Is The Footy Show the most successful TV show in 25 years?

Eddie McGuire recently defended the AFL Footy Show in the wake of falling ratings against Seven’s Front Bar.

“The Footy Show has been the most successful show on Australian television for a quarter of a century,” he told the Herald Sun.

But is it true?

McGuire gave no criteria to his claim, so let’s look at ratings for the past 25 years…..

Ratings:

OzTAM people meters were introduced in 2001, changing the way data was measured. Nevertheless, the Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony pulled the biggest audience of them all at 6.64 million metro viewers. Yowza.

No surprises that Sport is consistently the biggest drawcard across the 25 years, including Melbourne Commonwealth Games, State of Origin, AFL Grand Final, Australian Open and Melbourne Cup.

Amongst non-sporting events, it is Adam Liaw’s 2010 MasterChef win that tops them all. Other big-hitters include Australian Idol, The Block, My Kitchen Rules, Big Brother, The Voice.

While AFL configures throughout, The Footy Show is nowhere to be seen. Not only is it absent from the Top 10 shows, it is out of the Top 50 across the 25 years. Its highest ranking performance was The Footy Show Grand Final edition back in 2003 on 764,000 viewers.

But to be fair the show has next to no audience in NSW or Queensland where it screens late night. Even adding in the NRL edition it still falls short.

Sales:

The Footy Show has screened in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, but those pale into insignificance against Drama and Reality titles which sell in hundreds of territories, seen by millions of viewers.

Awards:

The Footy Show has been nominated for the Logies Most Popular Sports Program every year since 1996 except 1999, when there was no category, with 8 wins. The NRL Footy Show has 9 wins. TV dramas have a swag of awards including Home and Away (46), Neighbours (31), A Country Practice (29) and Blue Heelers (25).

Timeslot wins:

This one is much harder to compare, but it is where The Footy Show fares best. Nine sources indicated that over the course of its 25 years the show has dominated in its timeslot (9:30pm and 8:30pm). In Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth it indeed holds the crown in its slot. If this is what McGuire was referring to it might have helped to clarify. This year the show pulled is best Melbourne audience back in March at 235,000 viewers. It has won that slot just 4 times this year. Last week it was only 135,000.

But there are other shows in various cities with stellar timeslot wins too including Seven News in Perth, Today Tonight in Adelaide. How do we ignore Four Corners still pulling them in after 50 years on air and still breaking stories?

 Conclusion:

On timeslot wins The AFL Footy Show has strong cred in its 3 markets, despite sliding numbers in recent years. As a successful panel show it has turned over millions in network revenue and that kind of longevity should be acknowledged in a fickle business. But neither does that doesn’t make it the most successful show on Australian television for a quarter of a century. It’s this kind of arrogance that has arguably contributed to viewers turning off.

Finding one show deserving of such a title is nigh on impossible. But it’s hard to look past the success around Home and Away.

After 30 years the show is still competitive in the tough 7pm timeslot. It is watched in more than 140 countries, has more Logie Awards than any single show, ignited multiple star careers and as a Seven-produced show has generated millions in revenue.

 

1993
1 R. League: NSW v Qld 2nd Nine 2,585,000
2 R. League: NSW v Qld 1st Nine 2,487,000
3 R. League: NSW v Qld 3rd Nine 2,385,000
4 R. Martin: Michael Cr Nine 2,282,000
5 R. League: Aus v NZ -3 2,188,000
6 AFL: Grand Final Seven 2,172,000
7 Hey Hey Its Comedians Nine 2,135,000
8 R. League: Aus v NZ-2 Seven 1 2,002,000
9 Sally J Raphael: Spc Ten 1,965,000
10 Sixty Minutes Nine 1,941,000

