Last night’s NRL decider between the Storm and the Panthers pulled 2.103 million viewers according to OzTAM metro numbers.
Some 1.145 million tuned in for the pre-match entertainment and 1.290 hung around to see Cameron Smith lift the trophy.
The numbers were up on last year’s grand final between the Roosters and Raiders that peaked at 1.86 million.
Meanwhile, some 285,000 watched the women’s curtain raiser and 355,000 watched the presentation.
However, the AFL again proved its credentials as the premier footy code, Saturday night’s grand final between Richmond and Geelong pulling a very impressive 2.9 million. Some 1.583 watched in Melbourne, which was the biggest Melbourne audience ever.
On the back of last night’s footy, as expected, Nine totally dominated the night, taking home 49.3 per cent of all of the evening’s eyeballs (all channels). Seven had 20 per cent, the ABC pulled 13.5 per cent, 10 could only muster 10.9 per cent and SBS did 6.2 per cent.
Other doers for Seven included its 6pm news (1.078 million), Billion Dollar Cruises: All At Sea (454,000) and the movie A Star Is Born (284,000).
10’s best was The Sunday Project (394,000) and 10 News First (321,000).
The ABC’s evening ran thus: 7pm news (636,000), Restoration Australia (494,000) and Grantchester (431,000).