The 2015 Asian Cup was a fantastic success for Australian football, in terms of the Socceroos and tournament crowds, but has failed to hit huge heights in local TV ratings.
Three hundred and thirty-one thousand people tuned in to watch the live final, Australia against South Korea, on Fox Sports and 1.352 million, Brisbane excluded, watched on the ABC. On the same evening 972,000 watched the Australian Open women’s final on Seven.
The numbers for the Asian Cup final provided a strong result, but it wasn’t repeated across the whole competition. For the semi-final, the Socceroos against UAE, Fox Sports received 266,000 and the ABC 730,000. However, this game was up against Nick Kyrgios’ tennis match against Andy Murray, which won the day on free-to-air TV with 1.78 million across the five capital cities.
Australia’s quarter-final, against China in Brisbane, was watched by 218,000 on Fox Sports and the replay two hours later – it wasn’t live – on the ABC garnered 602,000 people. The audience for the other quarters was small on Fox Sports with 55,000 for Korea Replubic versus Uzbekistan, 67,000 for Iran versus Iraq and 107,000 for UAE versus Japan.
The lack of live free-to-air TV coverage of the Socceroos’ other games was an issue, with the Kuwait game getting 186,000 on Fox and the ABC replay 344,000. The Oman game got 246,000 and 384,000, respectively, and the Korea game 187,000 and 350,000.
Fox Sports did a great job in broadcasting the Asian Cup but its reach is limited, as only about 30 per cent of Australian householders have pay TV. The ABC, which surprisingly bid against SBS and won the rights, was mostly restricted to games on delay and a highlights package.
It is a problem for football that Socceroos matches, especially important tournament matches like the Asian Cup, are restricted to pay TV only. Australia’s triumph on Saturday needed to be seen by as many people as possible. That game could have converted many a new fan.
According to the analysis by media agency Fusion Strategy and Essence Media, the figures for the final was a “solid result” but those for other matches were “surprisingly weak”.
“It is pretty clear from these figures Australians were not early believers our 2015 team could score and win a place in the final,” their analysis on the group matches reads.
There is no doubting that there was a lot of trepidation about the Socceroos’ chances of winning the Asian Cup before the tournament started, because of the results leading up to it. Ange Postecoglou and his men had won two games in 14 months. But in January the team proved those critics very wrong.
Those who attended games or watched on TV were treated to an engrossing spectacle. We didn’t have a draw in 90 minutes until the quarter-final stage, as the goals kept rolling in. There was colour, noise and vibrancy in the stands. We had an Australian team playing an entertaining, attacking style.
Games like UAE versus Japan, Iran versus Iraq and South Korea versus Uzbekistan, including the final, will live long in the memory along with many others.
On many indicators the Asian Cup punched above its weight, particularly on the field. But in terms of its TV reach, it was a case of can do better.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Wasim
Guest
Could this problem be because of either, * Not enough advertising for the soccer! * The ratings system is flawed! I say both, EG, * If it wasn't for the weather man on channel 9, we would have missed the soccer on ABC too. * How do they know how many TV's were tuned in to what, by only surveying 6000 homes? http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/made-to-measure-but-can-we-trust-tv-ratings-20110422-1dr9m.html
JR Salazar
Guest
Thanks for sharing.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
All Published Asian Cup ratings figures: http://www.footyindustry.com/files/ffa/media/2015AsianCup.png Sourced from Mediaweek and TV Tonight.
BigVictory
Guest
Great comment John. Not sure where the aurthor of article got his figures from but media week did report the number you have stated. Would be great to see what the global reach of the tournament was in order to gain the true perspective of the success and exposure. I know first hand due to my travels in iran the final was well watched with most shops and the general public tunning into the game due to the Iranian referee.
Midfielder
Guest
Thanks Bondy
Bondy
Guest
Midfielder Have you seen this (http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6007-tennis-cricket-soccer-view-for-aussie-viewer-attention-201501120007?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=Findings&utm_campaign=OutbrainAll ) ...
