Australian Football still most popular by a long way!

[finders]

Interesting figures.


Union tops league in popularity contest

By Greg Growden
Tuesday, June 21, 2005

It is the moment rugby union administrators have dreamed of for decades - when their game passed rugby league as the more popular national sport.

The latest Sweeney Sports Report reveals 55 per cent of people are interested in AFL, followed by soccer (45 per cent), rugby (44 per cent) and league (41 per cent) - the first time in the report's 18-year history.

The survey of 1000 Australians aged between 16 and 65, who were interviewed between October and March, shows interest in rugby union - based on participation, match attendance and media following - was up 15 per cent and the gap between it and AFL had been cut from 20 points to 11.

The last Sweeney survey, in winter last year, showed league and union neck and neck on 42 per cent, behind AFL (53 per cent) and soccer (46 per cent).

Rugby now also has the second-highest level of press readership of all codes. AFL leads with 19 per cent, followed by rugby with 13 per cent and soccer and rugby league on 12 per cent.



In Sydney, league has a 20 per cent readership, with rugby on 17 per cent, soccer on 12 per cent and AFL on 11 per cent. In Brisbane, AFL, league and rugby are each on 15 per cent, and soccer 10 per cent. In Melbourne, AFL reigns supreme on 27 per cent, soccer on 13 per cent, rugby on 7 per cent and league on 4 per cent.

The survey showed that rugby was also watched more on television than league - 40 per cent to 38 per cent. However, rugby had enjoyed a 14 per cent increase since 1998, compared to soccer's 6 per cent, league's 5 per cent and AFL's 4 per cent rise.

Rugby has also enjoyed a 7 per cent increase in attendance since 1998, compared to 6 per cent (AFL), 4 per cent (soccer) and 3 per cent (league).

The Australian Rugby Union's managing director, Gary Flowers, said yesterday that the survey was "a great result for rugby".

"The 2003 World Cup tournament was obviously a watershed for the game in Australia. There were some sceptics who took the view that we wouldn't be able to retain the interest levels after the last World Cup," he said.

The sport that held the greatest national interest was swimming (59 per cent), followed by tennis, cricket and AFL (55 per cent). Then followed soccer, union, league, cycling, bushwalking/hiking, golf, running, gym workout, motor-car racing, athletics, snooker and basketball.

 

[LebaneseForces]

How accurate can a survey of 1000 people be

 

[LebaneseForces]

The survey showed that rugby was also watched more on television than league - 40 per cent to 38 per cent. However, rugby had enjoyed a 14 per cent increase since 1998, compared to soccer's 6 per cent, league's 5 per cent and AFL's 4 per cent rise.

HAHAHAHA That's funny! The WHOLE super 12's season was out rated by one game of SOO! They are not on free-to-air and their test matches don't rate highly... This survey is crap!

 

[Spiteful Beetle]

How accurate can a survey of 1000 people be

Well OZTAM has a survey size of 3000 people (Australia wide) and league fans treat its results like gospel.

 

[LebaneseForces]

Well OZTAM has a survey size of 3000 people (Australia wide) and league fans treat its results like gospel.

Please Swimmng and tennis more popular then Rugby league, Union and Soccer pfft... Please Union outrates League on TV? HAHAHA Union has to get on TV first!

 

[Hicham]

lol @ the Union claim. As LF said, one SOO game rates over a million more viewers than the entire Super 12 season. The article claims Union is more watched, yet it isn't even on FTA - LOL! Union doesn't even challenge League these days in Australia as it might have in years past.

That alone shows this article up as a crock of **** (as if it wasn't obvious enough anyway).

Finders, this is a **** thread and you're only looking to cast a line. There's a place for people like you to do your thing:

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/forumdisplay.php?f=109

 

[BuffaloRules]

Interesting figures.

The survey of 1000 Australians aged between 16 and 65, who were interviewed between October and March, shows interest in rugby union - based on participation, match attendance and media following - was up 15 per cent and the gap between it and AFL had been cut from 20 points to 11.

