The NSWRU has published its television figures achieved during the 2008 Super 14 season, and they make great reading for rugby fans.
Fox Sports Super 14 ratings have increased by 19 per cent this season. More than 2.3 million viewers watched the Super 14 coverage throughout Australia, averaging 100,000 viewers for each game.
Curiously, the best-watched match was the Highlanders-Waratahs encounter in round three.
This was a day match in New Zealand and played in Australia around 3.30 on a Saturday afternoon. Without wanting to generalise (too much anyway!), this was before men went to the pub and before the favourite program of many of their wives (Big Love), which clashed with the main Australian game at 8.30.
If this theory is correct, another 70,000 or so viewers who are in pubs should be added to the average home viewing total.
I know the Reds-Waratahs match was on the pub I went to. The game had about 50 people expressly watching it in one of its room. This number would probably be bigger in larger hotels and clubs.
Jim L’Estrange puts the success of the Waratahs down as the main ingredient to the increased viewing numbers.
This is undoubtedly correct. I’d also like to suggest that the more expansive and free-flowing game played under the ELVs could have been a factor, too.
What are the views and experience of The Roar readers?
Colin Needs
Guest
Pay TV uses the same oztam system and measures when people have their tvs turned on or off. Set top box being on or off is irrelevant. Its done by remote control - i assume this means that the people meter remote also controls the TV so when you change the channel it automatically feeds that information into the people meter. The samples (or Panels) are taken from an establishment survey done each year. They represent the 'universe' or population of people who are able to watch tv. The national sample sizes are 3035 for FTA TV and 1000 for PayTV. Here's a link to more comprehensive information about oztam tv ratings. http://www.oztam.com.au/pdf/TV_Ratings/TVratingsguide.pdf By the way, Today Tonight or ACA once 'cheated' the system and gave their ratings a massive boost by heavily pre-promoting a story on the people who had peoplemeters. This of course was of high interest to those people who had the peoplemeters so they all tuned in causing a massive surge in ratings for that particular program and channel. Brilliant!
Bob McGregor
Guest
Colin Needs Thanks for link. Appears to depend on household selected, and household manually filling in numbers watching. No way of measuring if a program was recorded with TV set off. Use of telephone to send data to a central base for compilation appears similar link that Pay TV uses for ordering, "pay for view". The statisticians would have ways of "smoothing" data to "edit" out potential rogue data so it all depends on their sample households and whether they truly represents the "market". We have to take their word for that. But it begs the question, how frequently does the household sample change to reflect changing demography and changes in both fashion and lifestyle. I appreciate that this has been way “ratings “ have been measured for years but am yet to meet anyone who actually participates in the program. I wonder how large their sample is in each state? No reference to Pay TV but I think their ratings would be far more accurate, as they would be able to record the number of set top boxes linked to each particular channel and period connected to that channel. But they would have no idea how many were watching each set. Neither would they know whether the TV set is on or program is being recorded. Accuracy would increase markedly if all subscribers actually turned off their set top box when the TV set was also closed down. From a conservation point of view, perhaps I should do that. But for convenience I don’t.
Colin Needs
Guest
here's how the oztam ratings work http://www.oztam.com.au/pdf/TV_ratings/ratingsprocess.pdf seems to meaure whther tv is turned on or off. ratings are not meaured through set top boxes but by people meters given to the sample.
