2025 TV Ratings

[Macca180]

100k crowd

3.2 mil ratings

Very healthy for the second biggest football code in the country.

 

[MattF185]

100k crowd

3.2 mil ratings

Very healthy for the second biggest football code in the country.

And that’s not including Kayo?

 

[The_Wookie]

Sunday, 21 September 2025

AFL Finals score big with viewers
More than 8.2 million watch the Finals series on Seven and 7plus Sport

The Seven Network’s coverage of the AFL has reached more Australians than any other winter sport this year, with 16.2 million tuning in to date on Seven and 7plus Sport, including 8.2 million for the Finals series.

Yesterday’s Preliminary Final between Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions was the highest rated game this year, reaching 3.26 million people nationally, with a national total TV audience of 1.54 million – up 17% on the same match last year. More than 207,000 people tuned in on 7plus Sport, which was the highest 7plus audience this year.

Friday night’s clash between Geelong and Hawthorn, reached 3.14 million and had a national total TV audience of 1.3 million – the second highest audience this year.

The average audience for the Finals is up 6% on last year. All eight Finals on Seven were #1 in their timeslots in all people, 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s and grocery shoppers.

Seven of the eight games were the #1 program of the day across all age groups. The only exception was the GWS Giants and Hawthorn clash on the afternoon of Saturday, 6 September, which was pipped by the Saturday night game.

Seven Network Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, said: “What a weekend of footy. Brisbane came to the MCG with enormous belief and overpowered Collingwood in a classic Preliminary Final in front of a packed MCG.

"The blockbuster match delivered the biggest AFL audience of the year on Seven and 7plus Sport, a testament to the power of finals footy and the passion of fans right across the country. The atmosphere at the MCG was unbelievable, and you could feel that energy coming through the screen at home.

"We’re proud to bring every moment of September live and free to all Australians on Seven and 7plus Sport, with the Brownlow Medal and AFL Grand Final now just around the corner, live, free and exclusively on Seven and 7plus Sport,” he said.

As anticipation builds for the AFL Grand Final between the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions on Saturday, fans will be able to celebrate the AFL’s very best players, with the 2025 Charles Brownlow Medal live, free and exclusively on Seven and 7plus Sport tomorrow night.

Seven’s Brownlow coverage kicks off at 5.30pm AEST on 7plus Sport, with Blue Carpet Confessionals, before all the glitz and glamour of the red carpet from 7.30pm AEST on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport.

The 2025 AFL Grand Final is live, free and exclusively on Seven and 7plus Sport on Saturday, 27 September 2025. Seven’s coverage kicks off at 9.00am AEST from the MCG.

2025 AFL Finals series on Seven:

Thursday, 4 September – Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood: National reach 2.72 million, national audience 1.09 million.

Friday, 5 September – Geelong vs Brisbane Lions: National reach 2.52 million, national audience 934,000.

Saturday, 6 September – GWS Giants vs Hawthorn: National reach 2.17 million, national audience 693,000.

Saturday, 6 September – Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle: National reach 2.5 million, national audience 911,000.

Friday, 12 September – Hawthorn vs Adelaide Crows: National reach 2.72 million, national audience 1.000,000.

Saturday, 13 September – Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Suns: National reach 2.56 million, national audience 945,000.

Friday, 19 September – Geelong vs Hawthorn: National Reach 3.14 million, national audience 1.3 million

Saturday, 20 September – Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions: National Reach 3.26 million national audience 1.54 million.

 

[Cmarsh]

The AFL seems to quite consitantly beat NRL games for ratings during finals. Why is that?

 

[shammersting]

The AFL seems to quite consitantly beat NRL games for ratings during finals. Why is that?

Not according to nrl nuffs

 

[kranger]

The WAFL, SANFL and VFL grand finals only get broadcast into their respective states.

It would be great if the three leagues coordinated to make a package of their grand finals that were all broadcast nationally.

VFL 12AEST 11:30ACST 10AWST
SANFL 3AEST 2:30ACST 1AWST
WAFL 6:30AEST 6ACST 4:30AWST

All on the Sunday of the AFL Preliminary Finals, starting 3 hours apart, with the WAFL start an extra 30mins later to slot in the news.