Renegade
Guest
Yeah understand that UJ, But the ones that Australia actually organise - which is everything bar the AFC on Bondy's list.... would not want to risk it.
Uncle Junior
Guest
It's not a matter of "wanting" to put events up against other major sporting events. Fixtures for major sporting events are not determined by what happens in Australia. Only Australian sporting events that have no global dependencies have the luxury of cherry-picking dates to maximise appeal. So, the Asian Cup organisers don't check the BBL fixture to decide when to play their matches. The match dates are fixed and, apart from the host nation's group matches, the dates and venues for every other nation is random depending on how their names are randomly drawn from pots. Perhaps this year Australia may play a World Cup qualifier at the same time as Origin. I'm sure both events will cannibalise each other's ratings. The FFA can't tell FIFA "we don't want to play on a night that competes with Origin". Football is a world game. The calendar is set globally. No one at FIFA will check with the NRL to find a suitable date for a World Cup Qualifier.
Bondy
Guest
Renegade If I read your post correctly and I know I'm hypothesising but yes same night and timeslot Origin up against Real Madrid vs Man City for a Trophy .
Renegade
Roar Guru
Real Madrid vs Man City would be big but I don't think its anywhere near as big as the Socceroos making a tournament final. Is that match on the same night as SOO?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah understand it's hypothetical and all.... but UJ, do you think the other sporting competitions would actually want to put on their major events at the same time as Origin or an NRL/AFL grand final. Hypothetical I know.... but i don't think they'd risk the test.
Renegade
Guest
Cool story Punter. I was at Old Trafford in 2013 for the RL World Cup final and the stadium was sold out and filled with Englishmen. There was also 70,000 people majority being English a week earlier when i was at Wembley in London for the semis.
Renegade
Guest
Mid, I was cheering on the Socceroos the other night so not sure why your asking me if i'm concerned?? Just bringing another angle considering RL was bought into the debate.... hypotethicals and all - you can't try and bring down the ratings of the major sporting competitions to justify the AFC final figures. That's kind of where I thought the above post was going.
Midfielder
Guest
Renegade Yer mate the NRL and AFL have huge following ... Football could only dream of a similar for ...AFL in Victoria, SA, WA & Tassie and RL in ACT, NSW & QLD... Interesting Football rates higher than the NRL in Victoria, SA, WA & Tassie .... But I see your point in the ACT, NSW & QLD Rl is the king.... and who did not know that ... more over why are you so concerned by Asian Football ...
The Minister
Guest
If the Asian Cup was on during the NRL season. Rugby League would almost disappear out of public consciousness for most people for that 3 week period except for hard core fans. League crowds would take a massive hit.
punter
Guest
Renegade, I have English 4 brother in laws & after a few ales in an English pub, the traditional Aussie v English/British rivalry starts up, Cricket, yes currently have upper hand, Rugby, yes even, tennis Murray beats all at present, football, they look down on me mainly because of the Premier league not the national team. I have never had any discussions on the Rugby League with them, not once.
Bondy
Guest
Renegade I'd love to see both SOO go head to head against Real Madrid vs Man Cty both mercilessly flogged to death in the media prior to those events and seeing the ratings afterwards Nationally ?. Take your pick for stadiums, you probably wouldn't prefer the MCG over Docklands you might not fill it ..
Uncle Junior
Guest
Sorry, are you saying if Nick Kyrgios was playing a knock-out match at the Australian Open, or it was the Final of the Women's Grand Slam event, at the same time as the State of Origin it would have zero impact on the SoO Tv ratings? I know it's just a hypothetical, but you just need basic logic and common sense to tell you there would be a significant reduction in the group of casual fans watching SoO.
Uncle Junior
Guest
Absolutely. And the BBL ratings and Australian Open ratings would also have been lower? That's just common sense.
Renegade
Roar Guru
In that case you would also have to ask how would the Asian Cup final have performed if the NRL and AFL seasons were underway?? There is no doubt that the figures would have been lower.