chris ash
Guest
alright guys ur spamming up my inbox.... ease up yea
Bob McGregor
Guest
John Ryan, TV sets in the clubs I'm a member of [3] are situated in positions where one would have to be able to look around corners and behind the backs of poker machine players in order to be seen. Unless a series of mirrors were strategically placed - which they aren't - gamblers have no line of sight, so can't see the TV sets at all. Where the sets are available for viewing, chairs are provided. If no one's sitting/standing, then no ones watching, unless the spirit world is there, but I am not highly enough evolved to see them. I repeat - where did I go into bat for Rugby concerning ratings?? Please quote me chapter and verse. Unfortunately, you perceive things that don't exist. Are you one to cry wolf or call fire when short of facts? If you cannot see the joke/pun in the Ernie Dingo quote then you must rarely smile or laugh. Both are symptoms of stress. Lighten up John, I want you to keep posting as it makes me and others aware of the great diversity of opinion that exists out there. Your reference to Lindberg senior - father of the flyer - is wrong. He was never a Libertarian. You must have your wires crossed. Nazi sympathiser - yes - Libertarian never! It's not my role to educate you on Libertarianism but it is worth a read, especially on the philosophy of the movement. In a nutshell they tend to be extreme left wing in social issues and extreme right wing in economic issues. Provided one's behaviour doesn't impinge on others then that would be fine. Coercion is not acceptable. Their tax policy revolves around treating EVERYBODY the same - not treating everyone differently in the guise of MAKING everyone equal. Where does "no tax" come into that? That’s why they champion a flat tax rate. One must have proof before making statements. Where is yours? Likewise your statement about "pay for service police force ect[sic]". Libertarians believe that Federal Governments main role should be restricted to the armed services [security of the country] and judiciary [enforcement of the Country's laws]. Other things could be done at the local level where it would be better addressed. If Ron Paul became President of the USA he would INSIST the Government balanced the budget. Odds would also favour he would abolish the Federal Reserve and for the first time since 1913 the USA Govt would issue it’s own bank notes, not a coterie of special interest groups who gave us sub prime, CDO's and God knows what, thereby transferring massive wealth back to the "insiders" who own and run the USA Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. I thank God our Reserve Bank is both independent and accountable only to our Federal Govt of the day and not the money masters of the world. Re the Pay TV set top boxes. If they are left on AFTER the TV set is turned off, then the Pay TV provider would record the recipient as “watching” that channel OR recording. As I NEVER turn my set top box off – only the TV – I have no doubt my provider records me as watching that channel forever or until I change channels. This leads to the distortion of Pay TV figures. If set top boxes for free to air TV, are likewise left on with the TV off, I suspect over counting is occurring there as well.
John Ryan
Guest
Dear Bob,I lived in NSW and QLD for 28 yrs I have a fair idea of what a licensed Club is and the poker machines in them,when in Brisbane I was a member of Brothers Leagues,in Sydney Blacktown Workers,in Brothers in Brisbane you could see the TVs from the gaming area,so if one was playing you could look up and see the football,I think I may have not liked someone changing the channel to watch Show Jumping or even Rugby. I find it funny that your writing in a RU thread, about RU ratings, and you say you never said you liked Rugby,well Bob if it looks like a duck quacks like a duck I assume it is, sorry if I misunderstood now given the SMHs enthusiasm for anything bar Rugby League,it positive love affair with Rugby Union and also AFL why would it be strange to find the paper being handed out to the Rugger Bugger crowd,its the demographic the so called A B leather patch brigade. I did not know Erine Dingo was an African American I know he black must have missed something,in Perth Bob we dont get the FTA channels we get SBS and ABCs1&2 but not commercial FTV that may be my fault I did not make it clear enough,so the Dem Assets is a bit stupid dont you think Bob. Your quite welcome to Ron Paul he sounds like from what I have read of him and the Libertarians way of looking at the world it would be an interesting place,I think it was Lindberg who represented the views of Ron Paul in an earlier time,you believe in no tax,dog eat dog world,if your hungry you starve ect,last time I heard this Singleton was running it with a pay for service police force ect,your political views and Ron Pauls for that matter,I can only hope remain in the backwoods where they belong,god help us all if people of his ilk get anywhere power. I thought FTATV was done by OZtam with Set top boxes,I assume if they can measure the amount of recorders on, it would not take a Genius on FOX to work out how many sets are watching this and that,as far as I know they don,t count sets in pubs and clubs,because at State of Origin time in Perth theirs a lot watch it in the pubs live, and 119,000 watched the 2 hour delayed telecast. Well i at least thought you would have been a fan of FOX NEWs they are every bit as mad as Ron Paul is to me.
