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Seven wins 2023 Ratings Year

FIFA Women's World Cup breaks ratings records and gives Seven their third year in a row. Nine tops demos.

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  • Seven wins Total People
  • Nine wins Demos
  • ABC pushes 10 into fourth place
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup breaks records, tops survey year

Seven has won the 2023 survey year in Total People, for the third year in a row.

It was the only network to increase share, compared to 2022.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup match between Australia v England match drew an incredible 7.32 million viewers (including BVOD), becoming the most watched program since OzTAM started in 2001.

However Nine still won the advertiser-friendly 16-39 and 25-54 demos -for the fifth year in a row.

ABC managed third place for the second year running, pushing 10 into fourth.

Survey Year 2023*

Total People:

Seven: 30.0
Nine: 29.0
ABC: 16.7
10: 15.8
SBS: 8.5

25-54:

Nine: 31.9
Seven: 28.6
10: 21.1
ABC: 11.5
SBS: 7.0

16-39:

Nine: 32.7
Seven: 29.8
10: 21.0
ABC: 10.9
SBS: 5.5

Top 50 calendar year 2023

Rank Network Program Total audience BVOD
1 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v England 7,320,500 970,000
2 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v France Post Game 4,516,800 442,000
3 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v France 4,225,200 467,000
4 Seven Seven’s AFL Grand Final: Collingwood v Brisbane 3,984,300 453,000
5 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v Denmark 3,569,000 378,000
6 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sweden v Australia 3,414,000 388,000
7 Nine NRL Grand Final Day – Match 3,412.80 621,000
8 Nine State Of Origin, First Match 3,293.90 548,600
9 Seven Seven’s AFL Grand Final: Presentations 3,242,000 328,000
10 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Final Spain v England 3,088,400 378,000
11 Nine State Of Origin, Second Match 3,044,600 575,000
12 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v England Post Game 2,856,900 324,000
13 Seven Seven’s AFL Grand Final: On The Ground 2,840,300 260,000
14 Nine State Of Origin, Third Match 2,505,400 477,000
15 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Canada v Australia 2,492,800 275,000
16 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v England Pre-Game 2,412,600 254,000
17 Nine Married at First Sight – The Final Dinner Party 2,115,700 601,400
18 Nine The Block – Grand Final 2,114,200 224,000
19 Nine Married at First Sight – Final 2,098,300 587,400
20 Nine 2023 Australian Open, Men’s Final 1,975.30 243,300
21 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v Ireland 1,959,400 198,000
22 Nine Married at First Sight – Wednesday 1,931,200 616,500
23 Nine Married at First Sight – Sunday 1,929,000 592,300
24 Nine Married at First Sight – Launch 1,860,200 577,800
25 Nine Married at First Sight – Monday 1,825,200 568,400
26 Nine Married at First Sight – Tuesday 1,821,500 572,500
27 Nine NRL Grand Final Day – Entertainment 1,785,500 223,400
28 Nine Married at First Sight – Thursday 1,752,900 581,500
29 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v Denmark Pre-Game 1,712,700 149,000
30 Seven John Farnham: Finding The Voice 1,663,800 129,000
31 Nine State Of Origin, First Match 1,653,500 214,900
32 Nine ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 – Final Session 1 1,602,100 166,300
33 Nine The Block – Sunday 1,575,300 290,300
34 Nine State Of Origin, Second Match – Pre Match 1,559,900 223,900
35 Nine NRL Grand Final Day – Post Match 1,539,600 254,700
36 ABC Vera 1,535,900 168,100
37 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia v Nigeria 1,482,200 142,000
38 Seven Seven’s AFL: Friday Night Football Finals 1,462,400 0
39 Nine 2023 Australian Open, Men’s Final – Presentation 1,462,400 189,000
40 Nine The Block – Launch 1,421,100 280,800
41 Seven 7NEWS Monday to Friday 1,409,400 37,000
42 Seven FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Final, Spain v England, Post Game 1,386,900 160,000
43 Seven Farmer Wants A Wife – Finale Part 1 1,375,800 204,000
44 Seven The Voice – Launch 1,365,700 202,000
45 Seven 7NEWS Sunday 1,363,300 33,000
46 Seven Home And Away 1,358,500 153,000
47 Seven TV WEEK Logie Awards 1,357,800 62,000
48 Seven 7NEWS at 6.30 1,356,900 37,000
49 Seven Farmer Wants A Wife – Finale Part 2 1,352,600 160,000
50 Seven The Voice – Grand Finale 1,347,000 141,000

