Channel 7 audience for Friday night AFL matches on slump

A SWAG of dud matches — including several Carlton games — has seen a huge slump in TV ratings for Friday night footy. The disastrous figures come as the lowly Blues prepare for yet another prime time snooze fest.

Carlton players trudge off the field after another loss. Picture: AFL Media/Getty

A SWAG of dud AFL matches has led to a massive slump in Thursday and Friday Night Football ratings for Channel 7 in Melbourne in 2018.

New figures show that Seven’s prime time AFL telecasts across the first ten rounds of the season are averaging a mere 292,000 viewers in Melbourne.

That is a huge drop from the 361,000 Melbourne viewers that watched the matches in the first ten rounds of 2017.

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And the trend looks set to continue on Friday night when cellar-dwellers Carlton take on the Sydney Swans, in what will be the club’s third Thursday or Friday night fixture in 11 weeks..

Carlton players trudge off the field after another loss. Picture: AFL Media/Getty

Seven’s AFL telecasts, with callers including Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor, have been affected by two weeks of Commonwealth Games but a much bigger issue is the huge number of fizzer matches between low-ranked teams.

The first ten rounds of the year have featured multiple matches with Carlton, as well as the 14th placed Western Bulldogs, and the seesawing Adelaide Crows (7th). The disappointing St Kilda (16th) and Giants (11th) have also featured.

Seven has pointed the finger at the AFL for the lacklustre fixture but says it is confident ratings will improve in the second half of the season.

“It has been an interrupted season with the Commonwealth Games, coming after a remarkable 2017,” a Seven spokesman said.

“As we approach the second half of the season we’re confident of another tight competition that fans will love.

“The AFL decides the fixture. They consult with a range of industry stakeholders including clubs, the AFL Players Association, broadcasters, venues etc.”

Seven got off to a cracker start with 418,000 viewers watching the Tigers versus Blues season opener but it has been downhill ever since.

St Kilda’s dismal form hasn’t helped Channel 7’s ratings. Picture: AAP/Julian Smith

Competition from the Commonwealth Games saw the Blues versus Magpies (198,000) and Crows versus Magpies (156,000) clashes rate poorly.

But Seven can’t blame the Commonwealth Games for the dismal 206,000 viewers that tuned in for the Kangaroos versus the Saints match in Round 2.

The Swans versus the Crows averaged 277,000, the Bulldogs versus the Blues 276,000 and the Crows versus the Bulldogs 314,000.

Another potential issue is one-sided matches with viewers turning off well before the finish. In round two the Kangaroos smashed St Kilda by 52 points. In round 4 the Magpies crushed the Crows by 48 points.

In round seven, the Cats obliterated the Giants by more than ten goals.

The mix of teams playing Friday night matches isn’t too different from last year but the problem is that so many, particularly the Bulldogs, are playing appalling footy and have tumbled down the ladder.

Other upcoming Thursday and Friday night matches include the Crows and Tigers, Port Adelaide and Bulldogs, the Eagles and Essendon, and the Tigers and Swans.

“With equalisation, more than ever — anything can happen and that includes Friday night,” Seven said.

@Colvick

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