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ALM TV Ratings

Aussie fans' telling response after Channel Nine's brutal NRL move for Andrew Johns and co.​

The change from the Australian broadcaster has raised eyebrows around the country.​

Adam Lucius
·Contributor
Updated Sun 17 August 2025 at 2:50 pm AEST·3-min read

Channel Nine's decision to dump its post-match NRL show and feature a live English Premier League match in its place has proved a ratings bonanza. Despite criticism the NRL's chief broadcast partner was ditching the code and robbing it of valuable exposure, a decent Saturday night audience watched the Aston Villa v Newcastle EPL clash immediately after the Souths-Parramatta game at Allianz Stadium.

The EPL fixture – the second game of the 2025/26 season – pulled in 855,000 viewers nationally to be the ninth most-watched program of the day. The game performed strongly in the key age demographics, coming in fourth in the 25-54 age group and third among 16-39-year-olds.

In comparison, the previous week's post-match NRL show attracted 502,000 viewers nationally - the 26th most-watched show of the day - justifying Nine's decision to brush Phil Gould, Billy Slater, Andrew Johns and Co. for English football. Nine, which broadcasts a live NRL Saturday game across the final five rounds of the regular season, will stick with the formula for at least the next three weeks.

Following next Saturday night's Roosters-Eels clash, Nine will go straight to England for the meeting of early league leaders Manchester City and Tottenham. That match will likely torch the viewing figures from Villa v Newcastle, giving Nine another ratings win.

Nine's streaming partner Stan recently acquired the rights for the EPL and the free-to-air station is giving the competition heavy coverage. Nine Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast, Amanda Laing, said. "We know Australians love big sporting moments and it doesn’t get any bigger than two of the world’s most exciting and dynamic sporting competitions on the same night. We think this is a win for sports fans."
 
patjennings said:

Aussie fans' telling response after Channel Nine's brutal NRL move for Andrew Johns and co.​

The change from the Australian broadcaster has raised eyebrows around the country.​

Adam Lucius
·Contributor
Updated Sun 17 August 2025 at 2:50 pm AEST·3-min read

Channel Nine's decision to dump its post-match NRL show and feature a live English Premier League match in its place has proved a ratings bonanza. Despite criticism the NRL's chief broadcast partner was ditching the code and robbing it of valuable exposure, a decent Saturday night audience watched the Aston Villa v Newcastle EPL clash immediately after the Souths-Parramatta game at Allianz Stadium.

The EPL fixture – the second game of the 2025/26 season – pulled in 855,000 viewers nationally to be the ninth most-watched program of the day. The game performed strongly in the key age demographics, coming in fourth in the 25-54 age group and third among 16-39-year-olds.

In comparison, the previous week's post-match NRL show attracted 502,000 viewers nationally - the 26th most-watched show of the day - justifying Nine's decision to brush Phil Gould, Billy Slater, Andrew Johns and Co. for English football. Nine, which broadcasts a live NRL Saturday game across the final five rounds of the regular season, will stick with the formula for at least the next three weeks.

Following next Saturday night's Roosters-Eels clash, Nine will go straight to England for the meeting of early league leaders Manchester City and Tottenham. That match will likely torch the viewing figures from Villa v Newcastle, giving Nine another ratings win.

Nine's streaming partner Stan recently acquired the rights for the EPL and the free-to-air station is giving the competition heavy coverage. Nine Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast, Amanda Laing, said. "We know Australians love big sporting moments and it doesn’t get any bigger than two of the world’s most exciting and dynamic sporting competitions on the same night. We think this is a win for sports fans."
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Can we just get a league players to wear epl jerseys and claim it is the epl. Would most aussies notice?

Instant million viewer ratings for the a league - and they said it couldnt be done
 
Over a 70% increase is something that Channel 9 will look at closely. It is quite easy at the moment because there is no daylight savings. 11:30pm games may be more of a problem and of course the NRL finals are coming up.

Who knows - having lost the cricket 9/Stan may want to look at bidding against (or buying out) the 10/paramount football content. If they can get the Championship from Bein it would be a pretty easy to show the pathways between the local game and OS.

Of course the big win would be having friendly media calling out the hyperbole about 'suburban terrorists'
 
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patjennings said:
Over a 70% increase is something that Channel 9 will look at closely. It is quite easy at the moment because there is no daylight savings. 10:30pm games may be more of a problem and of course the NRL finals are coming up.

Who knows - having lost the cricket 9/Stan may want to look at bidding against (or buying out) the 10/paramount football content. If they can get the Championship from Bein it would be a pretty easy to show the pathways between the local game and OS.
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In October, it becomes 11.30pm.
 
I'm interested in next weeks figures. Yesterday was Rabbitohs and Eels. EPL game Newcastle and a lowly Wolves. Next week Roosters and Eels. EPL game Man City recent powerhouse vs a post Ange Spurs.
 
patjennings said:
Over a 70% increase is something that Channel 9 will look at closely. It is quite easy at the moment because there is no daylight savings. 11:30pm games may be more of a problem and of course the NRL finals are coming up.

Who knows - having lost the cricket 9/Stan may want to look at bidding against (or buying out) the 10/paramount football content. If they can get the Championship from Bein it would be a pretty easy to show the pathways between the local game and OS.

Of course the big win would be having friendly media calling out the hyperbole about 'suburban terrorists'
Click to expand...
Its been fairly heavily saturated on their normal shows.. I mean the current affair Shazza looks like she is swallowing her own vomit but they STILL push it....

 
HG, silly Q - what are the 3 columns ? I get the first but the other 2 following.
Lets not forget koff was 9.30pm, whereas news/eggball coverages start far earlier.
I luv how the terrible big money other ogarlord league so many comment against gets the viewership with ease it richly deserves.......
I get Stan covers alot more offerings to the general public subscribers compared to Optus Sport but it proves engish football been very popular here for decades long before EPL when as Div1.
 
LFC said:
HG, silly Q - what are the 3 columns ? I get the first but the other 2 following.
Lets not forget koff was 9.30pm, whereas news/eggball coverages start far earlier.
I luv how the terrible big money other ogarlord league so many comment against gets the viewership with ease it richly deserves.......
I get Stan covers alot more offerings to the general public subscribers compared to Optus Sport but it proves engish football been very popular here for decades long before EPL when as Div1.
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Take it easy champ, there is NO FTA AFL on Saturday nights... :)
 
as we near daylight savings the koff times will be 11.30pm normally.
That will test the newbies, count on me always ready for every telecast first match, just depends which fixture is next I may have a snooze and when LFC koff - always have the mobile alarm set 15mins before every LFC koff.
 
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