1994
1 R. League: NSW v Qld 2nd Nine 3,149,000
2 R. League: NSW v Qld 3rd Nine 2,949,000
3 R. League: NSW v Qld 1st Nine 2,660,000
4 AFL: Grand Fnl Seven 2,511,000
5 Crkt:Nt:Fnl3 Nine 2,294,000
6 Very Best Worst Drivers Nine 2,160,000
7 Just Kidding Nine 2,140,000
8 Olympics:Wntr-Day11 Nine 2,020,000
9 Wrlds Grtst TV Commerci Seven 1,913,000
10 Best of Don Lane Show Nine 1,910,000

1995
1 AFL: Grand Final Seven 2,377,000
2 M. Jackson & Lisa Marie Nine 2,222,000
3 R. League: NSW v Qld 1st Nine 2,182,000
4 R. League: NSW v Qld 2nd Nine 2,139,000
5 Eilish: Life Without Kat Nine 2,099,000
6 This Is Your Life Nine 2,004,000
7 Crkt:Nt2 Nine 1,992,000
8 Very Best Worst Drive-2 Nine 1,988,000
9 Roswell Incident: Aliens Nine 1,986,000
10 Secrets Revealed Seven 1,941,000

1996
1 AFL: Prem GF Sat Er Seven 3,312,000
2 Oly96:Opning Cermny Lve Seven 3,054,000
3 Oly96:Late Bfst Lve D7 Seven 2,800,000
4 Oly96:P/T Late D8 Seven 2,550,000
5 Current Affair Spcl:Kok Nine 2,496,000
6 Oly96:Late Bfst Lve D8 Seven 2,476,000
7 R. League: NSW v Qld 1st Nine 2,357,000
8 Oly96:P/T Erly Hlts D7 Seven 2,333,000
9 Oly96:P/T Late D7 Seven 2,319,000
10 Oly96: Luncheon Lve D8 Seven 2,278,000

1997
1 AFL: Prem GF Sat Er Seven 2,786,000
2 Blue Heelers Seven 2,281,000
3 Logie Awards Nine 2,281,000
4 Friends Nine 2,214,000
5 Blue Heelers-Mon Seven 2,180,000
6 Current Affair Spcl Nine 1 2,131,000
7 Mr. Bean Seven 2,050,000
8 Kangaroo Palace-P1 Seven 1.982,000
9 Simpsons-Wed Spcl Ten 1,960,000
10 Asteroid-P1 Seven 1,953,000

1998
1 AFL: GF Sat Erly Seven 2,522,000
2 Merlin-P1 Nine 2,489,000
3 Friends Nine 2,437,000
4 Merlin-P2 Nine 2,410,000
5 Crkt:Nt:Fnl3 Nine 2,310,000
6 Cwlth G: Mid Evng Nine 2,223,000
7 Suddenly Susan Nine 2,187,000
8 Blue Heelers-Wed Seven 2,136,000
9 Day of Roses-P1 Ten 2,048,000
10 Logie Awards Nine 2,046,000

1999
1 Hey Hey The Final Nine 2,715,000
2 Friends Nine 2,549,000
3 Swimming: Panpacs 99 D5 Nine 2,512,000
4 R. League: 1st Grade GF Nine 2,455,000
5 Swimming:Panpacs 99 D4 Nine 2,399,000
6 AFL: GF Sat Erly Seven 2,326,000
7 Swimming: Panpacs 99 D3 Nine 2,257,000
8 Who Wants To Be Mil-Sun Nine 2,227,000
9 Swimming: Panpacs 99 D2 Nine 2,225,000
10 Swimming: Panpacs 99 D6 Nine 1 2,216,000

2000
1 Oly:2000 Closing Seven 6,641,000
2 Oly:2000 Opening Seven 6,518,000
3 Oly:2000-Reflections Seven 4,156,000
4 Oly:2000 Evening Day 10 Seven 3,984,000
5 Oly:2000 Evening Day 03 Seven 3,963,000
6 Oly:2000 Evening Day 04 Seven 3,908,000
7 Oly:2000 Evening Day 01 Seven 3,761,000
8 Oly:2000 Evening Day 02 Seven 3,644,000
9 Oly:2000 Evening Day 05 Seven 3,484,000
10 Oly:2000 Evening Day 06 Seven 3,332,000

