NRL leads the ratings across the board

[I_LUV_AFL]

NRL LEADS THE RATINGS ACROSS THE BOARD
Thursday 5 Apr 2007 02:13
by Chris Riediger


It's hard to know if the NRL's ratings power is a win for our game's administration, or further proof that the rights to the NRL have been vastly undersold. Either way, the NRL is leading the way in Free-to-Air TV, Pay TV and Internet/Mobile usage in 2007.

It has been well-documented that the NRL essentially props up Pay TV by providing nearly three-quarters of the Top 100 programs watched by Australians, and that NRL and State of Origin matches are the highest rating football code events on Free-to-Air. In addition to this, it was revealed to rleague.com that the NRL Internet and Mobile Video Content is out-performing AFL and all other football codes as well, this despite the much-hyped AFL Internet and Mobile services competing with the NRL for users' time.

At a time when the games finances are being questioned by the players, this is result is both good and bad news for the NRL. The show of popularity for the NRL is a healthy sign for the game, but the fact it isn't translating to a healthier "bottom line" has to be of concern to the players, clubs, fans and grassroots of Rugby League, especially when stacked up against the might of the AFL.

This result shows very clearly why the likes of News Digital Media and Fox Sports owners PMG are quite happy to ignore the agreement the NRL has with Telstra for Internet and Mobile Rights. It shows how valuable Internet and Mobile rights are to companies like PMG (News Limited and PBL), as well as emerging "New Media" companies like Telstra. Telstra are now taking News Digital Media PMG to Federal Court (see Lisa Murray's piece: http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/telstra-tackles-the-big-men/2007/04/03/1175366244058.html) to gain a ruling that will restrict PMG to the guidelines set out in the 6-year, $60 million (plus $30 million on contra) Telstra-NRL agreement. If this goes any further that the initial hearing, the NRL are likely to be pulled in to the stoush as the owners of the rights in dispute. This is despite comments made to date. Worse still, the NRL will most likely be forced to choose a side should both Telstra and PMG stand their ground over the agreements.

Fox Sports 3, the newest of the PMG channels, has had outstanding ratings success. According to OZTAM data, Fox Sports 3 was the most viewed of the Pay TV Sports channels across Australia last week. Fox Sports 3 is the home of all NRL coverage. And of course, as most Pay TV subscribers will tell you, the basic packages will now include Fox Sports 3 for an increased monthly fee, something that should further raise the eyebrows of NRL supporters, players and clubs.

It appears that Willie Mason's questions couldn't have come at a better time for the players and clubs. Players are pushing for more transparency and ultimately more money. At the same time, News Limited, PBL and Telstra are prepared to spend big money and go to court over Internet and Mobile Rights and the NRL are continuing to demonstrate its money-spinning power for the TV Broadcasters. Yet the NRL are the poor cousins to the AFL, getting significantly less for TV Broadcast Rights and Internet, Mobile and Naming Rights than their competition. Even if the numbers all add up to the satisfaction of the players - which they no doubt will - the next question should be why the NRL didn't have more money to begin with!

But at least the NRL can now tell us all how wonderfully popular we are - or can they? Based on comments from NRL CEO David Gallop over the last few months it would appear the NRL didn't even know their own TV or Internet ratings, instead widely acclaiming the success of the AFL when justifying the lower value of NRL rights deals comparatively!

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Well duh, RL fans have known this for years, why do they think we keep whinging about how much the NRL get compared to AFL?

We know why, it's just that the people who run the game, also run the papers and all news channels on FTA and Pay TV.

The only way RL can ever stick it's big boot into AFL is when News LTD is out.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Well duh, RL fans have known this for years, why do they think we keep whinging about how much the NRL get compared to AFL?

We know why, it's just that the people who run the game, also run the papers and all news channels on FTA and Pay TV.

The only way RL can ever stick it's big boot into AFL is when News LTD is out.

Well that is never going to happen. News Ltd know they are on a good thing and are making good profits.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Well that is never going to happen. News Ltd know they are on a good thing and are making good profits.

Yep, thats the problem.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Do you have a link to the first article Tut?

Thanks.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Do you have a link to the first article Tut?

Thanks.

www.rleague.com It is on the main screen now.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

www.rleague.com It is on the main screen now.

Thanks

Needs to be put in the Footy TV ratings thread.

 

[Ricardo]

Where are his links for the FTA ratings, from the figures i've seen around they don't 'lead' in FTA (although the SOO is a big ratings winner).

I find it strange that the AFL get more $$ for both pay and FTA, maybe the next round of deals will show the true worth of the two competitions.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Thanks

Needs to be put in the Footy TV ratings thread.

