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“The undisputed number one summer sport”

Record-breaking tennis numbers gave Nine the highest primetime commercial shares in OzTAM history.

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It may have had a controversial start but the Australian Open has broken OzTAM records with stellar numbers for the weekend finals.

The combination of the Women’s Final and the Men’s Doubles Final on Saturday gave Nine network the highest primetime commercial shares in OzTAM history with Total People (78.6%), 25-54 (81.2%) and 16-39 (84.9%). There are already media reports suggesting Seven is keen to wrestle back AO rights.

Across the full day (including all sessions of tennis), metro TV audiences were up by 39.5% on Channel 9 and up by 34.2% on 9GEM compared to last year which had a February broadcast.

Various sessions have taken out all ten of the Top 10 live streamed programs of the year to date.

Saturday night’s Women’s Final Match, in which Ash Barty defeated Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6, averaged Metro: 2.581 million / Regional: 995,000 both the highest rating Australian Open Women’s Final of all time and quickly becoming the highest rating program of the year to date.

Sunday’s Men’s Final achieved an average audience of Metro: 1.613 million / Regional: 482,000.

The Men’s Doubles Final on Saturday averaged Metro: 1.725 million / Regional: 572,000.

Michael Healy, Nine’s Director of Television, said: “The Australian Open is the undisputed number one summer sport and we’re thrilled that so many viewers tuned in across the tournament, including record breaking figures for the Women’s Final and Men’s Doubles Final. Last night’s epic Men’s Final was the highest rating in four years.

“Our BVOD numbers also set a new Australian Open record, with 227,000 viewers live streaming the Men’s Final on 9Now and almost 250,000 viewers live streaming the Women’s Final on 9Now.

“I’d like to commend Craig Tiley and everyone at Tennis Australia for staging such a magnificent event as well as the entire Wide World of Sports team for their brilliant coverage.”

14 Responses

  2. At this point I’d like the tennis to stay on 9. While I don’t think the product is that different, I enjoy being able to view via Stan Sport. Can view any match I like and have access to replays as well.

  3. Comparing the summer sports, tennis have thrashed the cricket TV ratings. The reason why is becuase Fox/7 simulcast deal. CA were very greedy and only cares about making money. After 9 lost the cricket, cricket went down south. The BBL has suffered a ratings slump since BBL08 – CA chop and change rules of the game. This is why many people are losing interest in this sport. Tennis on the other hand, is cheap and people can watch the coverage through Linear TV and on streaming for free.
    The current tennis deal expires at the end of 2024, which could be a tight tussle between 7 and 9. 9 is desperately wanting to retain the rights, while Seven wants to regain the tennis. If Seven regains the tennis, they might have to give up cricket.

    1. Very similar to my thoughts. Ch 7 cut off their own nose by denying the T20 World Cup to most of the viewing public which was ironically won by the Australian team. Who knew? Then put all the ODIs out of reach as well. It is getting to the stage where the public know the BBL players and not the Aussie ones.

      However, the AO this year is an aberration. They had a perfect storm – free publicity by their mishandling of the player entry farce, a beautifully gracious Ash replacing the unsportmanslike Serena (a huge bonus), and Aussie success all the way through to the end (congrats to the mens doubles/mixed doubles finalists). Usually I stop watching by the middle because there is no emotional attachment anymore.

      Ch 9 should not expect this wonderful year to be replicated every year.

  4. 7 were lucky to have the tennis for so long (40 years?) and so cheap. Compared to cricket and footy, tennis is relatively easy (cheaper) to telecast (smaller field and less moving parts). I don’t know exactly what happened when the tv rights were last negotiated. Whether 7 said no and called TAs bluff or whether 7 simply thought 60mill (from memory) was too much. Or simply complacency. Either way, 7 got this one terribly wrong. Interestingly, can’t help but think this episode influenced how they dealt with the AFL. 7 couldn’t afford to lose the footy even with 9 sniffing around given the poor NRL ratings (SOO and the finals excepted).

  5. A brilliant coverage by 9 across its various channels and 9Now, and for its excellent commentators. And they were helped by some amazing Aussie players on court, and a dramatic mens final. 7 made their choice, 9 deserves to keep it.

    1. I certainly don’t miss the tennis on 7. While the commentary team is very similar, the invasive advertising was getting ridiculous. MKR promos that were integrated into the tennis match and the commentators even discussing them! 9 so far has had less intense MAFS ads (although still prominent).

    2. I have my opinions on 9’s tennis coverage – Roz Kelly has done a better job at hosting the tennis coverage than Bec. The commentary team don’t talk about MAFS (which I don’t watch) 9 uses the TA-styled graphics and I get the perspective that they are from a World Feed, hence I’m not a fan of it.
      When 7 previously had the tennis, they used their own graphics and has a standalone 7tennis app for free and you can get to see scores live. At 6pm (Perth time), coverage moves to 72/7mate and continues until end of play. However, Hamish has been unwatchable – offers almost zero insight in the coverage.

  8. I think it’s also worth nothing watching the tennis and seeing fans in the audience. They have made the setting more dramatic this year. Absolutely loved it

  9. Congrats to Nine for putting a dozen matches on 9Now rather than force viewers to pay via Stan Sports.
    Let’s hope the AFL follows this lead next time the footy TV rights are negotiated.

    1. You’ll pry the AFL rights from sevens cold dead hands. I reckon they’ve learned their lesson with the tennis. 7 have already negotiated an extension such that the current contract doesn’t end the same time as 9s with the NRL.

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