Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
By Zoe Samios and Colin Kruger
March 13, 2023 — 5.00am
Rupert Murdoch’s TV and streaming company Foxtel is fighting claims it is overstating its audience on key entertainment and sports content, including NRL and AFL broadcasts, which could reduce how much money it receives from advertisers.
Australia’s television ratings provider OzTAM contacted Foxtel last week following the release of ratings data about the NRL’s first round of the season. Foxtel said it had an average audience of 523,000 per game, up 17 per cent year-on-year, but did not explain where the data came from.
Kayo Sports audience data is tracked internally by Foxtel.
OzTAM chief executive Doug Peiffer said he saw the press release with the numbers and is working with Foxtel to understand the data. “I have put a call into Foxtel to understand how they have put those numbers together,” Peiffer said.
Foxtel has denied any wrongdoing.
“Transparency and accuracy of data around audience numbers is something which we take incredibly seriously, and we continue to work closely with OzTAM in relation to its industry-wide linear reporting,” a Foxtel spokesman said.
Multiple media sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly, claim Foxtel is misstating data it receives from OzTAM by combining it with internal data and failing to remove duplicate audiences across its services, such as Foxtel IQ, Foxtel Go, Binge and Kayo Sports.
Advertisers rely on data from OzTAM, the television industry’s verified measurement system, to make decisions on how to allocate advertising budgets across various types of media, with higher ratings typically leading to more spending.
OzTAM tracks people watching subscription television via a dedicated panel comprised of 2120 homes, from metropolitan and regional Australia. The panel tracks the consumption of popular Foxtel and Binge shows, such as The Last of Us and The White Lotus, or the first round of the NRL, regardless of whether a person is watching it on a Foxtel channel, or via one of its associated streaming services
Sources close to OzTAM, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because discussions are confidential, claim Foxtel is adding these figures to internal streaming consumption data, without removing those who may already be sitting on a panel. This is a concern, as it may allow Foxtel to inflate audiences and sell advertising packages based on the figures, particularly during live sports matches such as the AFL or NRL.
The sources said OzTAM was in contact with Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany late last week about the matter, which was raised with OzTAM’s Pfeiffer after the NRL ratings release.
The concerns, which sources say came from OzTAM’s technical committee, prompted an investigation and a warning. Nine, the owner of this masthead, sits on the OzTAM board.
The concerns have occurred at a crucial time for Foxtel as it prepares to renegotiate its debt with banking lenders and reconsider the prospects of a public float.
Foxtel had $1.93 billion in drawn and outstanding debt as at June 30 last year, according to its most recent annual financial report, the bulk of which was due to mature in 2024. The Australian Financial Review reported Foxtel’s shareholders, Telstra and News Corp., are still keen to list the business once market conditions improve.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 5cr3v.html
Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
- Beaussie
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Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
So it appears we cannot believe the Foxtel and Kayo numbers. OzTAM says the numbers are dodgy.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
certainly inflates racitsball ratings
- Quolls2019
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
Somethings don’t count when you don’t think they should count?
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
seig heil fumblerQuolls2019 wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:17 pmSomethings don’t count when you don’t think they should count?
somethings are inflated if thats what you're asking
midgets crowds
racistballs participation rates ... certainly outside the mo.ng states
their TV ratings too
theres just a few
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
So foxtel only inflate AFL figures?truthbomber wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:23 pmseig heil fumblerQuolls2019 wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:17 pmSomethings don’t count when you don’t think they should count?
somethings are inflated if thats what you're asking
midgets crowds
racistballs participation rates ... certainly outside the mo.ng states
their TV ratings too
theres just a few
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
seig heil fumblerQuolls2019 wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:56 pmSo foxtel only inflate AFL figures?truthbomber wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:23 pmseig heil fumblerQuolls2019 wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:17 pm
Somethings don’t count when you don’t think they should count?
somethings are inflated if thats what you're asking
midgets crowds
racistballs participation rates ... certainly outside the mo.ng states
their TV ratings too
theres just a few
yes
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
Enjoyed reading this:
OzTAM tracks people watching subscription television via a dedicated panel comprised of 2120 homes, from metropolitan and regional Australia.
i remember a while back some people claiming that Foxtel's figures were actual figures, not estimates - that they somehow can measure everyone that is watching and what they are watching.