No worries. Do you know the round 3 TV ratings for MNF?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

NRL wins every Friday night for a start, have done for years.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

No worries. Do you know the round 3 TV ratings for MNF?

I'll have a look, maybe find out by sunday.

I think they take a week to come out for some reason.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Where are his links for the FTA ratings, from the figures i've seen around they don't 'lead' in FTA (although the SOO is a big ratings winner).

I find it strange that the AFL get more $$ for both pay and FTA, maybe the next round of deals will show the true worth of the two competitions.

I'm not sure mate. I'm the messenger boy but he is a credible source so I'd imagne it is legit.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I'll have a look, maybe find out by sunday.

I think they take a week to come out for some reason.

Your a champ, Parra. Cheers to you.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Your a champ, Parra. Cheers to you.

I think the Monday night figures where 316,000, not sure if this was this weeks game or last weeks.

I'll have a look around over the next couple of days, when I find them, I'll put them in the MNF thread.


Not unless Russ13 beats me too it

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I think the Monday night figures where 316,000, not sure if this was this weeks game or last weeks.

I'll have a look around over the next couple of days, when I find them, I'll put them in the MNF thread.


Not unless Russ13 beats me too it

I've got round 1 and round 2 with averages etc in the MNF thread so when you get round 3 that'd be good if you could put in in the MNF thread.

 

[Rus13]

Where are his links for the FTA ratings, from the figures i've seen around they don't 'lead' in FTA (although the SOO is a big ratings winner).

I find it strange that the AFL get more $$ for both pay and FTA, maybe the next round of deals will show the true worth of the two competitions.

Here are the Round 1 AFL FTA figues:

(4 Games)
in Ks

709 Friday (Ch 7)
591 Sunday( " )
127 Adelaide ( " )
829 Saturday night (Ch 10)
716 Saturday arvo ( " )

That's 2,872,000 for FTA in the mainland capitals. They also had 99,000 watching the game in Tasmania on Friday night. That's a total of 2,971,000.

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/

http://www.agbnielsen.net/whereweare/dynPage.asp?lang=english&id=300&country=Australia

http://sevencorporate.com.au/page.asp?partid=1175

NRL (3 games)

FNF

Game 1 991 K
Regionals 659K
Game 2 524 K
Regionals 300 K
Total 2,474K

Sunday
Titans Game 632 K
Regionals 400
Total 1,032 K

Grand total 3,506 million


AFL 2,971,000

NRL 3,506, 000

Caution - note assumptions, namely that as the second NRL on FNF game didn't make the Top 20 regional lists not did the Sunday arvo game I have guessed the figure to be about the same proportion that watched the first FNF game i.e. two-thirds of the capital city totals.

Some say there is some double counting in the regionals so a simple addition of the regional & metropolital figures will be misleading. Others say the double counting is minimal. (there is a thread on it somewhere here.)

There will be some amounts for the AFL in the Queensland & NSW regionals maybe 100,000. I simply don't know.


The completed AFL Pay TV figures won't be available till next week. Saturday is the weekly cutoff for the week.

AFL's Pay TV so far:
(from TV Tonight site)
5 LIVE: AFL FREMANTLE V PORT ADELAIDE FOX Sports 1 127,056
6 LIVE: AFL BRISBANE V HAWTHORN FOX Sports 1 106,494
.
.
.
43 AFL SYDNEY V WEST COAST FOX Sports 1 38,680
44 AFL KANGAROOS V COLLINGWOOD FOX Sports 1 38,427

Total so far; 310,657


NRL Pay TV(also from the TV tonight site)

FNF 72,653
Sat 430,183
MNF 242,086
Total 744,922


Therefore NRL grand total Round 1 is 4,250,922 (744,922 + 3,506,000)

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

FNF 72,653
Sat 430,183
MNF 242,086
Total 744,922


Therefore NRL grand total Round 1 is 4,250,922 (744,922 + 3,506,000)

Is that the Round 3 MNF ratings?

 

[Rus13]

Tukati

I am using the figures from the TV Tonight site. Their figures for the first MNF game were 70,000 or so below the 316,000 which was widely reported a day or so after the game.

Some say they only have Fox numbers & don't have Austar figures included. I don't know.


However, for consistency I will be using the TVT numbers . The are published every Monday.

BTW their week ends on Saturday, so the got from Sunday to Saturday.

STOP PRESS

I have just found out that OzTam do the Pay TV ratings so they might only have metrop figures for Pay TV.

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media/20070403-Pay-TV-needs-to-open-up.html
"But try finding out audience numbers, especially on a basis that allows some comparison with free-to-air viewing. The Pay TV industry insists on disclosing its viewing figures the way it wants to present them, unlike the FTA networks which are open about their performance on a daily basis."

that would give the impression that the Pay TV industry run their own ratings system and have full control of the process. When in fact the Pay TV ratings are done by the same company OzTAM (owned by the FTA's) that run the FTA ratings system. If you are willing to pay for those figures you can have them all. Which goes against what he is saying about disclosure.