—- OzTAM introduced—-

2001
1 Wimbledon D14 Nine 3,036,289
2 Big Brother Finale Ten 2,789,029
3 Big Brother Sunday Final Ten 2,615,942
4 Seven’s AFL: 2001 Grand Final – Essendon v Brisbane Lions Seven 2,603,642
5 FINA World Swimming Championships D8 Nine 2,507,071
6 43rd Annual TV Week Logie Awards Nine 2,408,652
7 Survivor II: The Australian Outback The Final Vote Nine 2,256,864
8 Seven’s Soccer: World Cup Qualifier-Australia v Uruguay Seven 2,221,029
9 Our House Memories of Shirl Nine 2,193,661
10 FINA World Swimming Championships D6 Nine 2,164,512

2002
1 Test Australia – The National IQ Test 2002 Nine 2,778,568
2 World Cup Soccer Final Nine 2,701,938
3 Ten’s AFL Finals: 2002 Grand Final Collingwood v Brisbane Ten 2,625,855
4 The 2002 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup Race Seven 2,503,262
5 Big Brother Final Eviction Ten 2,301,461
6 Celebrity Big Brother For Charity Opening Night Ten 2,249,851
7 NRL Grand Final Day Grand Final Nine 2,176,761
8 XVII Comm Games: Prime Time D5 Seven 2,156,173
9 Michael Jackson’s Face Nine 2,125,640
10 XVII Comm Games: Opening Ceremony Seven 2,084,601

2003
1 2003 Rugby World Cup: Final: Australia v England Seven 4,015,723
2 Australian Idol – The Final Verdict Ten 3,300,051
3 Ten’s AFL Finals: 2003 Grand Final Collingwood v Brisbane Ten 2,965,566
4 2003 Rugby World Cup: Closing Ceremony Seven 2,726,159
5 2003 Rugby World Cup: Final: Presentation Seven 2,614,412
6 Australian Idol – Live From The Opera House Ten 2,544,981
7 2003 Rugby World Cup: Australia v Argentina Seven 2,491,683
8 2003 Rugby World Cup: Opening Ceremony Seven 2,466,365
9 Cricket World Cup 2003 – Final – Aus v Ind Session 1 Nine 2,465,293
10 2003 Rugby World Cup: Semi Final 1: New Zealand v Australia Seven 2,428,696

2004
1 Australian Idol – The Final Verdict Ten 3,344,183
2 Big Brother – The Winner Announced Ten 2,863,546
3 Australian Idol Live From The Opera House Ten 2,847,193
4 Ten’s AFL Finals: 2004 Grand Final Port Adelaide v Brisbane Ten 2,795,811
5 The 2004 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,471,451
6 Seven’s Athens Olympics: Opening Ceremony (R) Seven 2,304,129
7 The Block The Auction Nine 2,275,511
8 46th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Nine 2,273,912
9 Friends Final Nine 2,272,792
10 Seven’s Athens Olympics: D2 Seven 2,212,907

2005
1 Seven’s Tennis: 2005 Aust Open Finals – Day 14 Men’s Final Seven 4,043,100
2 Ten’s AFL Finals: 2005 Grand Final Sydney v West Coast Ten 3,386,043
3 The 2005 Grand Final Wrap Up Ten 2,981,451
4 The 2005 Grand Final Pre Match Ten 2,592,893
5 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,562,651
6 The 2005 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,506,161
7 Seven’s Tennis: 2005 Aust Open Finals – Day 14 Men’s Final – Pre Seven 2,486,415
8 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Australia v Uruguay SBS 2,484,453
9 Seven’s Tennis: 2005 Aust Open – Day 12 Night Session Seven 2,465,871
10 Dancing With The Stars – Grand Final Seven 2,339,516