[/B]

Why didn't you highlight this bit??

At this rate, in a little over a year RU will be the most popular sport in Aus.

Then we will see how genuine you think this survey will be.

 

[pcpp]

ROFL

This survey has got to be the biggest load of BS ever.

It is the moment rugby union administrators have dreamed of for decades - when their game passed rugby league as the more popular national sport.

Why don't crowds and TV figures show that?

In Melbourne, AFL reigns supreme on 27 per cent, soccer on 13 per cent, rugby on 7 per cent and league on 4 per cent.

Bull crap. Even I have quarrels about the AFL's tiny lead there. You've got to be kidding me that AFL only has double soccer's popularity where AFL is like a religion there? And people in Melbourne know the difference between "rugby" and "league"? Maybe if they had Rugby League and Rugby Union on the survey listed they might have a bigger chance of telling the difference.

The survey showed that rugby was also watched more on television than league - 40 per cent to 38 per cent. However, rugby had enjoyed a 14 per cent increase since 1998, compared to soccer's 6 per cent, league's 5 per cent and AFL's 4 per cent rise.

Honestly, with Union being watched more than League, surely they would be able to secure a FTA contract and ensure that one game of State of Origin does not rate more than the entire S12 comp?

Whoever wrote this bulls*it needs get checked into a mental institution. Who did they survey, the ARU board?

 

[pcpp]

Here's an official response by the NRL:

http://www.nrl.com/news.cfm?ID=11906

 

[robbieando]

HAHAHAHA That's funny! The WHOLE super 12's season was out rated by one game of SOO! They are not on free-to-air and their test matches don't rate highly... This survey is crap!

yet

How accurate can a survey of 1000 people be

So I take it now any debate that centres around TV or Radio ratings can be dismissed as in-accurate because of the small sample size or do you actively encourage double standards????

Anyway I don't think anyone here needs a survey such as this to make the judgement that when you compare the major football codes in this country by crowds, ratings and participation levels, that Union is a distant fourth behind AFL, RL and Soccer in this country and will be forever more.

 

[Hicham]

Spot on Robbie.

Relax lads, it's nothing more than a publicity drive for Union. They do it all the time and you should know that.

Remember the "3 billion WC viewers"?

This is the same thing chundered up in a different form. Like Robbie said, Union is struggling in 4th when all criteria is factored in. Everyone knows that (even if some won't admit it ).

Let 'em do what works for them.

 

[cos789]

How accurate can a survey of 1000 people be

More accurate than the ratings !!!!

 

[littleduck]

More accurate than the ratings !!!!

But the sample size is the same...

At the end of the day we all know broadcast revenue is the biggest revenue generator for all football codes and therefore television audiences are vitally important.

 

[cos789]

At the end of the day we all know .......

Spin and misdirection .



At the end of the day .... it's bums on seats .
It all comes back to bums on seats .
Without that particular person there's no gate , no atmosphere , no merchandise , no ratings .

 

[BuffaloRules]

yet



So I take it now any debate that centres around TV or Radio ratings can be dismissed as in-accurate because of the small sample size or do you actively encourage double standards????

To all the people whinging about TV ratings, keep in mind that TV stations and advertisers are willing to invest millions of dollars on the outcome of TV ratings, so they must have some basis in reality which is more then what I can say for this survey.

It is my understanding that TV ratings are now recorded via an instrument that can measure when the tv is turned on, and to what station, so I think it is a lot less subjective than questions asked over the phone like "have you watched a game of rugby union in the last 12 months?"...

I hope the ARU takes this survey to the TV stations to push for them to have more coverage on FTA.....

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

After reading that garbage, i think i should lay off the pot a bit and start drinking again.

.......................................................................................................

From NRL

Little faith in Sweeney report: NRL

21 June 2005


You will notice in the media today references to the Sweeney report.

The report claims:

*that rugby has overtaken rugby league based on participation, match attendance and media following.

