Seven has reported that the 2023 AFL Premiership Season opening round reached 4.4 million viewers on Channel Seven and 7mate.
Seven kicked off its AFL season coverage with the opener between Richmond and Carlton on Thursday night, which reached 2.14 million viewers nationally.
The game peaked at 1.07 million viewers nationally, with the match averaging 753,000 viewers, up 28% compared to the 2022 AFL series average and up 13% on the 2022 season opening Thursday night.
See also: Over 2 million tune in to Seven for first AFL match of 2023
The Friday match between the Geelong Cats and Collingwood peaked at 980,000 viewers and drew an average national audience of 728,000, up 24% on the 2022 season average.
Seven’s Saturday night coverage peaked at 848,000 viewers, with an average national audience of 549,000.
Seven’s Sunday afternoon AFL coverage peaked at 883,000 viewers, with an average national audience of 499,000.
The round one matches ranked as the #1 programs in 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
The audiences helped the Seven Network win Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in total people, 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s nationally, and win the week in total people nationally.
Seven’s coverage captured 72% of the overall AFL TV audience on Thursday and Friday night, including 77% of all viewers in regional Australia.
Before the season launch, Mediaweek spoke to Seven West Media national sport sales director, Rob Maclean about the fact that nearly every sponsor from the 2022 season has renewed for this season, as well as adding a couple of brands into the mix.
See Also: Before the centre bounce: What Seven’s AFL kick off means for brands in 2023
“They recognise the value that we can deliver, the effectiveness of the campaigns that we can execute, and ultimately the return that can be achieved by aligning to Seven’s AFL property.
“We’ve got a really fantastic track record of delivering great solutions for our partners, many of whom have been collaborating with Seven for a number of years now and support the AFL industry. It just really reinforces that Seven, and Seven’s AFL coverage is the most powerful platform for brands over winter.”