2006
1 Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games – Opening Ceremony Nine 3,560,870
2 Ten’s AFL Finals: 2006 Grand Final Sydney v West Coast Ten 3,145,231
3 The Great Escape Nine 2,789,699
4 Australian Open 2006 Men’s Final – Match Seven 2,747,735
5 Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games – Closing Ceremony Nine 2,736,095
6 Dancing With The Stars 4 – Grand Final Seven 2,664,967
7 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,552,034
8 Terri Irwin – The Exclusive Interview Nine 2,515,857
9 The 2006 Grand Final Wrap Up Ten 2,500,951
10 The Biggest Loser – Finale Ten 2,309,937

2007
1 Ten’s AFL Finals 2007: Grand Final Geelong v Port Adelaide Ten 2,562,684
2 Seven’s Tennis: 2007 Aust Open – Men’s Final Seven 2,442,027
3 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,421,981
4 The 2007 Grand Final Wrap Up Ten 2,387,173
5 Seven’s Tennis: 2007 Aust Open – Men’s Final Presentation Seven 2,344,161
6 Twenty/20 Match – Australia v England Nine 2,305,850
7 Dancing With The Stars 6 – Grand Final Seven 2,199,267
8 The 2007 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,191,424
9 Kath & Kim Comedy Seven 2,126,973
10 The Biggest Loser – Finale Ten 2,022,602

2008
1 Seven’s Beijing Olympics: Opening Ceremony Seven 2,823,934
2 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final – Geelong Vs Hawthorn Seven 2,490,798
3 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 2,467,775
4 Seven’s Tennis: 2008 Aust Open – Men’s Final Seven 2,447,143
5 The 2008 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,272,286
6 Seven’s Beijing Olympics: D9 Primetime Special Seven 2,226,148
7 Seven’s Beijing Olympics: D1 Primetime Special Seven 2,214,513
8 Seven’s Tennis: 2008 Aust Open – Men’s Final Presentation Seven 2,206,729
9 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 3 Nine 2,145,058
10 Seven’s Beijing Olympics: D5 Seven 2,131,251

2009
1 Masterchef Australia – The Winner Announced Ten 3,725,968
2 Masterchef Australia – Finale Night Ten 3,293,089
3 Ten’s AFL Finals 2009: Grand Final St Kilda v Geelong Ten 2,877,901
4 The 2009 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,672,590
5 Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities -Ep1 Nine 2,581,772
6 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,528,325
7 The 2009 Grand Final Post Match Presentation Ten 2,447,603
8 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 1 Nine 2,322,075
9 Seven’s Tennis: 2009 Aust Open – Day 9 Night Session Seven 2,316,150
10 Seven’s Tennis: 2009 Aust Open – Men’s Final Seven 2,245,725

2010
1 Masterchef Australia – The Winner Announced Ten 4,028,882
2 Masterchef Australia – Finale Night Ten 3,594,399
3 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 3,357,550
4 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Collingwood v St Kilda Seven 2,767,569
5 The 2010 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,707,307
6 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final Re-Match: Collingwood v St Kilda Seven 2,686,813
7 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final Re-Match: Presentations Seven 2,618,146
8 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 1 Nine 2,468,186
9 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Post-Match Seven 2,451,165
10 Seven’s Tennis: 2010 Aust Open – Men’s Final Seven 2,420,898

2011
1 The Block -Winner Announced Nine 3,369,785
2 Australia’s Got Talent-The Winner Announced Seven 2,979,839
3 Underbelly: Razor -Ep1 Drama Nine 2,793,560
4 Masterchef Australia – The Winner Announced Ten 2,745,255
5 The Block -Auction Nine 2,735,689
6 The 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,667,085
7 Ten’s AFL Finals 2011: Grand Final Collingwood v Geelong Ten 2,641,174
8 Two And A Half Men -Ep1 Nine 2,523,824
9 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 3 Nine 2,491,555
10 Masterchef Australia – Finale Night Ten 2,401,583