Bob McGregor
Guest
John Ryan, Nearly all RSL clubs in NSW are poker machine palaces. If TV sets are on and no one is sitting or standing watching the TV, I can only conclude that no ones watching. Members/visitors are there for other entertainment, gambling – certainly not to watch TV - unless a partner is gambling and they are filling in time waiting to leave. I would not be rude to ask for a channel to be changed if others were watching, as I have never insisted others conform to my preferences. Did I mention anywhere I asked to watch Rugby at the expense of other sports? No - only dished SMH/SH papers being given away free to boost apparent circulation at the SFS [Rugby} and SCG [Cricket & AFL]. As I don't go to NRL games I cannot comment on whether such practice occurs there but had intended to go to the SCG NRL International V NZ until it clashed with a prior appointment, so cannot comment whether it happened there or not. However, after attending the Tah’s/Shark semi-final I was not surprised to see free SMH papers were yet again on the menu after the match. Nothing like a little massaging of figures to improve circulation. Mind you if I was a newspaper Proprietor I’d be concerned as well - given penetration of the internet - and would want circulation figures up. Unfortunately, I think we are heading for a paperless society and reason we are turning to such sites as “The Roar” for our daily sport information – both results and opinions. Can’t see it changing but think newspapers are easier on the eyes. More Internet sites are needed to counter your one newspaper town. Trouble with most mass media outlets, they pursue their own agendas and these may not be in the best interests of the public at large. You mentioned your watching preferences. News and Pay TV sports are usually on rotation on 2-3 channels, movies are on a special package. Channels 7,9 10 SBS and ABC are on free to air but are now on Foxtel as well in NSW [free of charge]. Perhaps you may be paying for something you are not using? As Ernie Dingo has been known to say “ You gotta look after dem assets”. Being a Libertarian I don’t think you have to worry about diversity of opinion from my quarter; the more the merrier provided they are well thought out. A departed friend once opined, “ opinions are like a…holes, every-ones got one”. How true. As for my bushy eyebrows – they are trimmed regularly! PS Libertarians are lucky if they get more than 2-3% of the popular vote in elections where they care to stand for office. They also believe that voting should not be compulsory as they are not keen to thrust their opinions on others. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas – the true third force in the USA, and a Libertarian – would get my vote IF I were a USA citizen. In the upcoming USA Presidential election [non compulsory] I’m prepared to bet he doesn’t score 5% of the popular vote should he stand on the Libertarian ticket. But he sure deserves more support. Colin Needs. Thanks for advice re how TV ratings are “counted”. I presume they would be counted on pay TV if the set top box were left on? I never turn it off – only the TV set itself. If so, CNBC would rate off the chart.
Colin Needs
Guest
ratings are measured by people sitting at home watching tv not tv sets turned on. Pubs and club viewing is not included. imagine the ratings for origin if they had been. Fox Sports estimates that you can probably add 35% to any Waratahs match to account for the pub/hotel/club viewers that are not counted in ratings.
John Ryan
Roar Pro
Dear Bob, your quite sure no one watches, you walked around and asked them all i assume,I go to pubs in Perth that show AFL I dislike the sport but I don,t make the presumption that no one is watching it,the clubs from what I remember of them don,t put 9 on because no one watches, some one must ask or are you of the opinion that its all a vast conspiracy against Rugby Union. I think you may find they put on what people want,think it might be Bob that if he changed channels a lot of people might get a wee bit upset. Living in Perth I don,t get FTA on Foxtel given the general programming on FTA I would get upset as well,with 9 owning a percentage of FOXTEL I think they may be using owners first,I lived in Sydney for a long time went to RL games at the SCG and no one ever gave me a paper I paid for them,have things changed? Yes well Bob try living in a one newspaper town, under your regime we would not get a lot of choice,you would be happy with one paper of course that paper would reflect Bobs views,I have the 100 whatever package on Foxtel, I watch more than ten channels.i watch NEWs, Baseball, Rugby League sometimes if i,m feeling a bit of a masochist I watch Rugby Union,movies, SBS the ABC,what would you not show Bob 9 channels of RU and 1 of something else,it strikes me Bob that with you in control it would not be very good for diversity of opinion at all,i thought we got rid of Howard you don,t have bushy eyebrows by any chance.
Bob McGregor
Guest
I've always been suspicious of "the ratings" - especially where sport and news are concerned. What troubles me is when one goes to a club such as the Nth Ryde RSL there could be up to 10 TV sets on - invariably on Channel 9 or Fox league games. Virtually no one watches, being involved in other persuits. How many bums on seats get "counted" when the program is virtually background noise up to 24 hours a day. The same seems to occur in any club I enter. Do they do a deal with the clubs to "get" such preferential treatment? When you ask an attendent to change channels he invariably feigns ignorance of how to do it. Being a subscriber to Foxtel Pay TV, I chuckle when I turn the set on as the first channel displayed is Channel 9 [channel 1]. I wonder if that gets counted as a watcher, before I then go to what I really want to watch. Same happens on Sport page where Channel 9 is first cab off the rank - top left corner. Smacks of the "free" papers given away at Rugby and AFL games at the SCG to boost circulation numbers. I bet the ones left over get counted as well. Personally I treat such ratings with disdain. We would really know the correct ratings if one had to pay to watch a particular channel but their bundling of all channels negates such action. If I had such a choice I could easily narrow my selection to less than 10 Pay TV channels. About time the Government gave us such choice.
