NRL Set too Outdraw AFL Grand Final Audience for First Time in a Decade
Sydney, Australia – The national Rugby league (NRL) is projected to surpass the Australian Football League (AFL) in grand final broadcast viewership for the first time in ten years, according to industry sources. This potential milestone comes as both codes head into crucial broadcast rights negotiations.
The anticipated audience surge is fueled by strong preliminary final numbers, especially the Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers match which achieved a record 943,000 viewers on Fox Sports and 1.76 million on Nine. While the final figures will be confirmed on Monday, executives believe the NRL’s performance this year will not dramatically alter the commercial appeal of either code to broadcasters and streamers.both sports consistently deliver large audiences over extended seasons – 30 weeks or more – representing a valuable possibility for television networks.
The upcoming broadcast rights deals are expected to be significant, with both the AFL and NRL vying for lucrative contracts. Channel Seven has already secured exclusive rights to the 2026 rugby League World Cup in Australia for a reported $12 million.
The potential shift in viewership has also sparked debate regarding the NRL grand final’s scheduling. Since 2001, the decider has been held in the evening, but calls are growing to revert to an afternoon kick-off following the high viewership of the afternoon preliminary final. The NRL has confirmed it will discuss grand final timing with broadcasters during the next rights agreement negotiations.
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