2012
1 The Voice Grand Final -Winner Announced Nine 3,325,000
2 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 3,222,000
3 The Block -Winner Announced Nine 3,063,000
4 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Hawthorn v Sydney Seven 2,962,000
5 My Kitchen Rules-Winner Announced Seven 2,892,000
6 The Voice -Sun Nine 2,814,000
7 The Voice Grand Final Nine 2,810,000
8 The 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,767,000
9 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 3 Nine 2,694,000
10 The Block -Auction Nine 2,626,000

2013
1 My Kitchen Rules-Winner Announced Seven 3,270,000
2 The Block Sky High -Winner Announced Nine 3,160,000
3 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Hawthorn v Fremantle Seven 2,718,000
4 The Block Sky High -Auctions Nine 2,663,000
5 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 3 Nine 2,607,000
6 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 2,471,000
7 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 1 Nine 2,458,000
8 The X Factor Grand Final-Winner Announced Seven 2,404,000
9 The Voice Grand Final -Winner Announced Nine 2,380,000
10 The 2013 Melbourne Cup Carnival: Melbourne Cup-The Race Seven 2,310,000

2014
1 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Sydney v Hawthorn Seven 2,828,000
2 My Kitchen Rules-Winner Announced Seven 2,712,000
3 The Block Glasshouse -Winner Announced Nine 2,687,000
4 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,621,000
5 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 2 Nine 2,600,000
6 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 2,565,000
7 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 1 Nine 2,530,000
8 My Kitchen Rules-Grand Final Seven 2,408,000
9 The Block Glasshouse -Auction Nine 2,379,000
10 The Block: Fans v Faves -Auctions Nine 2,271,000

2015
1 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Hawthorn v West Coast Seven 2,645,000
2 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 2 Nine 2,517,000
3 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,458,000
4 ICC World Cup Cricket Final 2015 Session 2 Nine 2,440,000
5 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 1 Nine 2,349,000
6 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 3 Nine 2,255,000
7 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 2,215,000
8 Masterchef Australia – The Winner Announced Ten 2,203,000
9 My Kitchen Rules-Winner Announced Seven 2,180,000
10 My Kitchen Rules-Grand Final Seven 2,142,000

2016
1 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations s Seven 3,163,000
2 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Sydney v Western Bulldogs s Seven 3,070,000
3 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,663,000
4 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 1 Nine 2,631,000
5 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Post Match Seven 2,321,000
6 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 2 Nine 2,314,000
7 The Block -Winner Announced Nine 2,205,000
8 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: On The Ground Seven 2,165,000
9 Molly: Part 1 Seven 2,088,000
10 My Kitchen Rules-Winner Announced Seven 2,086,000

2017
1 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Adelaide v Richmond Seven 2,715,000
2 Seven’s AFL: Grand Final: Presentations Seven 2,713,000
3 Seven’s Tennis: 2017 Australian Open – Men’s Final Seven 2,686,000
4 The Block -Winner Announced Nine 2,523,000
5 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 3 Nine 2,521,000
6 State of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 2 Nine 2,402,000
7 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 1 Nine 2,371,000
8 Rugby League Grand Final Nine 2,308,000
9 Australian Ninja Warrior -Final Stage Nine 2,227,000
10 Australian Ninja Warrior -Grand Final Nine 2,158,000

2018 (to Aug 19)
1 State of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 1 Nine 2,343,000
2 State Of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 2 Nine 2,131,000
3 Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Opening Ceremony Seven 2,035,000
4 Royal Wedding: Prince Harry & Meghan-Ceremony Seven 1,990,000
5 Married At First Sight -Finale Nine 1,889,000
6 State Of Origin Rugby League Qld v NSW 3 Nine 1,769,000
7 Royal Wedding: Prince Harry & Meghan-Arrivals Seven 1,768,000
8 Married At First Sight -Final Dinner Party Nine 1,750,000
9 Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Men’s Final Seven 1,739,000
10 2018 FIFA World Cup: Fra v Aus Live SBS 1,664,000

Ratings based on Calendar Year, 5 City Metro.
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