Andrew B
Guest
John Ryan, Its about the improvement, not the end figure. You are obviously a RL or AFL fan, but Spiro has in no way tried to say RU is more popular than your game, he is just saying its going significantly better than last year, and with all the doom and gloom often spouted, its a welcome change, and even better - its factual!
John Ryan
Roar Pro
No offense old son but 1 RU match in the top ten,then the next one at 26 and you blokes say your going well. Odd way of looking at it
Colin Needs
Guest
Here's a link to transport info for Tahs games http://www.nswrugby.com.au/TicketsEvents/GameDayInfo/GameDay.aspx#getting%20to%20the%20game In 2006 the Waratahs had buses from Rat Park and from T G Milner down Victoria Rd to the SFS. Unfortunately they lack patronage and didn't pay for themselves and the Board cut them to save money (although tried to re-introduce last season after significant backlash). If the NSW government supported public transport to sports events more then the buses would be cheaper for sports and events to put on and they would be more readily available but I guess the government have to make a buck somehow.
Bob McGregor
Guest
Although I'm a NSW Rugby Life member and support the Tahs, I enjoy watching all the games of the Super 14 competition as the new ELV's have opened up the game and the "expected" result is never a foregone conclusion. Such uncertainty is great for the viewer. Games decided in the final seconds of the game leave one anticipating more so I'm not surprised the TV ratings are up. With such young talent coming through in ALL franchises the immediate future of the game is looking very encouraging and the coming Tests are a must see/view. Hopefully Rugby will continue to innovate and move forward yet again. The future appears assured provided the IRB continues to back the new laws. I have the following suggestions about the delay of getting out of the car park after the game. I used to have this problem so decided to go to the Life Members function after the game in the MA Noble stand. Enjoyable hour as the game is dissected by one and all over a drink of ones choice. Once over, the car park is "clear" so the delay is not wasted. If not a Life Member the Tahs Bar is open to one and all in the Cricket practice area. Better than sitting in the car park. Highly recommended. Go the Tahs!
W Warambeal
Guest
Pay TV for last week: http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/ASTRA-Ratings-for-Week-080511.pdf 1 LIVE & ACTIVE: NRL SHARKS V BRONCOS Fox Sports 2 Sat 17:30 264 264 1,200 620 2 LIVE: NRL STORM V KNIGHTS Fox Sports 2 Mon 19:00 262 262 1,198 607 3 LIVE: NRL SEA EAGLES V COWBOYS Fox Sports 2 Sat 19:30 246 246 1,375 567 4 LIVE: NRL BRONCOS V SEA EAGLES Fox Sports 2 Sun 14:00 217 217 989 451 5 LIVE: AFL HAWTHORN V PORT ADELAIDE Fox Sports 1 Sat 14:00 193 193 1,134 505 6 LIVE: RUGBY UNION: S14 REDS V WARATAHS Fox Sports 3 Sat 19:30 181 181 1,376 409 7 FUTURAMA FOX8 Tue 18:17 165 198 794 1,056 8 NRL DRAGONS V STORM Fox Sports 2 Sat 21:20 160 160 1,178 438 9 AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL FOX8 Tue 19:33 157 255 1,115 639 10 FAMILY GUY FOX8 Tue 18:43 148 210 892 1,130 11 THE SIMPSONS FOX8 Tue 17:51 145 181 798 1,895 12 LIVE: AFL NORTH MELBOURNE V WEST COAST Fox Sports 1 Sat 19:00 127 127 1,342 583 13 THE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES UKTV Sun 20:30 122 138 1,185 278 14 LIVE: FOOTBALL: EPL WIGAN V MAN UTD Fox Sports 3 Sun 23:30 121 121 416 211 15 LIVE: NRL SATURDAY PRE GAME SHOW Fox Sports 2 Sat 16:55 112 112 1,132 261 16 GRAND DESIGNS Lifestyle Thu 20:30 111 135 1,141 495 17 SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA Lifestyle Wed 19:30 106 158 1,122 551 18 LIVE: AFL: ON THE COUCH Fox Sports 1 Mon 20:30 95 95 1,250 188 19 AMERICAN IDOL FOX8 Thu 19:37 92 110 1,132 696 20 PROPERTY LADDER Lifestyle Wed 20:30 90 124 1,046 422 21 H2O: JUST