NRL: Las Vegas season opener helps smash streaming records

The NRL’s Las Vegas extravaganza has proven to be the jewel in Foxtel’s NRL crown as regular season viewing records were broken in 2024.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 02: Billy Walters of the Broncos celebrates as Reece Walsh of the Broncos crosses to score a try during the round one NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos at Allegiant Stadium, on March 02, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The NRL’s Las Vegas extravaganza has proven to be the jewel in Foxtel’s NRL crown as regular season viewing records were broken in 2024.

The season-launching experiment in Sin City defied the critics in attracting healthy American audiences, but in Australia the Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs game, broadcast

exclusively on Fox League, followed by the Roosters vs Broncos game smashed records.

They are now the two most-watched NRL games of all time on Foxtel, while the 2024 regular season was the most watched across all Foxtel platforms.

The figures released by Foxtel today show that Australian footy audiences are increasingly turning to streaming.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 02: Billy Walters of the Broncos celebrates as Reece Walsh of the Broncos crosses to score a try during the round one NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos at Allegiant Stadium, on March 02, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Streaming viewership of the NRL was up 30% on last season, to total five billion minutes, and 59% of all NRL viewership across the Foxtel group this season was via streaming.

Kayo Sports Chief Executive Officer Julian Ogrin believes the introduction of 4k played a major role in the increases.

“We supercharged the Kayo Sports experience with the introduction of 4K for our exclusive NRL games,” Ogrin said.

“Combined with our ad-free during live play proposition, expert analysis and commentary and world-class Fox League coverage, this brought more fans than ever to our platforms as they discovered the incredible value we offer.”

The NRL figures mirror the AFL regular streaming figures across Foxtel which increased at a similar rate.

Jahrome Hughes and the Storm won the minor premiership, and shape as the biggest threats to Penrith’s dynasty. Picture: Getty Images

These audiences are part of a global trend that Australia’s Foxtel and Kayo Sports played a pioneering role in.

This year the NBA finalised a new broadcast package for next season that includes streamers more substantially than ever before, while the NFL has carved off playoff games and Christmas Day games to streaming services.

A conglomerate of Fox, ESPN and Time-Warner are scheduled to launch a sports-only streaming service for the US called Venu later this year.

It will effectively be the ‘American Kayo’, years after the Australian innovation.

The Sharks-Roosters thriller during Magic Round was the third most watched game of the season after the Las Vegas double. Picture: Getty Images

Magic Round was another viewing success, registering the highest ever audience for a regular season round across the Foxtel Group.

The Sharks vs Roosters thriller during Magic Round was the third most watched game of the season after the Las Vegas double.

Foxtel’s figures also revealed that the Broncos, Storm and Roosters were the most watched teams across the 204 regular season.

Fox Sports Managing Director Steve Crawley congratulated the NRL and its teams on a successful 2024.

“2024 was a record breaking season in many ways. From Las Vegas to Magic Round right to the final whistle of the regular season with the Knights v Dolphins game determining the last spot in the top 8, we have enjoyed bringing the very best of the sport to audiences nationwide,” Crawley said.