 

Seven:

  • Wins Total People, highest share in 3 years
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup breaks OzTAM records
  • Hits: FIFA Women’s World Cup, AFL Grand Final, Seven News, John Farnham: Finding the Voice, Logie Awards, Farmer Wants a Wife, The Voice, Home & Away, DWTS, The Chase, Sunrise.
  • Biggest new series: The 1% Club 
  • 7Plus up 21%

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “Once again, Seven has taken the crown as Australia’s most-watched TV network. No matter how you cut it, we are #1, with the news, sport and entertainment Australians want to watch.

“This year was Seven’s second best year ever in ratings history, with our biggest share since 2018. We’ve grown our commercial share and grown audiences across our key tentpole programs. SAS Australia, My Kitchen Rules, Farmer Wants A Wife and Dancing With The Stars all increased their audiences this year, something no other network can match.

“Seven has once again shown consistent leadership across the year, winning more weeks nationally than any of our competitors and achieving a 40% plus audience share in the capital cities for only the third ever time,” he said.

“Our momentum will continue in 2024 with an unbeatable mix of powerful content that unites Australians. From our much-loved sporting content, to our must-see entertainment programing and popular news and current affairs shows, Seven attracts Australia’s biggest viewing audience and is home to the most-watched screens.

“7plus has also charged ahead in 2023, delivering massive growth year-on-year and streaming more than 14.2 billion minutes of content so far this year. As we continue to invest in our digital future, the new AFL and cricket digital rights coming to 7plus in 2024 will change streaming in Australia forever.”

Seven’s Chief Content Officer, Entertainment Programming, Angus Ross, said: “Seven is home to the biggest cultural moments and the best news, sport, drama, entertainment and special events that inform, engage and entertain Australians across the country.

“Next year is shaping up as another big year across the screens of Seven. Our powerful line-up in 2024 includes the new shows Dream Home, Stranded On Honeymoon Island, Made in Bondi, Once In A Lifetime and all-new First Dates, plus much more.

“They will join an unmatchable content schedule of proven hits that include 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Chase Australia, Home and Away, Better Homes and Gardens, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, The 1% Club, Australian Idol, RFDS, My Kitchen Rules, 7NEWS Spotlight and the TV Week Logie Awards,” he said.

“Next year will also bring a full 52-week schedule of Australia’s most-loved sports, including Australia’s #1 winter sport in the AFL, alongside cricket, horse racing, Supercars, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and much more.”

Nine:

  • Wins 16-39 and 25-54 demos
  • Hits: Married at First Sight, The Block, State of Origin, Travel Guides, Lego Masters, NRL Grand Final, Ashes Series, ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, A Current Affair.
  • Biggest new series: The Summit
  • 9Now up 17%

Michael Healy, Nine’s Director of Television, said: “Nine is proud to have delivered Australia’s best content yet again to engage our audiences. As a dominant force with all key demographics, we have increased our lead over our competitors. Our continued success is a testament to a consistent programming slate featuring the biggest moments on television, including the nation’s most talked about programs in Married at First Sight and The Block. Our sports broadcasts wield immense cultural impact as evidenced by this year’s Ashes series and thrilling NRL Grand Final. Our news and current affairs output is world-class, underscored by our remarkable achievements at this year’s Walkley Awards. We are also proudly home to the country’s No. 1 BVOD player, with 9Now boasting almost half of the commercial share.”

