even Channel 7′s secondary station – 72 out-rated the AFL in Sydney
7TWO: Heartbeat: 102,000, Inspector Morse: 84,000
May 16th 2011 @ 8:30pm
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:30pm | Report comment
Fussball:
1. It doesn’t matter.
2. You keep forgetting that the game is on Fox at the same time. Over 50% of the money is coming from Fox.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:42pm
Crosscoder said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
67,000 in sdyney is not setting the world on fire,with all the promtion and being on FTA,after 30 odd years.Sorry excuses excuses.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:54pm
Crosscoder said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
The Cattery
And so they should after 30 years,but at the same time they should have grown their fTA audience in their new home city,which they clearly havent.They have been consistemtly in the top 8 and been in a couple of G/Fs.
You are correct the Storm are 15 years behind the 8 ball, and that is why they are an important cog in the overall comp.
They have not had the opportunity in the main to be on FTA at decent Melburnian hours ,except the very odd occasion..
May 16th 2011 @ 9:11pm
The Cattery said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:11pm | Report comment
Crosscoder
the second Sydney team is all about lifting Sydney audiences – it might take 20 years, but that is the horizon the AFL has in mind.
On getting teams on FTA, you have keep in mind that about 10 years ago, or 15 years ago, the AFL made a strategic decision to swap hard cold cash for promotion – that’s why the Swans get shown live.
The NRL could have chosen to have done the same.
It doesn’t matter now with the secondary channels.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:41pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Given the penetation rates in NSW/QLD v Vic/SA/WA the AFL does remarkably well with the games Fox gets.
As I said above the NRL and AFL dominate the Top 10 sports ratings, even AFL talk shows make the top 10., no wonder Foxtel are willing to pay big bucks. A League ratings for home and away matches are nowhere near these numbers.
When Foxtel has all 9 games live and in HD, subscriptions will increase and those top 10 results will change.
May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm
MagpieFlag said | May 16th 2011 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
No surprises that one of the rare times there is a prime time match AFL match on foxtel that doesn’t clash with a FTA game at the same time it is the top rating match of the week. It should also be noted that Gold Coast vs Brisbane was also on 10 in Qld.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:51am
Realfootball said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:51am | Report comment
More code wars. Honestly, do these people have nothing else going on in their lives? The Roar is becoming the internet equivalent of talkback radio.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:23am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Author: “Well I can name two free-to-air channels, (who haven’t wasted their money on AFL rights) ”
Not exactly setting a respectable tone.
May 16th 2011 @ 3:40pm
Bale3 said | May 16th 2011 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
Does AFL need to be talked about in a respectable tone??
just like Andrew Demitriou being respectable to Socceroos fixtures in Melbourne…
May 16th 2011 @ 8:54am
gurudoright said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
The Cattery, I love the fact you used last weeks rating knowing the NRL only played 4 club games due to half the comp having byes. What are the ratings for this week?
May 16th 2011 @ 9:32am
Jay said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Fair point Guru.
Im an NRL fan, but being objective.. the Suns and Brisbane game did produce some impressive numbers given the Storm and Broncos game was on the same time and possibly with the same game shown on FTA (not sure entirely sure if that was the case). Although I would not expect that to consistently continue in the future years provided the broncs (and storm) play all their players.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:58am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Yes that’s true, although it is a recent stat. There are less quality AFL games on Foxtel than the NRL though and a lower subscription base in VIc,SA,WA,. those numbers are still good with room for growth.
May 16th 2011 @ 1:14pm
Jaceman said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Redb,
You normally talk sense and maybe you still are here but I think you generalise with your statement about NRL quality games being on Fox.
I think Nine had NRL picks 1 and 2… Friday night/sunday arvo… the 2nd fri night game now is pick 5. Fox gets pick 3 for Monday night?? But of course Friday night has to have one Qld team involved.
Because the AFL draw is done in October (compared to NRL done 6 weeks out) occasionally you get a AFL FTA stinker on Friday night. If the West Coast and/or freo are doing well, the Sunday twilight game on Fox from the West can be entertaining (FTA in the west). The Sunday afternoon AFL FTA 2 oclock game is locked into FTA with 2 Victorian teams so it is a lottery if the other Fox games are highlights. But I admit FTA gets the pick of the AFL games on saturday arvo/night…
May 16th 2011 @ 1:26pm
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
I said less quality not top quality. The other factor is overlap between Foxtel and FTA, often AFL games overlap unlike the NRL on Foxtel. the one exception was the GC v Bris game.
It is also true that subscriptions are lower in AFL states.
May 16th 2011 @ 8:54am
Jay said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
the NRL have stated they will ditch Foxtel for free-to-air providers if the company can’t give NRL what it deserves, which is much more than AFL.
That is the club chairmen talking.. As an NRL, I would love it if all games were on FTA, but the reality is that fox pays a premium for sports that FTA are not willing to pay.. That’s why the FTA networks argued for the anti-siphoning list to be maintained as they cannot compete financially with fox. The NRL will be on fox. If anything, they will try and replicate the AFLs deal.. Which if they do will get more people watching super rugby, a league, domestic cricket and european football (I’d sign up just to watch the EPL and NRL)
May 16th 2011 @ 8:49pm
Crosscoder said | May 16th 2011 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
Jay .That is exactly what has been stated.But ATM Fox has first and last rights ,I understand till 2027,as part of the SL deal .
