Fight Club - Football TV Ratings (AFL vs NRL)

[Xman]

Proving which code has the higher ratings tally is irrelevant anyway. They both schedule their games in completely different ways which makes them virtual incomparable. Probably the best way of showing the popularity of each code on TV is the ratings for the respective grand finals, and we all know who wins those every year. This is despite the AFL being shown on Saturday afternoon, probably the lowest ratings period all week.

[Topper]

Whilst that may be a valid argument, Xman, TV deals rely on a season and not a single game. And those deals have been important monetarily for certainly the AFL.

[Topper]

But both Channel 7 and pay TV will transmit all games anyway in some form.

[Topper]

Oh I beg to differ with Fox Footy returning.

[cos789]

Oh I beg to differ with Fox Footy returning.

so the only exclusive Foxtel games will feature the bottom feeder teams .

So what ?. I have not been a great fan of Fox but having all games live and commercial free is attractive even to a tight ass like me. If you purchase Fox you're going to watch those games on Fox. There's going to be a huge increase in Fox ratings.

[Topper]

There is an extra expense for the Tbox. Net usage. Unless that works in another method entirely.

There will be programs on Fox Footy that FTA won't see. That was the strength of the previous channel. I am looking forward for example to the return of White Line Fever. AFL Teams and After the Bounce are certain to move there and they are both very popular programs.

[Topper]

You dont pay anything for the Tbox mate except the purchase price, i have one, runs off your computer unmetered.

Interesting. That's a lot of downloading for nothing, unless your Internet access is on unlimited downloads.

[Xman]

It hasnt been mentioned in this thread ( that I have noticed) but the NRL get a massive advantage in any cumulative rating figure because every NRL fan can watch up to 7 exclusive games per weekend where as AFL fans can only watch up to 4 to 5 games, because 7 of the eight AFL games are shown when another game is also on Foxtel and FTA. After all, how can I watch two games at once.

In other words if I watch the maximum amount of AFL on FTA and PatTV on the weekend, of say 14 hours, it only counts as 4 to 5 games. But If I watch the maximum amount of NRL on the weekend of 14 hours this counts as 7 games because the games are shorter and not shown against another game.

Therefore the cumulative figures quoted by R Masters are just rubbish and in no way reflect the value of each code to the relevant networks. This is despite the dodgy regionals and lack of advertisement time available during RL games.

[Topper]

Xman, you have placed a nub on why the cumulative ratings that our RL supporters rely on are inaccurate. I have previously stated that the correct figures are on this website, and they total 85 million for the AFL and 72 million for the NRL. I have not included the NAB Cup or the ARL games (State of Origin and other rep games).

[enarelle]

You AFL blokes are a laugh a minute when you try and "explain" why the NRL has a significant and growing lead over the AFL in TV ratings. The NRL finished this year with a 15m viewer advantage. Three years ago it was 4m. So the gap has grown by 11m based on exactly the same number of NRL and AFL games. You have every reason for this except the actual one which relates to the popularity of NRL. The AFL viewership has not gone down over the three years but the NRL has gone up significantly and that has created the gap

This is the very scary thing for the AFL fan -not just that Rugby league is popular but that it grows more popular each season. It just makes a mockery of "we will conquer NSW/QLD/ACT"

[Topper]

THE NRL finished the year with a 13 million disadvantage, enarelle. Please stop listening to the liars if you want to know the reality of the situation. That is, if you are prepared to take it.

[Xman]

You AFL blokes are a laugh a minute when you try and "explain" why the NRL has a significant and growing lead over the AFL in TV ratings. The NRL finished this year with a 15m viewer advantage. Three years ago it was 4m. So the gap has grown by 11m based on exactly the same number of NRL and AFL games. You have every reason for this except the actual one which relates to the popularity of NRL. The AFL viewership has not gone down over the three years but the NRL has gone up significantly and that has created the gap

This is the very scary thing for the AFL fan -not just that Rugby league is popular but that it grows more popular each season. It just makes a mockery of "we will conquer NSW/QLD/ACT"

Rather than continue with unsubstantiated claims why don't you address my points?

