Super Netball flies high in ratings following success of women’s sport

IN the wake of the success of the WBBL and the new AFLW competition, women’s sport continues to be a ratings success with Super Netball firing.

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THE fans in the stands loved netball’s newest rivalries and so did the ones watching the Super Netball opening night at home.

In the wake of the success of the WBBL and new AFL competition, women’s sport continues to be a ratings success.

Channel Nine released data Sunday showing the Saturday coverage of the new, Australian-based netball competition on 9Gem had a national reach of 858,000 viewers.

The netball had more viewers than the women’s AFL in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

The most watched of the three local derbies was the Vixens’ stunning upset of the Collingwood Magpies in Melbourne.

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Serena Guthrie of the Giants competes for the ball with Maddy Proud of the Swifts. Picture: Mark Evans

The second game of the night at 7pm had a national peak audience of 305,000 and a national average audience of 175,000 — five city viewership of 123,000 and 52,000 regional viewers.

This was 70,000 more viewers across the 5 City than the 2016 season average (53,000 on Ten/One).

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It was also 49,000 more viewers in the timeslot than the corresponding day on 9Gem last year.

The live opening game between the Giants and Swifts at 5pm had a national peak audience of 242,000 and a national average audience of 153,000.

Bec Bulley of the Giants competes for the ball with Sam Wallace of the Swifts.

The draw between the Firebirds and Lightning had a national peak audience of 284,000 and a national average audience of 152,000.

Sunday’s fourth match of the round between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Cost Fever wasn’t taken into account.

The inaugural game of the women’s AFL competition had a total peak audience across the country of 1.6 million on the Seven Network, 7mate and Fox Footy.

Nine’s netball deal this season includes a Saturday night live double-header, as well as two delayed games. ­