Michael Stephenson, Nine’s Chief Sales Officer, said: “The future of TV is Total TV – a combination of terrestrial, live streaming and on-demand. We license, create and curate our content schedule to maximise audiences across live, live streaming and on-demand. The growth of 9Now is critical to advertisers and reflective of changes in consumer behaviour.”

“The network’s continued dominance in the key demographics is underpinned by an unrivalled content slate that began in January with the Australian Open and continued throughout the year with hit after hit – Married At First Sight, LegoMasters, Parental Guidance, The Summit, The Block, Love Island Australia, Travel Guides and The Hundred with 9News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes, as well as sporting blockbusters State of Origin, the NRL and NRLW, The Ashes, and the ICC World Cup.

“When Australians unite around content, they turn to the 9Network, which is the home of the highest rating entertainment program of the year (The Block – Winner Announced), the No. 1 reality series (Married at First Sight), No. 1 new reality series (The Summit), No. 1 metro light entertainment series (Travel Guides), No. 1 daily current affairs program (A Current Affair) and the No. 1 weekly commercial free-to-air current affairs program (60 Minutes).”

10:

  • Hits: Melbourne Cup, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, Australian Survivor, Hunted, Gogglebox.
  • Thank God You’re Here biggest comedy launch in 4 years
  • Have You Been Paying Attention, Gogglebox are #1, #2 8:30pm shows respectively
  • Biggest new series: Dessert Masters
  • 10Play up 25% year on year

Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content and Programming, Paramount Australia, said: “10’s strength is in our premium entertainment which engages younger audiences. Whether that’s comedy, reality, new concepts, fan favourites or existing shows, we give younger audiences entertainment to escape the everyday. And the results prove it with 10 having more of the top entertainment programs in under 50s, 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s than our competitors.

“10 delivers the LOLs with comedy shows like Thank God You’re Here, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Gogglebox, The Cheap Seats and Taskmaster. We dish up superfans with MasterChef Australia and Australian Survivor. We take families to the jungle with I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! or let them settle into the couch with Gogglebox.

“And we also have the youngest news and current affairs show on TV with The Project that will return in 2024 with Sarah Harris, Waleed Aly and Sam Taunton at the helm. Next year, our news audiences will continue to grow with Afternoon and Late-Night national bulletins joining 10 News First and Midday. Our team of award-winning journalists and nationally established presenters, already reach over 6 million Australians every month so we’re excited to build on our news and current affairs content.

“And we can’t wait to deliver more new entertainment in 2024 with Gladiators offering the perfect alternative to sport this summer, Deal or No Deal shaking up the early evening line up, and Ready, Steady Cook heating up Friday nights.

“But 2023 is not over by any stretch so settle in and swoon over our new season of The Bachelors and watch all the thrilling football action with Isuzu UTE A-League and Liberty A-League matches as well as more Subway Socceroos World Cup qualifiers.”

Rod Prosser, Chief Sales Officer, Paramount Australia, said: “We’ve seen strong success for 10 in 2023 with our multi-platform strategy delivering results.

“10 Play has had its biggest year ever, up 25% on 2022, and is Australia’s fastest growing BVOD with over 7 million members and rising. The launch of Live TV With Pluto TV on 10 Play with more than 50 channels saw daily FAST viewing grow by an incredible 237%. We’ve also seen younger audiences attracted to the mountain of content on 10 Play FAST channels – 75% of FAST viewers are 18 to 54 years old, compared to a lesser average of 62% for other commercial platforms.

“And we’re tapping into this digital audience with market-leading digital ad products such as dynamic video capabilities delivering personalisation at scale, interactive and immersive ad experiences, and proof of performance solutions meeting the market’s need to deliver results-driven campaigns.

“We’re offering the market unparalleled Total TV advertising opportunities as our premium, brand-safe content across linear and BVOD continues to connect with younger, more engaged viewers than our competitors.

“In 2023, 10 delivered the most-watched entertainment and comedy shows in younger audiences, plus global sports played on the local stage that connected with hard-to-reach audiences. Our broadcast of the Melbourne Cup Carnival reached 4.5 million viewers, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix reached 3.6 million Australians and so far, the A-League has reached an audience of 5.4 million.

