AFL Grand Final no hurdle for Cox Plate TV numbers as audience spikes
The 100th running of the Cox Plate might have gone off in front of empty stands but, despite its close proximity to the biggest AFL game of the year, punters voted with their remotes, huge numbers tuning in to watch the iconic race.
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Punters loved the Cox Plate being run on the same day as the AFL Grand Final with the Moonee Valley Racing Club reporting huge broadcast numbers of the meeting.
Crowds weren’t present at the 100th Cox Plate because of the COVID-19 crisis but the MVRC was thrilled with the ratings record by Channel 7’s free-to-air coverage.
The Cox Plate itself averaged 600,000 viewers nationally with 436,000 of those in metro areas, which representing increases of 64 and 86 per cent year-on-year respectively.
The MVRC reported the overall coverage numbers were up by more than 40 per cent around Australia and by more than 56 per cent in metro areas.
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“We are delighted with the Channel 7 ratings that have come through for Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and are thrilled that our great race was enjoyed by so many across Australia,” Alastair Dwyer, the MVRC’s General Manager of Racing and Media said.
“Once we knew we were unlikely to have a crowd trackside, we invested a lot of time working alongside our broadcast partner in Channel 7 on ensuring our race day was a ‘made for TV’ event and it showed with the quality of the broadcast on Saturday.
“To know that so many people took in the 100th running of the W.S. Cox Plate is a fantastic feeling and shows the standing of the race in the Australian sporting landscape”.
Cox Plate wagering figures are expected to be released on Wednesday.
Originally published as AFL Grand Final no hurdle for Cox Plate TV numbers as audience spikes