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TV ratings

Yesterday

Stephen Colbert plays to the audience during a taping of “The Late Show on Monday.

Of course The Late Show’s death was about Trump, but also money

Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show has been cancelled after he poked fun at Paramount’s legal deal with Trump. But the art form was already in decline.

This Month

Adam Scott, left, and Britt Lower in Severance.

Severance dominates Emmy nods as Apple challenges HBO and Netflix

The Netflix drama earned a swag of nominations but nothing came close to dystopian workplace series “Severance” from Apple, which achieved acclaim and audience buzz.

June

Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun in Netflix series Squid Game.

Now we know how much Netflix Australians are watching

The first-ever breakdown of Australian TV viewing habits has been released, and the findings show which streaming platforms are winning.

A scene from Season 3 of “The White Lotus”.

Warner Bros Discovery ‘fumbling through disruption’ as cable TV struggles

This week’s effective break-up of the US media group after just three years has left staff exasperated as the swashbuckling pay television era disintegrates.

May

NSW’s victory over Queensland in Game One was the most-watched game one since 2016.

State of Origin clash the most-watched TV event of the year

Television broadcast ratings released on Thursday morning reveal the first game in the 2025 series had an average audience of 3.8 million people.

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September 2024

Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann and Callum Ah Chee embrace during the AFL grand final.

AFL grand final audience climbs to 4m

The clash between the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans was the most watched for the AFL since 2021.

AFL President Richard Goyder with the 2024 AFL Premiership Cup.

Tasmanian team may not be the last as AFL eyes growth in ACT and NT

The AFL’s expansion plans are on a roll, with record crowds, booming memberships and the first non-Victorian grand final in 18 years.

March 2024

Jacob Gagai of the Rabbitohs 
celebrates after scoring a try during the opening match of the NRL between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Not even 100,000 Americans watched the NRL’s Las Vegas matches

Rugby League boss Peter V’landys says the key to success in the US is TV audiences, but the sport’s big splash in Las Vegas struggled to attract viewers.

January 2024

Aryna Sabalenka will meet Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen for the Australian Open women’s final.

20m Chinese expected to watch Zheng take on Sabalenka

Zheng Qinwen is hoping to emulate her idol by winning the Australian Open, but her Belarusian opponent hasn’t dropped a set.

September 2023

The power of data: How popular was Succession? It’s secret. Here’s why

Never before has so much information been collected on your viewing habits, and yet less and less is known about what you are watching.

August 2023

Matildas gif

Matildas smash The Ashes with viewer record

The match marks the first time a women’s sports event has averaged more than 2 million viewers in Australia.

February 2023

Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open 2023.

Why TV execs aren’t (too) worried about a 22pc plunge in ad spend

A double-digit fall in free-to-air ad spend in January came after an “abnormally high” month in 2022 and post-COVID audience normalising, TV execs say.

January 2023

Fern Barrett, Tennis Australia’s head of food, premium experiences and precincts, says demand for “premium” experiences is up 6 per cent on 2020, when the pandemic had yet to hit.

Australian Open organisers hail ‘phenomenal bounceback’

Crowds at the Australian Open could eclipse the record of 800,000 set in 2020, organisers say, with 90 per cent of “premium” entertainment packages sold.

December 2022

The Baywatch lifeguards in 1995, clockwise from top left: David Charvet, David Hasselhoff, Alexandra Paul, Pamela Anderson, Jaason Simmons and Yasmine Bleeth.

Ten pins viewing comeback hope on new Baywatch, MasterChef channels

Network Ten is launching 13 new ad-supported free streaming channels on Friday.

November 2022

Ten says Have You Been Paying Attention? is the No. 1 show in its timeslot with 983,000 total viewers nationally. Pictured are Anne Edmonds, front and centre, with (clockwise from back) Ed Kavalee, Melanie Bracewell, Sam Pang and Aaron Chen.

TV ratings spark fighting and soul-searching among executives

Seven and Nine’s battle, and Ten’s flop, come as they all circle the cricket rights.

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October 2022

Netflix has launched a new cheaper plan that includes advertising.

Netflix to launch cheaper $7 monthly plan – with ads

The streaming giant pioneered advertising-free binge-watching, but has now announced a budget service, dubbed “Basic with Ads”, that will debut in 11 countries.

Dylan Edwards was sensational for Penrith.

Battle of western Sydney NRL grand final fails to draw big TV crowd

Sunday’s one-sided NRL grand final between the two western Sydney teams attracted just 2.8 million viewers, one of the lowest viewing figures on record.

September 2022

Lance Franklin could deliver Sydney the AFL premiership and Seven a ratings bonanza on Saturday when his side takes on Geelong in the AFL decider.

The Sydney effect: how AFL wins when the Swans make the grand final

Seven and the AFL are set to benefit from a ratings bonanza when Sydney takes on Geelong in Saturday’s AFL decider, history says.

August 2022

ThinkTV says BVOD is the fastest growing advertiser medium in the country.

Advertisers turn to streaming to reach audiences

Australia’s TV industry claims its ad-funded streaming services are the country’s fasted growing media channel, with revenue up 53.3 per cent in fiscal 2022.

May 2022

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese shake hands during the third leaders’ debate at Seven Network

Final leaders debate delivers Seven Network audience of 811,000

Wednesday night’s final leaders debate on the Seven Network failed to beat the 9Network’s Sunday night debate audience.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/tv-ratings-jhc