 

[Ricardo]

I'm not sure mate. I'm the messenger boy but he is a credible source so I'd imagne it is legit.

Yeah, seems credible to me.

Oh and that Oztam pay-tv rating of 242k for the first MNF match makes sense now, it must the the capitals they counted.

 

[Philhawk]

That's just great.

Fact of the matter is that this is the Rugby League forum and comments like that which serve to rile Rugby League fans will only result in those responsible for the posts being given either infractions, bans from the RL Board or even Bans from all of BigFooty.

Now how about we all just think now before we post in future.

 

[Rus13]

Back on topic:


http://www.mediaspy.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=11585
Good Friday

1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,342,000 S 362,000 M 367,000 B 275,000 A 153,000 P 185,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,253,000 315,000 359,000 250,000 158,000 171,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,234,000 364,000 364,000 249,000 139,000 119,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,077,000 319,000 297,000 220,000 136,000 105,000
9 MURPHY'S LAW ABC 871,000 199,000 247,000 165,000 123,000 137,000
15 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 741,000 S 462,000 -- B 279,000 -- --
26 NINE'S (OTHER) FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 425,000 271,000 -- 154,000 -- --
27 TOTALLY WILD Ten 408,000 147,000 87,000 97,000 38,000 38,000
28 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING RPT ABC 406,000 99,000 136,000 75,000 52,000 44,000

Thursday:
(same source)

SEVEN'S AFL: RND 2: BRISBANE LIONS V ST KILDA Seven 781,000 SYD37,000 Melb382,000 Bris117,000 Adelaide 142,000 Perth103,000

Here's something the LU site aboutthe NRL Round 2:

NRL TV audience for round 2:

FNF
(in Ks - using Nook's figures - page 80)
FTA
Game 1 610
Regionals 517
Game 2 447
Regionals 300

FNF Total 1,904

Sunday 547 (Using Oztam - includes 22K in Perth)
Regionals 360

Sunday Total 907

FTA Total 2,911,000

Pay TV

Cowboys v Roosters 167,987
Raiders v Storm 156,699
Tigers v Manly 148,910
Knights v Bulldogs 139,810
MNF -Sharks v Titans 203,413

Pay Total 816,789

Grand total Round 2 is 3, 727,789 (816,789 + 2,911,000)
http://72.52.152.33/~leagueun/forums/showthread.php?t=104804&page=88

 

[LeagueRhino]

well rugby league is a wonderful product - it's going to dish out wonderful ratings.

I agree the NRL should be getting at least 100 million a season for their tv rights. However, the NRL rights aren't worth 780 million over five years like the AFL. The AFL rights are way overvalued. I would find it very hard to see how eithier ch.7 or ch.10 could possibly make a profit. Australia population just ain't that big.

 

[Scorpio]

I agree the NRL should be getting at least 100 million a season for their tv rights. However, the NRL rights aren't worth 780 million over five years like the AFL. The AFL rights are way overvalued.

The AFL rights are valued at however much the networks paid for them.

I would find it very hard to see how eithier ch.7 or ch.10 could possibly make a profit. Australia population just ain't that big.

Given that Ch 7 and 10 onsold half the rights to Pay TV (meaning that Foxtel paid them to show half the games) I'm sure they will be fine. I am also sure that 7 are not complaining now that AFL has helped them consolidate Friday nights, thus giving them ratings wins each week against 9.

 

[LeagueRhino]

The AFL rights are valued at however much the networks paid for them.



Given that Ch 7 and 10 onsold half the rights to Pay TV (meaning that Foxtel paid them to show half the games) I'm sure they will be fine. I am also sure that 7 are not complaining now that AFL has helped them consolidate Friday nights, thus giving them ratings wins each week against 9.

I disagree. I don't think the AFL product is worth 780mil over five years. If the NRL got that exact figure, i too would be questioning the same thing. No sport in Australia should be worth that.

By your theory, the NRL tv rights were sold at the right worth because that was how much the tv networks were willing to pay. disagree there as well.

 

[Scorpio]

I disagree. I don't think the AFL product is worth 780mil over five years. If the NRL got that exact figure, i too would be questioning the same thing. No sport in Australia should be worth that.

By your theory, the NRL tv rights were sold at the right worth because that was how much the tv networks were willing to pay. disagree there as well.

Well that's your opinion and I'm happy for you. But the TV networks thought differently. I mean there is no objective way to value something. It is just whatever somebody is willing to pay for them.