Then schedule the reserves and colts games around the league game.

 

[lanson15]

The AFL seems to quite consitantly beat NRL games for ratings during finals. Why is that?

One factor is during the H&A season AFL games overlap with each other and are longer forcing a bigger time investment into each game.

Anecdotally I’ve noticed many more League fans who watch every single NRL game each week compared to footy fans who watch every single AFL game every week.

However during finals there’s only 1-2 games a week so everyone who’s interested in footy will watch each game

 

[The Educator]

One factor is during the H&A season AFL games overlap with each other and are longer forcing a bigger time investment into each game.

Anecdotally I’ve noticed many more League fans who watch every single NRL game each week compared to footy fans who watch every single AFL game every week.

However during finals there’s only 1-2 games a week so everyone who’s interested in footy will watch each game

Roughly, an NRL round goes for about 16 hours. An AFL round is 27 hours of content spread over perhaps 21 hours most rounds. This includes games starting significantly earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. I would suspect there are similar numbers of AFL fans that watch ~`16 hours of game time though that might just mean they are missing (at least most of) 2 or 3 games

The real misleading issue with the home and away ratings is that, for most people across both codes who watch a certain number of hours a week, the NRL watcher is showing up as 50% more than the AFL one. This is just purely a tell of the error in comparing averages.

I remeber a few years ago Kayo released that both the average AFL and NRL viewer watched about 4 hours (from memory) each week.

 

[bigleague]

The AFL seems to quite consitantly beat NRL games for ratings during finals. Why is that?

Historically that’s true, however this year the NRL is up double digits. The NRL was a semi final, not a prelim, not sure why it’s been coded as PF1. The NRL likely win wk 1 finals after consolidation from the raiders broncos game which went extra time. Wk 2 could go either way after the blowout today.

 

[The Educator]

Historically that’s true, however this year the NRL is up double digits. The NRL was a semi final, not a prelim, not sure why it’s been coded as PF1. The NRL likely win wk 1 finals after consolidation from the raiders broncos game which went extra time. Wk 2 could go either way after the blowout today.

The highest reach for the NRL is lower than the lowest final for the AFL.

Not even close

 

[bigleague]

The highest reach for the NRL is lower than the lowest final for the AFL.

Not even close

I’m not looking for an argument, I was referring to average ratings as Wookiee posted earlier today.

 

[The Educator]

I’m not looking for an argument, I was referring to average ratings as Wookiee posted earlier today.

Sure, neither was I. Just pointing out how ridiculous it is to claim the NRL is winning anything when its final with the highest number of viewers is lower than the AFL's lowest

 

[Cmarsh]

Historically that’s true, however this year the NRL is up double digits. The NRL was a semi final, not a prelim, not sure why it’s been coded as PF1. The NRL likely win wk 1 finals after consolidation from the raiders broncos game which went extra time. Wk 2 could go either way after the blowout today.

Thats fine but none of this explains why the AFL outrates the NRL on finals. Its significant as the NRL always makes big claims of outrating in the regular season.

 

[GenericUsername202]

I know the argument is blah blah blah reach, etc, but the fact is, NRL doesn't come close to AFL's reach figures during the regular season, and it doesn't come close to its reach and average figures in the finals. NRL is a shorter program, so its easier to maintain a higher average. However, when push comes to shove, there was a 1.3m difference between the AFL and NRL program last saturday night.

 

[Angus Young]

The AFL seems to quite consitantly beat NRL games for ratings during finals. Why is that?

Because AFL finals are great games.

Too many shit games in the the regular AFL season.

NRL games are closer.

 

[Professor Knowall]

I know the argument is blah blah blah reach, etc, but the fact is, NRL doesn't come close to AFL's reach figures during the regular season, and it doesn't come close to its reach and average figures in the finals. NRL is a shorter program, so its easier to maintain a higher average. However, when push comes to shove, there was a 1.3m difference between the AFL and NRL program last saturday night.

It's really simply a result of the fact that overall, across Australia, Australian Football is much more popular, with a greater following, than NRL rugby.

 

[Bjo187]

It's really simply a result of the fact that overall, across Australia, Australian Football is much more popular, with a greater following, than NRL rugby.

This is exactly right, it's about 75% to 80% the popularity of the afl and funnily enough the tv reach numbers appear to back this up every year during the season and even more so in finals. Let alone when you dig into attendance, membership, revenue etc etc. It kinda just shows how reach is a pretty accurate reflection of actual interest, which we've been saying on here for some time.

 

[bigleague]

Thats fine but none of this explains why the AFL outrates the NRL on finals. Its significant as the NRL always makes big claims of outrating in the regular season.

But it is consistent, the nrl is beating the afl on average ratings in finals this year and the afl is beating the nrl in reach. It mirrors the regular season this year.

 

[The_Wookie]

FTA Finals Ratings

#AFL Week 1 - 3.6m (3.662m cons)
#AFL Week 2 - 1.897m (1.952m cons)
#AFL Week 3 - 2.848m
Total O/N 8.345m (5.497 for week 1/2)
Total 8.462m (+7% YoY)

#NRL Week 1 - 3.515m (3.771m cons)
#NRL Week 2 - 2.199m
Total O/N 5.714m for week 1/2
Total 5.94m (+29% YoY)

Data: VOZ (last weekend not consolidated)

Date	Code	Description	Network	Total TV National Reach	Total TV National Average Audience	BVOD National Average Audience	Notes
04/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,733,000	1,106,000	130,000
05/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,516,000	943,000	110,000
06/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,186,000	699,000	69,000
06/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,520,000	914,000	107,000
13/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,723,000	1,004,000	133,000
14/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	2,569,000	948,000	117,000
20/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	3,139,000	1,302,000	180,000
21/09/2025	AFL	SEVEN’S AFL: SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS	Seven	3,260,000	1,546,000	208,000

Date	Code	Description	Network	Total TV National Reach	Total TV National Average Audience	BVOD National Average Audience
12/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES QF1	Nine	2,006,000	1,021,000	209,000
13/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES EF2	Nine	1,572,000	824,000	192,000
13/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES EF1	Nine	1,623,000	676,000	141,000
14/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES QF2	Nine	2,695,000	1,220,000	236,000
20/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES PF1	Nine	1,953,000	1,025,000	220,000
21/09/2025	NRL	NRL LIVE FINAL SERIES PF2	Nine	2,295,000	1,174,000	243,000

 

[The_Wookie]

#AFLW Seven 78k
Syd 7k Mel 19k Ade 5k Per 9k

#WAFL Grand Final Per 66k
#SANFL Grand Final Ade 86k
#VFL Grand Final Mel 71k

 

[2 eazy]

Don't know what people obsess over tv ratings soccer is most watched sport in the world doesn't mean it's the best

 

[2 eazy]

This is exactly right, it's about 75% to 80% the popularity of the afl and funnily enough the tv reach numbers appear to back this up every year during the season and even more so in finals. Let alone when you dig into attendance, membership, revenue etc etc. It kinda just shows how reach is a pretty accurate reflection of actual interest, which we've been saying on here for some time.

Curious how do codes fair on social media whi has more Instagram followers NRL or AFL also the top teams each code. That probably good indication of popular for younger generation.

 

[RodneyMaynard]

On AFL 360 tonight Gerard said the Collingwood Brisbane prelim was 'the most watched sporting event in Foxtel history' and the Cats Hawks prelim was the '4th most watched AFL game of all time'

 

[The Educator]

On AFL 360 tonight Gerard said the Collingwood Brisbane prelim was 'the most watched sporting event in Foxtel history' and the Cats Hawks prelim was the '4th most watched AFL game of all time'

Jeez, that's a lot of ouch to suck up for the League nuffies that lurk here

 

[GenericUsername202]

I'm a little bit surprised just how much better Brisbane and Collingwood did in terms of ratings. Proves how vital the Brisbane market is, because Queenslanders will watch the lions in huge numbers while not necessarily watching other games. Of course Collingwood is a massive club who will always draw big ratings, but the QLD market proved to be a huge difference for this game.