The TV ratings for 2017 have just been released again and once again, rugby league has emerged as a winner.
The top-rating TV shows in 2017 were dominated by sporting events, with State of Origin 3 coming out on top:
1. State of Origin Rugby League game 3 Queensland vs NSW (Nine) 2.521 million metropolitan only (3.705 million combined metro and regional, #1 overall)
2. Australian Open Tennis men’s final (Seven) 2.686 million (3.636 million, #2)
3. AFL Grand Final Adelaide vs Richmond (Seven) 2.715 million (3.562 million, #3)
4. State of Origin Rugby League Game 1 Queensland vs NSW (Nine) 2.371 million (3.562 million, #4)
5. AFL Grand Final presentations (Seven) 2.713 million (3.558 million, #5)
6. The Block winner announced (Nine) 2.523 million (3.553 million, #6)
7. State of Origin Rugby League Game 2 Queensland vs NSW (Nine) 2.402 million (3.513 million, #7)
8. NRL Grand Final Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys (Nine) 2.308 million (3.378 million, #8)
9. Australian Ninja Warrior final stage (Nine) 2.227 million (3.199 million, #9)
10. Australian Ninja Warrior grand final (Nine) 2.158 million (3.076 million, #10)
I realise the Age in Melbourne re-ordered these stats to just show metro ratings, therefore giving the AFL the edge over rugby league, but surely the total ratings should matter a great deal more than the metro-only figures.
Regardless, the point of me writing this is there is still much life in rugby league – and plenty of scope for expansion. Half of Australians still prefer it over other sports on offer like AFL, rugby, and soccer.
The reason the crowds don’t go are many, but it’s when games are played at the country’s smaller grounds – suburban stadiums like Brookvale and Leichhardt Oval – where the game excels.
Big stadiums full of empty seats will kill rugby league and fans around the country need to fight the NSW government on their plans to rebuild Allianz and ANZ Stadiums. Rugby league and the NRL will continue to grow and, in my opinion at least, it is the better sport to watch on the box. It just needs to believe in itself more.
tricolours
Guest
What AFL fan wouldn't be watching the AFL grand final day or night? Infact any half hearted fan would be far more tempted to watch a prime time TV show during the evening rather than a Bonanza replay during the day.
tricolours
Guest
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And a Merry Christmas to you and remember 5 days to go.That's in fact a 5 day turnaround from now.Hope I'm up to it.
Mosquito
Guest
Relax and Merry Xmas
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Seriously mate. Mossie.The thread was about Tv ratings in this country, and in true AFL fan boy form ,you throw in a left fielder about turnarounds. It has been spelt out to you many times how 5 day turnarounds have been reduced from 45 down to 24,and would have been less ,except Anzac day falls on a Wednesday in 2018. I spelt out the difference in Thursday nights ,your code had 15 weeks with no Thursday nights.That being the case in the NRL the 5 day turnarounds would be even further lessened to few. The RLPA understand the scheduling and inherent problems it incurs ,the NRL players ditto, the NRL admin.the NRL clubs, and I dare say many of us fans. You still don't get it, sorry it's not abuse,it's frustration that a rl hating fan from your code ,who completely ignores the facts when presented. if it were so simple the RLPA (involving a smart cookie from the AFL Prendergast) would have offered it as a solution. We are fortunate as a code to have more than just the code played on the shores(or girt by sea) if you are poetic. One earns the responses they get, think about that point. And you have the audacity to suggest I have nothing further to add LOL.One says black ,you say white,say no more.
Mosquito
Guest
We are talking about 5 day turnarounds for club footy - if they play midweek SOO or 1 Friday night international that has no bearing on club footy schedule (the 5 day turnaround doesn't refer to SOO) because it only delays games till the next day or Sunday or there are byes - so why cant there be a blanket ban on anyone playing Sunday backing up for Thursday night or 2 games Friday night - there are 16 teams after all and only 6 teams involved Sunday (not forgetting Easter Monday and Queens birthday). That's what we are talking about .The maths is not hard. And when you resort to abuse I know you have nothing further to add.
Kangajets
Guest
Mainstream media is dying Along The digital media ratings would be more interesting.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Sadly in this country JK : Nous n'avons pas de guillotines pour les moustiques. Shame ,darn shame really.
Justin Kearney
Guest
Well said CC. Love the way this kid tries to dictate the terms of debate. Most amusing. He has a massive ego but nothing to back it up with.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Deflection LOL. You have shown yourself to be clueless once again Mossie. In 2017 there were 15 rounds in the AFL which did not involve Thursday nights. The AFL does not have a 6 pm Friday night game either. Disregarding SOO and Internationals ,shows yet again you are out of your depth in this discussion.NRL players are involved in either or both, putting extra burdens on players. Your mob wouldn't know an International, if somebody waved a PNG flag at them let alone a Euro.. The RLPA have a far better idea than anyone on the matter. Your unhealthy obsessive hate for rugby league is embarrassing.Your code must offer little,you spend so much time here,perhaps to get educated about the finer things in sport.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Our little friend really needs bigger boots.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
You dont decide what is and is not regarded in this discussion mostique. Now get back to din dins. Mummy's calling.
Mosquito
Guest
The AFL has Thursday nights and manages - internationals and SOO are disregarded in this discussion as we are talking about 5 day turnarounds in club football - Deflection par excellence
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
MDR!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Unanimous agreement then. Je suis d'accord avec votre e'valuation de flag waver Monsieur Kearney.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I'd go further than that CC. Le mostique deteste le rugby a XIII avec une obsession qui la bordent sur la paranoia.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
For Mossie Comparisons with those two codes re draws, shows plain ignorance.One not on FTA,the other with no Internationals /SOO/no regular Thursday nights/6pm Fridays/no Overseas team.. Je de'teste obsessionellement la ligue de rugby.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Mumma didn't raise no quitter.
Mosquito
Guest
But they have said repeatedly for years they will fix this - maybe part of the new deal was for the RLPA to stop bagging the RL why they got a good pay rise. So there are still 24 5 day turnarounds which science people say are dangerous. The AFL and RU can negotiate 6 day turnarounds and organise a draw that precludes it so why cant the RL and of course there is pressure on SOO players to play within 2-3 days of SOO.
In brief
Guest
Does anyone know how ratings are determined? If it's based on a survey forget it. I'll only believe them if there is some way of getting data direct from actual TV sets. Otherwise it's all conjecture.