Seven topped the overnight TV ratings across the whole weekend, thanks to its broadcast of the Rugby League World Cup.
The exclusive deal worth around $12 million seems to be paying dividends with the World cup topping the entertainment ranks on OzTAMS’s TV Ratings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The only night it didn’t win the night was on Sunday — edged out by Nine’s The Block.
It’s not the first time Seven has had the rights for the World Cup. It was also the home of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
The biggest audience it received was on Saturday night, when it showcased the blockbuster match between Tonga and England. Tonga’s dream start to the competition was broadcasted to a total TV national reach of 2.4 million and a national average audience of 1.03 million.
The game was an absolute cracker, with Tonga clinching an important 30-12 victory. The win puts the nation in good stead for a semi-final showdown with either Australia or England.
Seven also capitalised on the Saturday with vision of Horse Racing. Headlined by the 10th running of The Everest and the 150th Caulfield Cup, Seven pulled in a reach of 1.5 million and an average audience of 295,000.
Both the rugby league and horse racing did better numbers than Nine’s vision of the Bledisloe Cup. The game played in Sydney on Saturday afternoon between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks grabbed a reach of 1.38 million and an average audience of 537,000.
New Zealand continued its dominance in the annual rugby union competition between the two nations, winning the 2026 Bledisloe Cup series 2-0 against Australia to secure the trophy for the 23rd consecutive year.
There wasn’t much hope amongst Aussie’s following New Zealand’s dominate 50-19 obliteration the week before in New Zealand. And Nine’s broadcast showed why, with the All Blacks doing another number on the Australians. A more flattering 43-21 score line helped New Zealand when its 13th straight test against the Wallabies.
Australia will now turn its attention to England for the upcoming Nations Championship.