*that rugby league crowds have grown three per cent since 1998 and that more people watched rugby union on television than rugby league.

The Sweeney report is a Melbourne-based sports poll based on 1000 telephone interviews and no other actual data whatsoever.

It has historically made no effort to check in southern states the extent to which interviewees appreciated the difference between rugby league and rugby union when answering questions.

The NRL has held little faith in the accuracy of the report for some years.

This lack of faith is enforced when one considers the following:

Rugby league crowd averages have risen 34 per cent since 1998, setting record averages in 2003 and 2004.

The game is on track for another record in 2005 (Sweeney somehow claims three per cent growth in the same time frame).

Rugby league is the highest rating Australian sport on subscription television (substantially ahead of rugby) with a growing audience.

Rugby league attracts around two million viewers a week on free to air television across Friday and Sunday.

Rugby league supplied the top three most-watched programs in Brisbane last year and four of the top 6 in Sydney; rugby did not produce one.

Nationally league came in 12th, 25th, 30th, 48th, rugby union came in 97th (somehow Sweeney appears to have rugby ahead in viewing).



Rugby league has more participants at 280,000 than rugby and is growing faster than ever.

Online interest in the game has grown 30 per cent having set a record number of unique visitors in each of the first three months this season.

May saw 765,000 different people visit NRL.COM, making it the second most popular sports website in the country (Nielsen ratings placed the highest ranking rugby site at 7th and the ARU site at 20th).

The Sweeney Report once again seems the equivalent of a small opinion poll that says Labor should have won the last election, even though the votes actually went the other way


Brought to you by NRL

 

[cos789]

It is my understanding that TV ratings are now recorded via an instrument that can measure when the tv is turned on, and to what station

It can't tell if a human being is actually in the same room let alone interested in the program .
People with digital STB's are barred from the survey.
So that's one demographic and some programs missing .
A lot of advertisers were up in arms when CH7 went off the air recently for 1/2 an hour and CONTINUED to rate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BuffaloRules]

It can't tell if a human being is actually in the same room let alone interested in the program .
People with digital STB's are barred from the survey.
So that's one demographic and some programs missing .
A lot of advertisers were up in arms when CH7 went off the air recently for 1/2 an hour and CONTINUED to rate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All true, but does it produce more accurate results then asking someone a question??

There is never gunna be a perfect solution is there....

 

[Argent]

betting interest is a fairly accurate measure, and about 2-3 times as much money is bet on centrebet and betfair on AFL than NRL in any given weekend.. (just go to betfair and look at how much is bet on each game(

I could never find figures for TAB but no doubt they paint a similar story.

 

[cos789]

All true, but does it produce more accurate results then asking someone a question??

Ratings and surveys are only a guide .One is only more accurate than the other if the controls are better .

 

[LebaneseForces]

betting interest is a fairly accurate measure, and about 2-3 times as much money is bet on centrebet and betfair on AFL than NRL in any given weekend.. (just go to betfair and look at how much is bet on each game(

I could never find figures for TAB but no doubt they paint a similar story.

Nah all that says is Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth have more punters...
Geez i'm as big a supporter as they come but i barely bet on footy (RUGBY LEAGUE...

 

[hustler85]

This thread is just a load of crap... seriously everyone just get over it.... sick of these little AFL vs League threads... If the mods had any sense they woud block them as soon as they started... Im sure RobbieAndo would block this thread if it was about league being more dominant and popular then AFL...
If you like league you like league, if you like AFL u like AFL... who cares which one you think is most dominant, it doesnt really matter... it seems unaustralian.... True australian sports nuts will embrace most sports....

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

"Melbourne based sports poll based on 1000 phone interviews". That sums it all up.

 

[Rex]

Interesting figures.


Union tops league in popularity contest

By Greg Growden
Tuesday, June 21, 2005

It is the moment rugby union administrators have dreamed of for decades - when their game passed rugby league as the more popular national sport.