In effect if the FTA stations decide to do a k Packer and push the bids to the hilt,then Fox will have to open the pursestrings or lose a vital component of their Pay Tv network.The very same network, that spent over $400m to get rugby league(by starting a comp),as content for the new media.
I agree the NRL will be on fox,but what format it will take,is anyone’s guess.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:16am
Titus said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Football needs money to retain its best players, but it can’t get money whilst all its talent goes OS, its a catch 22.
Media probably knows this but has too much invested in the local codes to bother building the game.
If two Sydney teams retaining the best Sydney players, like Cahill, Kewell, Schwarzer, Emerton, Culina with the best youngsters like Bulut, Amini, Antonis and some imports like Michael Owens, Patrick Viera, it would draw 80 000 at Homebush, smash all ratings and draw huge interest around the world. But this is just a dream because the media won’t invest in the game and have basically thrown all their money at the local codes that are popular in half of Australia, and are viewed by roughly 500 000-1 000 000 people.
Money for Junior development and player retention would build a game that would dwarf AFL/NRL, but it will never happen without investment and it seems the media is happy to build the illusion of AFL as a popular national game and view Football as OS leagues and a National team.
AFL has reached its potential, maybe a little room for growth in NSW/QLD. A national Football competition with good media dollars would become a true national game and draw a big audience throughout Asia and the world and help build a strong national team.
There is huge demand for Football in this country, but it is a demand for the game at a high level. The only option is to grow the game slowly and hope the game doesn’t get starved of oxygen in the process.
May 16th 2011 @ 9:34am
Jay said | May 16th 2011 @ 9:34am | Report comment
“If two Sydney teams retaining the best Sydney players, like Cahill, Kewell, Schwarzer, Emerton, Culina with the best youngsters like Bulut, Amini, Antonis and some imports like Michael Owens, Patrick Viera”
Are you feeling ok? Which club could afford such a roster??
May 16th 2011 @ 10:04am
Titus said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:04am | Report comment
None unfortunately.
But if there were clubs that could afford that roster they would be the highest rating games in Australia and Fox would be able to sell rights for primetime coverage into Asia and around the world.
May 16th 2011 @ 2:46pm
NF said | May 16th 2011 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Titus
Let’s be real the chances of football becoming the number one spectator sport is pretty slim due to numerous factors.
a) A-League doesn’t have the quality compare to Euro leagues thus misses out compare to NRL,AFL & Super Rugby it which there facing the best in the world.
b)I’m not sold of the thought of having the likes of Cahill, Kewell, etc would cause an instant boost to the A-League if anything it be a slow burn if this was to occur as crowds would go up but ratings who knows because you must have players of Cahill quality across the board not just Sydney as you suggest for your fantasy to come true.
c) Bandwagoners love to come out of the woodwork come World Cup time and as shown after that Germany game people jumped off and true believers remain so it’s best to fish where the fish is and target the football family not anyone else like the MLS did.
d) Incompetent administration in the FFA holding the game back eg Fury debacle and unfortunate death of who I was a supporter of.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:18am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
This is the problem a League that is too Sydney centric will not work.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:31am
Titus said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:31am | Report comment
But its Ok for the other codes?
Football is in the best position of all the codes to take advantage of local talent featuring heavily in all the local teams, if the clubs could afford to develop and retain them that is.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:15pm
The_Wookie said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
its not the teams and cities that would be the problem, its that it would blow the FFA salary cap out to the moon. If the FFA gets a massive tv deal, then perhaps a portion of that money needs to go to a marketing budget to bring back players from europe – current players, not retirees – paid for by the FFA, in much the same way that Hunt and Folau get paid by the AFL, with only a regular salary coming from the gws and gold coast.
it really is a pity that the A-league cant setup a strong home base in brisbane/gold coast, similar to the NRLs in Sydney, and the AFLs in melbourne. The strength of these leagues derives chiefly from the strong home following – including the media rights money, more than half of which is derived from the respect home city of the league. The HAL enujoys no such benefit.
May 16th 2011 @ 12:38pm
punter said | May 16th 2011 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Wookie, it’s not just the A-league who could not afford those players mentioned above, it’s Australian sport, we do not have the market. The 5 socceroos & the 2 O/S players mentioned above would all be above or near Folau & Hunt’s salaries.
May 16th 2011 @ 10:43am
Matt F said | May 16th 2011 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Redb – Given there’s one sydney team and two melbourne teams how do you figure that?
May 16th 2011 @ 11:06am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Just pointing out to Titus that the world does not revolve around Sydney, he seems to think it does.
May 16th 2011 @ 11:17am
Titus said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:17am | Report comment
No, but my interest is in Sydney. Other people might like to come up with the strongest Melbourne team or Brisbane/Perth/Adelaide/NZ/Wollongong/Canberran/Newcastle team.
And I still don’t see how this is any different to the AFL where half the teams are from Victoria and 3/4 of the audience are from Victoria.
Does this mean Australia revolves around Melbourne?
May 16th 2011 @ 11:26am
Redb said | May 16th 2011 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Just going on your comments on various threads.
May 16th 2011 @ 5:12pm
me, I like football said | May 16th 2011 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
Titus, I doubt if 1/2 of Aussie-rules supporters live in Victoria.