Once again all eyes were on the new VOZ TV ratings numbers that launched on Monday. Or, more to the point, their alleged legitimacy.
Updated 2/2/23: Added statement from OzTAM CEO Karen Halligan.
Predictably, MAFS topped the ratings sheet last night with a national reach of 2.34 million! Sure, no surprises there.
However, it was the efforts of little known Nine program Emergency (1.193 million) that’s starting to ask the real questions. The ambo reality show was the sixth most watched show last night, despite typically reporting fairly low numbers back in its OzTAM reporting days.
Coincidentally, Emergency followed directly after MAFS and as viewers only have to watch a single minute of a program for it to register with VOZ, it’s pretty clear MAFS viewers didn’t switch directly over to Netflix when they got up to go to the lavatory post-MAFS.
“There is no legitimacy question here. VOZ is produced via the same methodologies that have been used to provide broadcast & BVOD viewership data for many years. The reach and average audience figures in the new VOZ reports offer richer insights of viewership, including BVOD,” OzTAM CEO Karen Halligan said in a statement.
“The VOZ Total TV daily report is the most detailed, transparent, and comprehensive public report of any media. No other medium reports daily audience at a granular, national level, and makes them publicly available.
“Historically, programs have always benefited from high lead-in audiences from prior programs. This is more pronounced when we look at the reach metric, which is why the report also contains the national total TV average audience. Both are relevant, established metrics in media measurement and both paint the complete picture of last night’s viewing.
“It is important to note that OzTAM is independently audited, and the VOZ measurement system was developed with thorough industry participation and transparency. It is world-leading in its detail and methodology,” she added.
Anyway, here’s last night’s top 30 shows:
