In brief
Seven Network says it ranked first nationally over the 10-week OzTAM summer season, reporting a record prime-time commercial audience share of 42.1% among total people. The company says its share rose one percentage point compared with the 2022–23 summer, while average audience increased almost 2%. Seven also reports weekly national reach of more than 11.5 million people since the season began on 3 December. Sports coverage contributed to the results: the Australia v Pakistan and Australia v West Indies Tests reached 9.87 million people, and BBL|13 reached 9.4 million. The release also cites continued performance from news, breakfast, entertainment and drama programs. Chief Content Officer Angus Ross credited the network’s news and sports teams and said the results preceded the launch of its entertainment schedule.
Key takeaways
- Seven reports a 42.1% summer prime-time commercial audience share among total people, which it says is a network record.
- The network says its average audience rose almost 2% and weekly reach exceeded 11.5 million nationally.
- Seven’s Test cricket coverage reached 9.87 million people; BBL|13 reached 9.4 million nationally.
- The company says 7NEWS remained the most-watched evening news, while The Chase Australia remained the leading game show.
Audience and share grow, cricket up year on year
February 8, 2024 -- Sport, news and some of Australia’s biggest entertainment shows have combined to give the Seven Network its hottest summer on record.
The 10-week OzTAM summer season ends on Saturday, with Seven ranking #1 nationally.
Seven will end summer with a prime-time total TV commercial audience share of 42.1% in total people, up one percentage point on the 2022-23 summer and the network best summer share on record*.
Seven’s commercial audience shares are also up among 25 to 54s and grocery buyers. In terms of average audience, the number of people watching Seven has increased almost 2% over summer.
Since the start of the summer season on 3 December, Seven has reached more than 11.5 million people a week nationally thanks to the success of Test cricket, the Big Bash League, 7NEWS, Sunrise and new seasons of Australian Idol, Home and Away, The Chase Australia and Better Homes and Gardens.
Seven’s coverage of the Australia v Pakistan and Australia v West Indies Tests reached 9.87 million people, including 6.64 million in the capital cities.
The summer Test coverage grew year-on-year, including a 4% lift in metropolitan markets, and had an average audience of 686,000 nationally and 443,000 in the capital cities.
Despite a large number of rain-affected matches, BBL|13 reached 9.4 million people nationally on Seven, including 6.3 million in the capital cities.
The BBL’s national season average was 492,000 viewers. Seven’s BBL audience was up 3% nationally year-on-year and up 7% in the capital cities, including a 33% jump in Brisbane and a 10% lift in Adelaide.
7NEWS remained Australia’s most-watched evening news across the summer months, while Sunrise and The Morning Show continued their dominance of breakfast and morning TV respectively.
Australian Idol has increased its audience year-on-year since it returned on 29 January, while The Chase Australia remains Australia’s #1 game show and Home and Away is the country’s most-watched local drama series.
Seven’s Chief Content Officer, Entertainment Programming, Angus Ross, said: “Seven is number one for summer, delivering a record audience share and growing audience.
“This record start has put us in a great position to launch our entertainment schedule and deliver further growth across the year. A big shout out to our 7NEWS and 7SPORT teams, who were relentless across summer to deliver this result.”
* Audience shares and average are based on national broadcast viewing, as total TV or VOZ data was not officially available until 29 January 2024.
For further information, please contact:
Neil Shoebridge
M: 0417 511 012
E: [email protected]
Andrew Knowles
M: 0449 510 357
E: [email protected]
About the Seven Network
The Seven Network is part of Seven West Media (ASX: SWM), one of Australia’s most prominent media companies, with a market-leading presence in content production across broadcast television, publishing and digital. The Seven Network alone reaches about 17 million people a month.
The company owns some of Australia’s most renowned media businesses, including the Seven Network and its affiliate channels 7two, 7mate, 7flix and 7Bravo; the digital platform 7plus; 7NEWS.com.au; The West Australian; and The Sunday Times. The Seven Network is home to Australia’s most loved news, sport and entertainment programming, including 7NEWS, 7NEWS Spotlight, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Voice, Home and Away, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, SAS Australia, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Chase Australia, Better Homes and Gardens, RFDS, The 1% Club and the TV WEEK Logie Awards. Seven Network is also the broadcast partner of the AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars.
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Questions around this news
What is the difference between audience share and audience reach?
Audience share is the proportion of people watching television, or a defined group of viewers, who are watching a particular broadcaster or program during a stated period. Reach counts the people who watched at least once over a specified period. Reach does not indicate how long each person watched, while share reflects viewing at a given time or across a defined viewing period.
How many people watched Seven’s summer cricket coverage?
The release reports that the Australia v Pakistan and Australia v West Indies Test coverage reached 9.87 million people nationally, including 6.64 million in capital cities. It gives the Tests an average audience of 686,000 nationally. The Big Bash League season reached 9.4 million nationally, with a season average of 492,000 viewers.
What does year-on-year audience growth mean?
Year-on-year growth compares a measure with the same period one year earlier. For television audiences, the comparison may involve reach, average audience or audience share, depending on what is being reported. The periods and measurement methods need to be comparable for the change to provide a meaningful like-for-like comparison.
