The telecast of the FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final match between Australia’s Matildas and England’s Lionesses has smashed Australian ratings records.
In the overnight ratings results, Seven Network secured a massive 69.9% share of the audience, with its main channel scoring 65.8% (OzTAM, 5 cities). Second placed Nine Network was way back at 12.5%, followed by ABC (7.5%), Ten (6.2%) and SBS (3.9%).
The match — which saw England beat Australia 3-1 and ended the Matildas’ run to the grand final — reached an average of 4,495,000 viewers in the five cities measured by OzTAM. Combined with regional markets, the number rose to 6.17 million viewers, plus an additional 957,000 watching through 7plus.
Seven reports that as many as 11.15 million viewers watched at least some of the telecast over the duration. Seven also points out that broadcast figures do not include out-of-home viewing at venues such as pubs or live sites held at sporting stadiums.
It ranks as the most watched program in Australia since OzTAM records started in 2001, surpassing previous highly-rated events such as the Men’s Final at the 2005 Australian Open and MasterChef Australia — The Winner Announced in 2010. Both events averaged over four million viewers across OzTAM’s five cities.
The Matildas will now take on Sweden in the play off for third place, from 5.30pm AEST on 19 August, on Seven and 7plus.
The Final between England and Spain starts from 7.00pm AEST, on Seven and 7plus on 20 August.
Source: Seven West Media
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