Television ratings in Australia

Television ratings in Australia
1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Television in Australia

Television ratings in Australia are collected by three main organisations: OzTAM in metropolitan areas, Regional TAM in regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks, Nielsen Media Research Australia. Ratings are collected for 40 weeks during the year, excluding a two-week break during Easter and ten weeks over summer. The majority of locally produced comedy and drama on commercial networks is shown during the ratings period.

History

Australian television ratings (2000s)

	ABC	Seven	Nine	TEN	SBS
2003	15.6%	25.6%	31.2%	23.2%	4.5%
2004	16.9%	24.9%	29.9%	23.2%	4.6%
2005	15.7%	27.1%	29.2%	23.8%	6.1%
2006	15.4%	27.8%	29.1%	22.3%	5.4%
2007	16.3%	29.0%	27.4%	21.6%	5.6%
2008	17.5%	28.7%	27.2%	21.0%	5.6%
2009	16.4%	28.8%	26.8%	22.2%	5.8%
2010	16.9%	28.6%	27.7%	21.2%	5.6%

From 1991 when 2000, 'Nielsen Media Research Australia' was the company that did television ratings in Australia, and from 2001 onwards, OzTAM took over.

Throughout the late 1990s and the mid 2000s, the Nine Network had been the ratings leader in Australia, typically followed by the Seven Network and Network Ten respectively. While Network TEN generally rates lower in total viewers, it has traditionally been the market leader for younger viewers. The two national broadcasters; ABC1 and SBS One typically attract fewer viewers than the three commercial networks due to their various public service obligations.

Subscription television penetration is low in Australia and as such the percentage of viewing it receives is quite low. FOX8, the flagship channel of the Foxtel and Austar services is the most viewed subscription channel.

The 2007 ratings period was unique in that, for the first time since 2000, the Seven Network overtook its rival Nine Network in terms of average viewers. ABC1 has also, since the early 2000s, seen ratings (as well as audience reach) as a major performance indicator - this has, however, led to a decline in viewers rather than the expected increase. The Nine Network has, in the past, aggressively marketed its long-time ratings dominance through its promotional campaign Still the One.

In 2009 the commercial networks introduced new multichannels; 7Two, GO! and One HD from the Seven, Nine and TEN Networks, respectively. These were followed by 7mate, Gem and ELEVEN in 2010/11. In addition to this the ABC has launched ABC2, ABC3 and ABC News 24 and the SBS, SBS Two. The highest rating multichannels are generally Go!, 7Two and ELEVEN. The addition of these channels has fragmented the market leading to lower individual channel percentages and total viewers for programmes.

In 2011 for the first time since OzTAM record keeping began, the Seven Network won all forty weeks of the official ratings period

Sporting Events and reality television grand finals are usually top rating events in Australia.

Organisations

There are three main organisations, OzTAM (metropolitan areas), Regional TAM (regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks) and Nielsen Media Research Australia, that measure television ratings in Australia.

They are:

• OzTAM is an Australian television ratings research firm that collects and markets television ratings data. It is jointly owned by the Seven Network, the Nine Network and Network Ten, and is the official source of television ratings data for all metropolitan television in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth as well as subscription services (such as Foxtel) on a national basis.
• Regional TAM is a research firm that provides television ratings for regional television markets with three commercial television operators.
• Nielsen Media Research Australia is an American based firm that measures media audiences for areas that remain un-aggregated, and of which are today known as diary markets. Nielsen Media Research began as a division of ACNielsen, a marketing research firm. In 1996, Nielsen Media Research was split off into an independent company, and in 1999 was purchased by the Dutch conglomerate VNU. In 2001, VNU also purchased ACNielsen, thereby bringing both companies under the same corporate umbrella.

Most Watched Program

This is the list of the 12 most watched broadcasts since 2001 (when OzTam began) in Australia, with ratings of over 3 million viewers (metro viewers only *).

Rank	Show	Number of Viewers	Date	Network
1	Australian Open: Men's Final (Lleyton Hewitt v Marat Safin)	4,045,000	2005	Channel Seven
2	2003 Rugby World Cup: Final (Australia v England)	4,016,000	2003	Channel Seven
3	Masterchef Australia - Winner Announced	3,964,000	25 July 2010	Channel Ten
4	Masterchef Australia - Winner Announced	3,560,000	19 July 2009	Channel Ten
5	2006 Commonwealth Games: Opening Ceremony	3,560,000	2006	Channel Nine
6	Masterchef Australia: Finale Night	3,542,000	25 July 2010	Channel Ten
7	2005 AFL Grand Final (Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles)	3,386,000	2005	Channel Ten
8	Australian Idol: The final verdict	3,344,000	2004	Channel Ten
9	Masterchef Australia: Finale night	3,313,000	19 July 2009	Channel Ten
10	Australian Idol: The final verdict	3,330,000	2006	Channel Ten
11	2006 AFL Grand Final (West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans)	3,145,000	2006	Channel Ten
12	The Block: Final	3,115,000	2003	Channel Nine

• Metro Viewers Only = OzTam Ratings collects information from a 'five city data system' known as Metro Viewers. These cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. 'Regional Areas' are not included in the above ratings.

See also

• Television in Australia
• Television Ratings
• OzTAM
• Nielsen Media Research

External links

• Tribal Mind