Foxtel Media has released Foxtel and Kayo’s ratings for the opening rounds of the NRL and AFL seasons.
The latest ratings highlight strong audience growth for the start of the 2022 season with key naming rights partners returning for the new season.
These include KFC, McDonalds, Telstra, Ford, Toyota, Harvey Norman, and Sportsbet. They are joined by new partners including AAMI and CBUS for the NRL and Industry Super Australia for the AFL with McCain joining as a naming rights partner for both sports.
After Round 1 and 2, the average NRL audience for Foxtel and Kayo is 420,000, up 14% on 2021. Round 2 audiences averaged 393,000, up 9%.
Round 1’s Tigers v Storm game was the #1 NRL regular season game of all-time with an average audience of 553,000.
Sunday night’s Bulldogs v Broncos clash was the #2 highest rating NRL regular season game of all-time on subscription television with an average audience of 544,000.
Over at the AFL, Round 1 saw an average audience of 360,000 for Foxtel and Kayo, up 47% on 2021 R1 making it the highest rating AFL Round 1 of all-time and the number two rating regular season AFL round of all-time.
The Melbourne Demons v Western Bulldogs season opener saw an average audience on Foxtel and Kayo of 470,000, up 28% on the 2021 AFL season opener.
The game was the highest rating AFL regular season match of all-time on subscription television, up 6% on the previous highest rating regular AFL season match (R12 2021).
Director of Sports Sales and Brand Partnerships at Foxtel Media, Martin Medcraf, said, “We’re excited to welcome back our long-term partners, as well as team up with new brands to make some sparks fly.
“Every viewer and advertising partner has been a part of the incredible success of the Foxtel Group sports platforms, and it’s great to see that success continuing with these early round ratings.
“We are home to Australia’s most popular sports, have long-term relationships with some of the nation’s best-known brands, and we continue to deliver innovative advertising solutions. 2022 promises to be the best year yet for our partners.”
Top Image: Brian To’o Penrith Panthers