“But we’re not done yet with 2023. We program premium content 52 weeks of the year, unlocking key commercial opportunities for advertisers over Christmas, New Year and Back to School. So, we’re going to continue to deliver results for our valued clients, sponsors and partners over summer and can’t wait for our refreshed line up in 2024 to kick off with Gladiators, ready to shake up family co-viewing.”

* Source: Linear SYTD: 12/2/2023 – 27/11/2023 (excl. Easter). Prime time 1800-2359.  Consolidated 7 + Overnight (21/11-27/11/2023).

14 Responses

  1. Clearly, with all of these figures, Nine is the winner. Seven just ahead with total people but Nine way ahead in the more important demo’s – the ones that count!

    1. Not really a fair comparison given 9 declared bankruptcy and restructured 10 or so years ago and effectively (as far as share price is concerned) started again. If you had nine shares pre restructure in 2012 (I think), you’d be less than happy. SWM seem to be just holding off the bankers by selling some assets and being more selective with sports rights purchases. I was surprised seven didn’t retain the Olympics but get the logic; more surprised seven didn’t secure England based Ashes as these didn’t seem to cost that much.

  3. Love the Ratings Spin from all three commercial networks. Lol.

    Good to see a Top 50 Programs list this time. Huge win to Seven and the Matildas. Normal programs, like Married At First Sight, still doing wonders for Nine.

  4. Thanks for the end of year summary. I’m just wondering how 10 can claim to be the youngest network if Seven and Nine have more younger viewers?

  5. In Ten’s fine print on their graphic table they excluded the 4 weeks with Logies, Voice, Block, Matildas and The Traitors in their analysis. Are network’s allowed to just exclude their worst performing weeks?

    1. I wish there were rules, because every year networks bend to their own messaging. It’s why TVT sticks to 5 FTA networks in metro in Survey weeks. Next year that will likely shift to VOZ rather than metro.

  6. Excellent DK. 7 was very lucky to win the year thanks to Matildas and afl. Had the Matildas got knocked out of the group stage, then Nine would have won the year.
    Early 2024 is when 9 begins on a new odyssey era with the Paris Olympics and other big shows on TV. This will set up ratings dominance & will be virtually unbearable in Sydney and Brisbane. However the olympics will be a loss maker.

  7. Thank you for this article David. Lots of fascinating information here.
    Perhaps not surprisingly the special event programming of rare sporting events and reality show finals represents the peak interest of viewers even if, on a night by night basis, news stands as the thing people most turn their attention to. That actually makes programming difficult as not every night can feature something ‘special’ and the sporting codes of interest to Australians remain fairly focused in a narrow range.
    As a mature person I was intrigued to see the Ten infographic which notes just how mature the television audience is. With SBS and ABC having near two-thirds of their prime time audience in the 65+ category and the commercial networks dominated by the same demographic to a lesser extent it does show a disconnect between advertiser’s wants and what the networks can actually provide them with through their content. A seemingly unbreakable paradigm.

  8. It’s nice to see how each network cherry-picks data every year to put them on top. Ten being quite brazen with “youngest network” when we know that demo spends more time on TikTok than watching TV and has no disposable income. Seven hanging their hats on big wins in Adelaide and Perth to make them #1 nationally and in cap cities and both 7 & 9 relying on sport.

  9. Congratulations to Seven! A win is a win even if it is inflated by one off events. Pathetic they couldn’t win a key demo 1639 or 2554 even with the soccer. Easy to see why the new shows commissioned for 24 are younger skewing. They desperately need to get under 55s switched on

  10. So basically 7 has more people watching overall but 9 has more people watching who advertisers see as spenders (where networks get their money from)? I see that as a win for 9.

    Also I wonder if you took out the FIFA world cup? Was it worth a whole 1% (winning margin). If it was, well done to 7 for taking that chance.

    1. I seem to remember seven claiming the largest slice of the advertising pie for first 6 months of this financial year – don’t recall whether it was national vs metro (and maybe I’m misremembering / could have been the year before).

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