Australian Sport TV Ratings.. Rugby Falling

[flat_eric]

Do the stats taken for the Super games count those watching it abroad? Reason being, you're taking out a huge segment of those watching the game because their team is playing an Australian team. For instance, when the Reds played the Stormers, you're going to have all those fans concerned about watching the Reds, but only those Stormers fans based in Australia. While comparing that to a Collingwood vs Geelong game, you've got two teams based in Australia so more people are involved in watching the game within Australia.

Because Super rugby is an international game, it needs to include those watching the game from outside of our borders, otherwise you're only getting a small indication of who's watching it.

Then there's also the fact of how dodgy TV-Ratings are. I don't think I've come across anyone who has the monitoring box to give them feedback on what is being watched. So the figures are so unreliable of knowing who's actually watching.

Mate not really. We're talking about the popularity of the game IN AUSTRALIA. Whether there are yarpies and kiwis watching is of little significance as far as the Australian market is concerned. The problem with the ratings is that there are only five Australian teams. A lot of the time these Australian teams will playing in a time zone that is not particularly viewer friendly. That has been and always will be the fundamental flaw of the competition.

As someone else said, apples and oranges.

 

[qwerty51]

I like rugby where is at the moment. I don't want it too popular. I don't know why people get so into ratings and the like. I'm an end user as a viewer and an amateur player, doesn't affect me at all.

 

[wamberal]

Its a sad day when we are overtaken by the A-League, they have also been breaking more and more tv ratings records in the their 2012-2013 so its only going to get worse

But you are still an optimist, are you?

 

[TOCC]

But you are still an optimist, are you?

The game still isn't dieing if that's the point you are trying to suggest.....

 

[It is what it is]

I like rugby where is at the moment. I don't want it too popular. I don't know why people get so into ratings and the like. I'm an end user as a viewer and an amateur player, doesn't affect me at all.

High TV Ratings = Increased TV Rights = Increased Sponsorships = More money to develop the game at all levels.
When rugby's major competitors AFL & NRL use the $$$ they've earned from having superior revenue streams to invest at grass roots level, send development officers out to schools, recruit the best athletes etc etc it will be at the detriment of rugby.
If you love the game, which I know you do, you'll recognise that the ARU and Super franchises must remain financially viable and competitive for these $$$ in one of the most competitive sporting landscapes in the world.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

But you are still an optimist, are you?

replying to the A-league comment you responded to.
I personally don't think the A-league is the threat rugby needs to worry about. the boost in ratings at the moment is a one off associated with two big names they have been able to lure - primarily del piero who is a 39 year old former italian star.
hesky is less of the draw card and most had never heard of the japanese? player at the wanderers before he got pumped up.
long story short, the league is having a bumper year because of two unique draw cards - the broader league (games not involving either of these players) is nto attracting crowds any bigger than usual.
further, the game will always struggle with so much superior competition offshore. epl, spanish, italian, J-league, bundesliga, dutch leagues, french leagues, russian league, portuguese and even the MLS are all better to watch than the A-league.

as soon as the waratahs join the brumbies and reds in reviving their fortunes i think you will see the tune towards aus super rugby change. my money is that will happen this year and super rugby will have a bumper year in australia this year.

lastly - i wonder if the ultimate solution is to split super rugby into conferences with the current format acting more as a heineken cup style event.

 

[p.Tah]

Sir Authur, those growth figures for the A-League are from last season. We haven't seen the del piero effect yet.

I agree with the rest of your post.

 

[TOCC]

I personally don't think the A-league is the threat rugby needs to worry about. the boost in ratings at the moment is a one off associated with two big names they have been able to lure - primarily del piero who is a 39 year old former italian star.

The A-League figures presented at the top of this thread were for the 2011-2012 season(ie last year), del piero and his comrades fall under the 2012-2013 season.


Rugby in Australia needs NSW to pick up its act and become strong again, if the Reds are drawing ratings of 1.8million, then the Waratahs should be aiming for for 3.5million, not the 1.7 which they are currently receiving. The Waratahs currently play a distant second fiddle to the NRL scene in Sydney as well as the Sydney Swans.. The Waratahs need themselves to be considered a real threat to the sporting landscape, the potential is there for the Tahs to become the best supported Super Rugby club in Australia if not the whole of SANZAR.. It just hasn't been realised yet.

 

[p.Tah]

Off field issues grabbing the headlines more than the play on the field. A top star is threatening to quit the sport and defect to another during contract negotiations. An ex-player tweets inappropriate comments. Fans and players complaining about the rules of the game.The CEO has left and a new governing structure will be implemented. Sound familiar? That was RL for the last few years.

Rugby League is set for a bumper year despite all that and I believe so will we.

Whether you like it or not people like controversy. It creates headlines and people watch the games.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

The A-League figures presented at the top of this thread were for the 2011-2012 season(ie last year), del piero and his comrades fall under the 2012-2013 season.


