Melbourne Cup 2020: Network 10’s coverage sees TV ratings drop
Punters have switched off from the Melbourne Cup with Network 10s coverage of the race that stopped the nation recording a slide from its audience last year.
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Australian television viewers said nup to the cup with punters switching off their TV sets yesterday.
Network 10s Melbourne Cup broadcast saw 1.86 million people tuning in nationally across metro and regional markets – a three per cent drop year on year from 2019 when 1.91 million people watched Vow and Declare triumph at Flemington.
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There was however a 47 per cent increase to 144,000 livestream viewers on its 10 Play service — taking Ten’s total viewership to 2.01 million across digital and terrestrial platforms.
Channel 10 received 84. 6 per cent commercial share in total with the race peaking at 1.96 million viewers.
Victorians tuned out to their local race with a two per cent drop in viewership in Melbourne from 2019 and a 32 per cent drop from 2018.
There were similar falls across 10s full-day coverage.
In Sydney though, more people watched the race this year with 320,527 viewers compared to 300,354 in 2019.
Ten’s Chief Content Officer Beverley McGarvey said: “The Melbourne Cup is one of the greatest sporting events of the year and we were proud to again partner with the Victoria Racing Club to bring it to all Australians and to people around the world. In what has been a difficult and challenging year for so many people, the Lexus Melbourne Cup provided a much-needed distraction.
“The big audiences across all of 10s platforms highlight that no other sporting event captures the mood and attention of the nation quite like the Lexus Melbourne Cup. We are delighted that so many Australians engaged with our extensive, creative and entertaining multi-platform coverage.”
Ten took over the broadcast rights of the Melbourne Cup from rival Seven last year. When last on Seven, in 2018, a combined regional and five city metro audience of 2.56 million tuned in, 27 per cent above this year’s figure.
Twilight Payment won the Melbourne Cup, but it was heartbreak for international raider Anthony Van Dyck, which broke down during the race.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained international with new father Jye McNeil aboard saluted in Australia’s greatest race, earning the Irish trainer his second Melbourne Cup.
Internationals Tiger Moth and Prince of Arran rounded out the top three after Twilight Payment – a $27.20 shot with bookmakers – led from start to finish to give owner Lloyd Williams his seventh Cup win.
International Anthony Van Dyck broke down with 500m remaining in the race and was loaded in an ambulance, but had to be later euthanised.
It was one of the pre-race favourites, after finishing second in the Caulfield Cup.
“It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington,” Racing Victoria‘s Jamie Stier said.
“The horse received immediate veterinary care, however he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.“