Talking Footy

Rugby league is now Australia’s most-watched sport with total viewership of 171.8 million, up 14 per cent from 150.6m in 2022.

The NRL has also now got a strong claim to be the most viewed TV sport in Australia with a cumulative viewership of 93.2 million, up 2.4 per cent from the previous year, compared to the AFL’s 91 million total viewers. The figures were derived from 213 NRL matches and 216 AFL games.

To be honest, we are already the No.1 sport. AFL is No.2,” V’landys said.

“They are behind us - despite what they think.

“In terms of viewing figures, we are No.1, you can’t dispute that.

“Look, the AFL has a national footprint and I respect them, they do a very good job at promoting their sport.

“I like the fact they are doing a great job because it makes us want to compete and get better.

V’landys couldn’t help himself, firing another shot in the cross-code war.

“They know we are around and we will keep them honest.”

It’s a significant statement which comes in stark contrast to Rugby Australia needing an $80 million loan to keep rugby union afloat, and after the NRL was close to insolvency during the Covid shutdown in 2020.

“When I first got on the commission, we were looking at two clubs actually going broke,” V’landys said.

“We believe that the funding they were getting was inequitable.

“I’m happy to say now that every club is in the best financial position they’ve been. And that’s because we have given them distributions on top of $98.2 million.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/the-n ... 22e836fc38

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 1140dd4719

The AFL is one of the world’s best attended sporting leagues (36,000 for 18 teams in 2023) with players likely to benefit further from a record $A4.5 billion seven-year deal domestic broadcasting deal from 2025 to 2031.

Skippy Steve wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:55 pm

The AFL is one of the world’s best attended sporting leagues (36,000 for 18 teams in 2023) with players likely to benefit further from a record $A4.5 billion seven-year deal domestic broadcasting deal from 2025 to 2031.

That's great Skip, but this thread is about the NRL being Australia's most watched sport. Which it is. Add TV ratings and crowd attendances and RL smashes all other sports in the land.

Please concentrate Skip and try to stay on topic. You seem to be easily distracted!!!!!

Skippy Steve wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:55 pm

The AFL is one of the world’s best attended sporting leagues (36,000 for 18 teams in 2023) with players likely to benefit further from a record $A4.5 billion seven-year deal domestic broadcasting deal from 2025 to 2031.

We will soon finally see the true picture with the tv ratings this year, with national reach being the new accepted metric. No more overlap crap that favoured the NRL in the old reporting of tv ratings. Watch and see.

Beaussie wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:19 pm

Skippy Steve wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:55 pm

The AFL is one of the world’s best attended sporting leagues (36,000 for 18 teams in 2023) with players likely to benefit further from a record $A4.5 billion seven-year deal domestic broadcasting deal from 2025 to 2031.

We will soon finally see the true picture with the tv ratings this year, with national reach being the new accepted metric. No more overlap crap that favoured the NRL in the old reporting of tv ratings. Watch and see.

it'll be accepted by no one but fumblers , the accepted method is eyeballs watching an event as it always has been , ya know.. ratings ,
which the afl have forced foxtel to stop publishing so they can no longer be embarrassed by the NRL

the NRL was pulling further & further away

& will remain Australias most watched sport