Arguably the key to sporting data when determining the size and growth rates are: crowds, TV ratings, social media and direct net hits. My understanding is that there is a direct correlation between media coverage, crowds and ratings, and the more the better is obvious.
It is interesting to sometimes look behind the raw data. Surfing is very popular in Australia yet how many people who go to the beach would watch a surf tournament or the Iron Man.
History, tradition and media all play a part in the gathering of information. I can still recall John Salter played a grand final with a broken jaw against Manly in the 1971 grand final. It is part of league folklore, yet I have no recollection of how hard it was for the 1974 Socceroos to make the World Cup.
All the heroics of the ’74 side has been lost as it was never widely reported, appreciated nor talked about when great Australian sporting achievements are discussed. Yet if you look at what the ’74 side achieved to qualify it is arguably one of the top 10 Australian sporting stories over the last 60 years.
The chicken or egg argument over media coverage and ratings is a point often discussed. Does the media promote a sport because of the audience numbers it gets? Does the same media also drive the crowds and ratings? In truth, it’s a bit of both. However, only a fool would suggest that blanket coverage does not help existing codes in Australia.
The facts behind the crowd and ratings stats are interesting. What are the demographics of those watching? How many repeat watchers (people who will watch on a weekend many matches of their chosen code)? Are trends and overseas influences important to future patterns?
How important is the coverage, both pre and post-match analysis? How are difficult issues handled?
Football’s key figures, crowds of about 14,000 and ratings on Fox Sports of 71,000 are roughly a third of the AFL figures, with way less media and tradition. However, compared to the National Soccer League, which had no media, FFA is in a far better position.
Aside from the odd match, historically the lack of any meaningful free-to-air coverage of the Socceroos and football again affects these figures.
Pre-match and knowledgeable media for Socceroo opposition is often non-existent, the A-League has improved hugely in print but not so much in electronic. Post-match analysis is improving out of sight. However, in terms of ratings and crowds, the pre-match coverage is preferred.
The broadcasters and their advertisers pay a lot of attention to the age and demographics of the audiences. The reasons are many, not least the current and estimated spending patterns.
How should the ratings and the crowds be measured, what are the Australian tends, and what are the world trends?
At this stage please accept the following is gleamed from general reading rather than any particular inside knowledge. Indicators are that football has a younger demographic than other major codes, and along with AFL has a high female acceptance. Player numbers are growing. The technical side of the game is becoming increasingly understood, while national sides are becoming better known.
If media is, as I stated previously, an important plank of any sporting code, then YouTube, which only last week celebrated its 10th birthday, along with the net has been kind to football. YouTube has enabled the sharing of football and this has appealed to the younger generation.
An example of how YouTube can spread, my team the Central Coast Mariners copied this chant from Portland Timbers in the USA. I bring this up because things like this have gone totally unnoticed by the mainstream media. But this clearly highlights the power of the net.
The trends are seemingly all pointing north and arguably for the first time in our history we have a young and growing national side, a decent national domestic competition, and an increasingly accepted Asian Champions League, with a two tiers of state league sides and 650 team taking part in the FFA Cup.
There is a lot of noise about the next media deal and whether it will be brought forward a year. It’s said that all commercial channels are interested now.
Free-to-air stations are chasing, and football has become mainstream, resulting in it being able to be marketed to a mass audience. My logic tells me the analysis of the viewing patterns is pointing to growth.
So what do the key figures point to? As I said we need to know what’s behind them first. However, YouTube, net hits and player numbers all point to growth in the future.
The evolution has a long way to go but it appears we are in the beginning of a new phase for football in that it is now mainstream. Soon we will have more games to offer than any other code.
The phase ‘who dares wins’ may apply to what free-to-air station takes football to the next level, but my reading of the tea leaves is it is finally ready to go to a free-to-air channel.
Midfielder
Guest
Tis common practice in Australia... RL has the Broncos playing every Friday night ...
The Auteur
Guest
I don't know why how many hits on Google would matter, midfielder, especially since it will count webpages with 'A' and "league' in them.
The Auteur
Guest
I work at Suncorp Stadium. There are plenty of bogans or bogan-looking people at Roar and Socceroos games.
Uncle Junior
Guest
Midfielder you've raised a very useful point. The EPL rights for 168 matches to be broadcast live across the UK were recently sold as 7 distinct packages. Packages A-E were for 28 matches each (Saturday 12:30, Saturday 17:30, Sunday afternoon, Sunday evening, Monday or Friday) the other 2 packages were 14 matches each (some midweek, some Saturday, Sunday & bank holidays). I'm certain the FFA will create a package of the 9 highest ratings fixtures to be sold as a package to free-to-air TV. Saturday night seems to be the best night for A-League ratings, so the big 9 fixtures (27 matches each season) would be played on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with FTA coverage. Not all 10 A-League teams would be involved but that's too bad. We need a capitalist attitude to create wealth. Socialism gives us warm fuzzy feelings but won't pay the bills. Foxsports (or another PayTV provider) will always be heavily involved since they need content from October to April so they'll always buy A-League content but they won't have exclusive rights. Of course, this means Foxsports (or other paytv provider) will pay less for non-exclusive A-League rights but the FFA would fill the revenue gap with the free-to-air premium package.
punter
Guest
The world revolves around those who think differently.