Also address the following point:

1. at least 1 million people living in AFL heartlands are not included in the regional figures. If you accept that these million people will watch the AFL games at 10%, like their city counterparts do, that adds up to 400k of missing AFL regional figures per week. Multiply this by 24 weeks of home and away games plus finals and this adds up to well over 10 million cumulative ratings per year.

2. If you then take away the millions of false cumulative ratings accrued by double counting the NRL heartlands you will see that the AFL is actually in front on what is already a bogus cumulative figure because it does not account for the extra hours the AFL runs for or the simultaneous scheduling of most AFL games

3. if you then subtract the 10million viewers incorrectly added for RL rep games, like internationals and SOO, you will see the AFL are actually in front by a great deal! After all this is a comparison of Australia's two major football leagues, the AFL and NRL, not RL vs Australian Rules Football.

4. If you are using the TV ratings to gauge popularity you need to account for the extra 3million AFL fans that attend AFL games above NRL fans attending NRL games. Of course these fans are unable to watch TV at home and attend the games at the same time so this should be factored in.

5. how exactly are the cumulative figures quoted by R Masters counted? Do they just take in to account the top 20 weekly figures? If so they actually assume the AFL get no regional figures because the AFL's games don't make the cutoff. This of course is bogus. The AFL GF wins each years GF ratings war and always benefits from a significant regional audience despite the inaccurate and biased regional counting. To assume the AFL gets little to no regional numbers is just plain wrong. Essentially, until the cumulative figures are explained, and the method of counting becomes transparent, they are best ignored.

Please address these points.

[enarelle]

Even if all the points were correct, and they are not, they would have applied for the last 3 years would they not when the NRL increased its lead from 4m to 15m.

You need to get past the Roy Masters aspect as he reports the data he does not compile it. The data comes from Nielsen,Oz Tam and the most detailed work from Repucom who are an independent marketing firm who compile all the data. This means they include locations like Tasmania in the years end analysis. The AFL both uses and quotes data from Repucom.

Can you show me were the AFL have challenged any of the data put out by the various bodies?

The claim of the missing million AFL people is just that a claim.

[Topper]

Read this carefully, enarelle, and show me that you finally understand the folly of your views;

1. There are no regional ratings that are in any way reliable so this is a moot point.

2. See Point 1.

3. This point is on the basis of the first two so it needs to be altered to make sense.

4. The whole point of TV ratings is TV deals, so this is also a moot point.

5. The figures I have quoted count ALL games in both leagues, not just the top 20. See this website for details.

Trying to add credibility to the figures you are trying to promote by saying the AFL agrees with them and uses them doesn't explain what they use them for. The reality is they use them and quote them to expose the lies of the NRL and it's selective quoting of inaccurate regional figures. I have no issues with the metropolitan figures.

[Xman]

Even if all the points were correct, and they are not, they would have applied for the last 3 years would they not when the NRL increased its lead from 4m to 15m.

You need to get past the Roy Masters aspect as he reports the data he does not compile it. The data comes from Nielsen,Oz Tam and the most detailed work from Repucom who are an independent marketing firm who compile all the data. This means they include locations like Tasmania in the years end analysis. The AFL both uses and quotes data from Repucom.

Can you show me were the AFL have challenged any of the data put out by the various bodies?

The claim of the missing million AFL people is just that a claim.

Why would the AFL dispute the figures. They mean nothing to the negotiations. the AFL rarely comment on issues like code wars.

So double counting doesn't happen? So AFL heartland areas arent missed? So SOO and Rep games are included?

What about the fact only 1 AFL game is exclusive each week where as 6 NRL games are?

Another few interesting points:

1. the AFL heartlands of Mel/Adel/ Perth are roughly the same size as the NRL heartlands of SYD/BRIS/GC right? Why do the AFL win the 5city ratings so easily then?

2. You do realize the NRL only essentially 'win' one FTA time slot, and that's not all the time either. The NRL target Friday nights by showing split games at 7.30, live and targeted to each market with relevant teams to each city. They also adjust the schedule so the best games are played, all to maximize ratings. You do realize next year for the first time the Friday night AFL game will be live or near live into the its markets, with Perth getting a telecast before the game actually finishes for once.