The latest Sweeney Sports Report reveals 55 per cent of people are interested in AFL, followed by soccer (45 per cent), rugby (44 per cent) and league (41 per cent) - the first time in the report's 18-year history.

The survey of 1000 Australians aged between 16 and 65, who were interviewed between October and March, shows interest in rugby union - based on participation, match attendance and media following - was up 15 per cent and the gap between it and AFL had been cut from 20 points to 11.

The last Sweeney survey, in winter last year, showed league and union neck and neck on 42 per cent, behind AFL (53 per cent) and soccer (46 per cent).

Rugby now also has the second-highest level of press readership of all codes. AFL leads with 19 per cent, followed by rugby with 13 per cent and soccer and rugby league on 12 per cent.



In Sydney, league has a 20 per cent readership, with rugby on 17 per cent, soccer on 12 per cent and AFL on 11 per cent. In Brisbane, AFL, league and rugby are each on 15 per cent, and soccer 10 per cent. In Melbourne, AFL reigns supreme on 27 per cent, soccer on 13 per cent, rugby on 7 per cent and league on 4 per cent.

The survey showed that rugby was also watched more on television than league - 40 per cent to 38 per cent. However, rugby had enjoyed a 14 per cent increase since 1998, compared to soccer's 6 per cent, league's 5 per cent and AFL's 4 per cent rise.

Rugby has also enjoyed a 7 per cent increase in attendance since 1998, compared to 6 per cent (AFL), 4 per cent (soccer) and 3 per cent (league).

The Australian Rugby Union's managing director, Gary Flowers, said yesterday that the survey was "a great result for rugby".

"The 2003 World Cup tournament was obviously a watershed for the game in Australia. There were some sceptics who took the view that we wouldn't be able to retain the interest levels after the last World Cup," he said.

The sport that held the greatest national interest was swimming (59 per cent), followed by tennis, cricket and AFL (55 per cent). Then followed soccer, union, league, cycling, bushwalking/hiking, golf, running, gym workout, motor-car racing, athletics, snooker and basketball.

Then we have the infamous Pizza survey. Can someone tell me why a pizza company bothered to do a survey on this subject? I'm waiting for Maccas survey.

Rugby League wins battle of footy codes [1/06/2004]
The game of Rugby League has survived recent controversies to be named Australia’s favourite football code according to the latest national poll from Domino’s Pizza Australia.

League was voted the favourite with 45 per cent of Australians preferring the sport over Australian Football (29 per cent), soccer (14 per cent) and rugby union (13 per cent).

Domino’s Pizza Australia CEO Don Meij said the results were surprising considering the AFL has a truly national presence with teams in every state and Australia hosted the Rugby World Cup last year.

"They say that rugby union is the game they play in heaven but league rules the roost in the Australia," Mr Meij said.

"Australian Football is promoted as Australia’s premier spectator sport but our poll says that more people prefer to watch rugby league.

"And if soccer is the ‘world game’ then rugby league is ‘Australia’s game’.

"The State of Origin series has become the pinnacle football contest in the country. Aussies respond to the state versus state – mate versus mate rivalry.

"TV ratings show that most of New South Wales and Queensland stop to watch the game and most of the other states get on board either barracking for the Cockroaches or Maroons.

The Domino’s Pizza Australia poll surveyed 600 people from every state in Australia.

Which code of football do you find more appealing?

Code
Percentage

Rugby League
45

Australian Rules
29

Soccer
14

Rugby Union
13

For further information contact:
Don Meij, Domino’s Pizza Australia CEO, 0416 055 743
Matthew Hart / Kristina Sullivan, BBS Public Relations, 07 3221 6711 or 0418 714 463

Click here to read the full release in pdf format
http://www.dominos.com.au/great_com...v=20&NewsID=254

 

[Pantsless]

Dominos only started opening stores in Melbourne last year and the one near me only opened in November. Whereas back near Mum's place (Sydney) they've had Dominos for about 2 years.