OzTAM tracks people watching subscription television via a dedicated panel comprised of 2120 homes, from metropolitan and regional Australia.
i remember a while back some people claiming that Foxtel's figures were actual figures, not estimates - that they somehow can measure everyone that is watching and what they are watching.
Veni, vidi, vici
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
Yeah FOX increase its ratings (so the AFL AND NRL see this and make FOX pay more for higher figures) (TV DEALS)
makes Zero Sense...
and you could say its for commercial gain as in Advertising..
but FOX do not actually make that much from Advertising compared to subs costs
and what the gain for increase figures for advertising to higher tv deals would no add up
makes Zero Sense...
and you could say its for commercial gain as in Advertising..
but FOX do not actually make that much from Advertising compared to subs costs
and what the gain for increase figures for advertising to higher tv deals would no add up
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
Given the propensity for Rupert snd Fox to lie, along with his minions, as we have seen in the Dominion lawsuit, this does not surprise me. But a good question as to motive - but they wouldn’t be doing it to harm the company so what’s their aim here - must be some benefit?
Who knows, msybe with the huge lawsuit that is likely to be successful, they are looking to sell ? They will need to raise money somewhere.
Who knows, msybe with the huge lawsuit that is likely to be successful, they are looking to sell ? They will need to raise money somewhere.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
Freddy are you acting like FOX are guilty lolFred wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:35 pmGiven the propensity for Rupert snd Fox to lie, along with his minions, as we have seen in the Dominion lawsuit, this does not surprise me. But a good question as to motive - but they wouldn’t be doing it to harm the company so what’s their aim here - must be some benefit?
Who knows, maybe with the huge lawsuit that is likely to be successful, they are looking to sell ? They will need to raise money somewhere.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
IF there out its going to be a similar percentage in both codes.
The original fox number ie. the 300k or what ever is worked out by OzTam . Its only going to be kayo number that might change, so maybe 70% instead of 90%
Nothing changes, RL is still the dominant code by the length of the straight and then some!
The original fox number ie. the 300k or what ever is worked out by OzTam . Its only going to be kayo number that might change, so maybe 70% instead of 90%
Nothing changes, RL is still the dominant code by the length of the straight and then some!
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
On the dominion thing - without a doubt. Fox will settle I would think given what has already been produced which is public - goodness knows whaelse Dominion haveleeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 1:54 pmFreddy are you acting like FOX are guilty lolFred wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:35 pmGiven the propensity for Rupert snd Fox to lie, along with his minions, as we have seen in the Dominion lawsuit, this does not surprise me. But a good question as to motive - but they wouldn’t be doing it to harm the company so what’s their aim here - must be some benefit?
Who knows, maybe with the huge lawsuit that is likely to be successful, they are looking to sell ? They will need to raise money somewhere.
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Re: Foxtel fights claims it inflates NRL and AFL viewing audiences
We've been working off the latest media reports to derive Kayo ratings - for this season the only reports were from round 1 and were about 77% of the STB audience.pussycat Mark 11 wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 2:26 pmIF there out its going to be a similar percentage in both codes.
The original fox number ie. the 300k or what ever is worked out by OzTam . Its only going to be kayo number that might change, so maybe 70% instead of 90%
Nothing changes, RL is still the dominant code by the length of the straight and then some!
Since mid to late August we've been getting these ratings through Oztams live VPM reports.
These reports indicate for the last 6 weeks of the season (including finals) the ratio of streamers to STB users was very close to 1:1.01 for the NRL and 1:1.26 for the AFL. The irony of this is that this means Oztam was wrong earlier in the year asserting that Fox was overstating their ratings by up to 40% - NRL ratings were under reported by 30% and AFL ratings under reported by 60%.
Not enough for the AFL to overhaul the NRL on raw ratings, but enough that the gap isnt what some people think it is.
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