Slim
Guest
Not only will the advanced minds convince others that the world is flat, they will try to convince you that I admire Pamela Anderson for her witty personality and world view on Sperm Whale Culling..
Midfielder
Guest
So the following schedule would not be of interest to a commercial FTA... 46 games ... SFC V WSW 3 SFC V MV 3 MV V MC 3 MC V WSW 3 Roar V WSW, SFC, MV 3 AU V SFC, WSW, Roar, Perth 5 New Sydney Team V SFC, WSW, MV, MC… between 4 & 12 say 6 Add SFC, WSW, MV, Roar V CCM, Nix, PG, Other new team … 7 33 games + 5 finals+ 8 Socceroos … 46 games …
britesparke
Roar Rookie
14K average figure is promising but again "skewed" with factoring in the derbies. The WSW-Sydney FC match yesterday attracted 19K+ and an even bigger crowd attended the last Sydney derby at Alliance. The other "real" problem that lurks in the back of sponsors minds (and tv programmers and decision makers) is the hooligan element that is still present in A League. Most sponsors want as clean a sport as they can get ( I hear you laughing at mention of NRL) or a popular sport that is considered mainstream. The match showed the ground engulfed in the smoke of flares being thrown by both sets of supporters onto the field. Only broadcasters that understand the game (SBS) or the subscription services (Foxtel) would be willing to screen something like that.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
The people that believe the "world is still flat" are the tv programmers and decision makers and NOT those commenters who are realists and recognise the commercial realities of FTA! To pick up on one of the examples mentioned -motor racing. I had tuned in Channel Ten's V8 supercar coverage of the Clipsal 500. Motor racing, due to its format, absolutely lends itself to being screened on FTA- the advertising in this case was done in blocks or when "safety car" was deployed on the track so sponsors get plenty of airtime. The other issue is, as other commenters suggest, that a real event or drawcard is required for FTA to be interested (such as the Liverpool tour or the recent Asian Cup). Believe it (or not) these are the commercial realities for others to decide!
Slim
Guest
Well, if motor racing, golf and basketball get some free to air, so can HAL. Simple and no excuses. To all those that expertly believe that the world is still flat.
Shouts Chen
Guest
Unfortunately Sky Sports is from England. You can only see matches on Fox Sports.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
What I am saying is we still haven't captured a good majority of football fans watching the A -league for whatever reason.
Bill
Guest
BTW let me be clear on the point at issue! I don't care if the inflation figures are calculated and published by the RBA, ABS, RTA, RACQ or even the AA!! The message is that they are bogus, lies, gross distortions of the truth whatever you want to call them!! - they are a FRAUD!! Ditto for Standard & Poors, Moodys and Fitchs economic ratings and OzTam's tv ratings figures too.
Bill
Guest
"There is still a large segment out there who for whatever reason are not following the A-league." What's your point? - There are very large segments out there who are NOT following the the NRL, AFL or Cricket either!
Bill
Guest
"The YouTube’s of the world could get involved, although I don’t think they would buy the rights and sell to customers, rather they could be the platform for the rights holders (i.e. the sporting associations) to sell directly to customers an cut out the middle man (i.e. the PayTV companies)." Excellent idea! - the FFA should be investigating the possibilities of just such a strategic partnership with a company like Youtube and cutting out Foxsports altogether!
Bill
Guest
It's nearly 14K average this year
Bill
Guest
Please enlighten us with the NRL's average attendance figures? I don't think they are anywhere near 20-30K And don't reply by jabbering on about their unproveable and unbelievable tv ratings figures!
Bill
Guest
I was in a hurry when I wrote that so obviously I meant the RBA NOT the ABS. You're pretty desperate pal - Reduced to splitting hairs! Anyway, it doesn't matter the important thing is that the basis of my argument is both valid and inarguable.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Who's using the ABS figures? Im using the official RBA Calculator which puts 17 million in 2006 at under 20 million in 2012. (http://www.rba.gov.au/calculator/annualDecimal.html) I mean you can always make up your own figures I suppose. Whatever helps you sleep.
Bill
Guest
REAL inflation 1.7%?!?! Wookie - what planet do you live on?? - With a name like "Wookie" yoy obviously don't live on this one!! I can't believe that you live in Australia! Obviously you don't shop at either Coles or Woolworths supermarkets like the rest of us where prices rise virtually every week! Or have private health insurance which goes up another 8% in April after rising 10% last year and the year before that! And house price 'inflation' is totally out of control!! - with more and more people unable to afford to keep a roof over their families heads! The ABS's 'official' inflation figures are even dodgier than OzTam tv ratings!