NRL claims victory in battle for bums on seats, couches
September 12, 2006
THE NRL was celebrating on two fronts yesterday after posting significant gains in crowds and television audiences.
The NRL crowds were the biggest on the first weekend of the finals since 1996, thanks largely to a 53,387 Suncorp Stadium attendance, while host broadcaster Channel Nine reported strong figures - except for the qualifying final between the Bulldogs and Canberra.
The finals produced the most watched programs in Sydney on Friday and Saturday, and the third-most-watched programs on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday night's opener between Newcastle and Manly had an average of 501,000 viewers in Sydney, with a peak of 584,000.
Saturday night's first clash, Brisbane against St George Illawarra, averaged 504,000, just 1000 viewers short of last season's Brisbane/Melbourne encounter. However, the Bulldogs/Canberra match averaged just 362,000.
NRL officials were claiming a victory over their AFL rivals. The double-header went up against the Sydney Swans/West Coast AFL final, which attracted an average of 172,000, but peaked at 450,000.
NRL director of media and communications John Brady insisted the flirtation with the AFL was brief, however, with quarter-hour broken-down figures revealing many people flicked to Channel Ten to check the score - and then possibly watch the dramatic finish - before changing back to the NRL.
But the weekend was bookended by another encouraging figure - the Melbourne/Parramatta game averaged 513,000, peaking at 618,000.
The game was also beamed live into Melbourne homes, with a peak figure of 133,000 in the AFL capital, slightly disappointing but not unexpected.