Rugby in Australia needs NSW to pick up its act and become strong again, if the Reds are drawing ratings of 1.8million, then the Waratahs should be aiming for for 3.5million, not the 1.7 which they are currently receiving. The Waratahs currently play a distant second fiddle to the NRL scene in Sydney as well as the Sydney Swans.. The Waratahs need themselves to be considered a real threat to the sporting landscape, the potential is there for the Tahs to become the best supported Super Rugby club in Australia if not the whole of SANZAR.. It just hasn't been realised yet.

missed that on the figures. opinion of a-league still stands. this is about as big as it will get.

it is horrible horrible soccer.

completely agree with the tahs. if cheika turns them around (which i think he will starting day 1) the tahs will draw a huge crowd. everyone i know and work with in sydney loves them, but hates the way they play.

 

[TOCC]

Off field issues grabbing the headlines more than the play on the field. A top star is threatening to quit the sport and defect to another during contract negotiations. An ex-player tweets inappropriate comments. Fans and players complaining about the rules of the game.The CEO has left and a new governing structure will be implemented. Sound familiar? That was RL for the last few years.

Rugby League is set for a bumper year despite all that and I believe so will we.

Whether you like it or not people like controversy. It creates headlines and people watch the games.

precisely... controversial players attract the fans.. Whether its a case of a player that fans love to hate, or purely a player which fans absolutely love to watch.. They draw a crowd, its why the NRL has continued to grow even during some dark years of off-field dramas followed by salary cap rorts and players threatening to leave to other codes.

Heck the A-League was a laughing stock at the end of 2011, the Northern Thunder had just folded and Clive Palmer had withdrawn his financial support for his Gold Coast side. 2 teams in 2 years fold, yet the competition itself has gone from strength to strength..

 

[wamberal]

The game still isn't dieing if that's the point you are trying to suggest...

Mate, like all living organisms it is either growing or dying. Doesn't seem to be growing, does it?

 

[TOCC]

Mate, like all living organisms it is either growing or dying. Doesn't seem to be growing, does it?

Well for starters rugby union is not a living organism...

And secondly I've already addressed this issue with you in other threads... TV Ratings are not the only indicator of a sporting codes health... But since you believe it is, how about you dig up the figures from 2010 which will display competitive growth from 2010-2012.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Well for starters rugby union is not a living organism.

And secondly I've already addressed this issue with you in other threads. TV Ratings are not the only indicator of a sporting codes health. But since you believe it is, how about you dig up the figures from 2010 which will display competitive growth from 2010-2012.

I was actually just thinking that. If we compared the 2010 figures to even this year I think we'd see overall growth from the previous broadcast agreement.

 

[wamberal]

Well for starters rugby union is not a living organism.

And secondly I've already addressed this issue with you in other threads. TV Ratings are not the only indicator of a sporting codes health. But since you believe it is, how about you dig up the figures from 2010 which will display competitive growth from 2010-2012.

In the professional era the game in Australia depends primarily for its existence (as a professional sport) on television revenues. I have seen good times, and a lot of bad times, since I first watched the game more than 60 years ago.

These are bad times, and I for one cannot see us getting back to the genuine popularity that the code enjoyed around the time of the 2003 RWC. It has been downhill since then, qualitatively, even if some quantitative measures have temporarily given the optimists cause for momentary celebration.

I am genuinely depressed at the likely long term trends.

 

[TOCC]

I am genuinely depressed at the likely long term trends.

It's only a game, don't let your feelings get so involved, it's really not healthy.

 

[wamberal]

About time some well informed person told us how the ratings are going, please?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Rugger came in at no.5 nationally on FTA. The Fox simulcast got 397k. So 1.2mil. Not bad.

Saturday All People Top 10
1 Seven News Seven 1,106,000
2 Nine News Nine 1,031,000
3 Death In Paradise ABC1 948,000
4 ABC News ABC1 945,000
5 Rugby: Lions Tour Of Australia - First Test Live Ten869,000
6 Midsomer Murders (R) ABC1 721,000
7 M: Despicable Me Seven 675,000
8 Gardening Australia ABC1 651,000
9 Shrek Forever After Nine 577,000
10 Ten News At Five Ten 560,000


To compare....

Australia v Iraq - 1.117 FTA, 549k Fox

Anzac Day AFL - 847k FTA, 386k Fox (NOT SHOWN IN FTA IN SYD & BNE AND NOT IN PRIMETIME!)

...and you won't like this.....

State of Origin Game 1 - 2.433mil FTA, (No Fox simulcast)

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

the state of origin blows my mind. i struggle to comprehend that.

 

[mxyzptlk]

I am on the ratings panel.

I do my bit by watching as much rugby as possible. It does make me feel bad when I go to the pub to watch rugby rather than watching it at home and contributing to the ratings.

Just leave your TV on when you're out. Or when you're in and not interested in a game -- just turn the sound down.