ADD WATER Disney Channel Fri 18:01 90 90 932 253 22 HANNAH MONTANA Disney Channel Tue 17:30 88 88 821 594 23 KING OF THE HILL FOX8 Tue 17:25 88 105 831 692 24 EASTENDERS UKTV Mon 19:00 87 101 1,112 295 25 PROJECT RUNWAY Arena Mon 20:32 85 96 1,245 341 26 LIVE: RUGBY UNION: S14 CRUS V H'LAND Fox Sports 3 Sat 17:30 85 85 1,200 238 27 LAW & ORDER W Wed 21:24 84 105 985 613 28 LIVE: RUGBY UNION: S14 BLUES V H'CANES Fox Sports 3 Fri 17:30 81 81 931 207 29 MY FAMILY UKTV Sun 20:00 77 86 1,224 231 30 AMERICAN DAD! FOX8 Sun 21:30 76 109 1,081 267 31 LIVE: NRL MONDAY POST GAME SHOW Fox Sports 2 Mon 20:54 76 76 1,184 217 32 LAW & ORDER: SVU TV1 Fri 22:08 75 103 890 1,041 33 LIVE: NRL SUNDAY PRE GAME SHOW Fox Sports 2 Sun 13:31 75 75 853 126 34 CORONATION STREET UKTV Tue 18:05 75 77 793 285 35 AS TIME GOES BY UKTV Tue 17:33 73 108 814 320 36 LIVE: RUGBY LEAGUE: TOYOTA CUP Fox Sports 2 Sat 15:15 73 73 1,187 323 37 LIVE: AFL TEAMS Fox Sports 1 Thu 19:30 71 71 1,127 133 38 WAKING THE DEAD UKTV Sat 16:00 71 83 1,251 264 39 HOGAN'S HEROES TV1 Mon 18:30 70 84 912 567 40 THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY Disney Channel Mon 17:01 69 69 874 563 41 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? UKTV Tue 19:32 69 78 1,117 148 42 8 SIMPLE RULES FOX8 Mon 19:38 68 84 1,141 216 43 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT Hallmark Sun 19:30 68 68 1,198 278 44 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE Disney Channel Sun 08:30 67 67 656 234 45 MORTIFIED Disney Channel Sat 17:31 67 67 1,194 209 46 MOTHER AND SON Fox Classics Sun 14:30 66 68 934 623 47 KEEPING UP APPEARANCES UKTV Sun 19:30 66 78 1,172 137 48 DRAKE & JOSH Nickelodeon Sat 13:20 66 66 989 432 49 GOTTA KICK IT UP! Disney Channel Fri 18:30 66 66 940 132 50 WWE RAW FOX8 Wed 15:31 65 87 770 491 (*) Highest rating broadcast of the nominated program; boldface italic programs are new on STV this week - definitions below (Source: OzTAM)
Ricketty Knees
Guest
On the money Spiro. The new ELV's have made the game a much, much better spectacle. The speed of play is much more frenetic and invariably the team that has the best technique in the basic's of the game win.
Lazza
Guest
I think more people would watch if they knew what was going on. The silly non-geographic names make it pretty hard for an outsider to know who's playing who? What's Reds v Crusaders? Is it Union, League or my sons indoor soccer comp? Brisbane v Capetown sounds more impressive.
chris ash
Guest
stillmissit they pretty much say squat on the NSWRU website http://www.nswrugby.com.au/TicketsEvents/GameDayInfo/GameDay.aspx I think they did advertise it in the SMH etc a whiles back.... granted they don't advertise it enough esp with the car park nightmares people are complaining about. I think my old man calls up at the start of each season and hassles someone at NSWRU to give him shuttle bus info to make sure its still happening each year.... glad i could help a bit at least. i'll drive in to watch the Pacific Nations Cup games thou as the crowd doesn't make the make the carpark bank up.. i reckon thecrowd this week can really lift the tah's - they havnt heard the roar of a full stadium for some time now
stillmissit
Guest
chris ash - thanks for that, we could catch a train into central and then go from there. Where do you find out about shuttle buses? is it on the NSWRU web site?
Rob Humphreys
Guest
Definitely the ELV's for me. I found myself watching far more neutral games this season (ie games not involving the team/s I support - Brumbies and Force), simply because the style of play was far more enjoyable than past seasons. That being said, I found the Waratahs to be EASILY the least enjoyable of the top tier teams to watch this season. They are so regimented and uninspiring in attack - looking to grind teams out of the game with their (admittedly fantastic) defence. A bit like the Chelsea of Super 14.