SBS’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup’s bronze medal match topped weekend ratings.
A massive 2.759 million Australians tuned in to the broadcast early Sunday morning, with an average audience of 1.402 million, making it comfortably the biggest program of the weekend.
SBS’s post-match coverage reached 1.81 million viewers and averaging 818,000.
Bukayo Saka scored three goals to lead England to a famous 6-4 win over France to secure third place, while Kylian Mbappé brace saw him with the Golden Boot ahead of Lionel Messi.
It was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary beat the might of El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.
Outside of football, Seven’s finale of Farmer Wants A Wife posted solid numbers, reaching 2.19 million viewers and an average audience of 1.15 million, making it the highest-rating entertainment program during prime time on Sunday.
Yvonne stunned viewers by leaving Farmer Wants A Wife on Sunday night before farmer Jarrad could reveal his final choice — Brodie, while Scarlett was eliminated when Dylan chose Ally in the finale.
Nine’s 9News Sunday split the two heavyweights, reaching 2.201 million viewers and averaging 1.357 million, while Seven News also delivered another solid bulletin with a reach of 1.96 million.
Entertainment remained competitive later in the evening. Lego Masters Bricktacular built an audience of 1.796 million for Nine, while MasterChef Australia continued its consistent run on 10 with a reach of just over one million viewers. Seven’s 7News Spotlight also performed well, attracting 1.346 million Australians.
Sport remained front and centre across the commercial broadcasters however, with Nine’s Sunday afternoon NRL reaching 1.202 million viewers, while Seven’s AFL coverage cracked the million-mark with a reach of 1.016 million.
On Saturday, Seven News topped the day with a reach of 1.693 million viewers, ahead of Nine News on 1.506 million.
The Wallabies’ clash against Italy gave Nine one of its strongest Saturday sporting audiences of the year, reaching 1.104 million viewers, with the pre-match coverage also pulling in an impressive 838,000.
Away from sport, Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens continued its dependable performance, reaching 1.057 million Australians, while Nine’s long-running travel favourite Getaway attracted 856,000 viewers. ABC also enjoyed a strong night, with Cooper & Fry reaching 802,000 before its second episode retained much of that audience with 609,000 viewers.
Network 10’s biggest entertainment performer was Selling Houses Australia, reaching 532,000 viewers.
On Friday night, Aussie audiences were all over the footy.
Seven’s Friday Night AFL coverage comfortably topped the ratings, reaching 2.092 million viewers and averaging 695,000, making it the biggest Friday night program across all networks.
News remained a powerful lead-in, with Seven News reaching 1.901 million viewers ahead of Nine News on 1.672 million.
Nine fought back in entertainment and sport throughout the evening. Tipping Point Australia continued its remarkable run, reaching 1.393 million viewers before Friday Night NRL Live attracted 1.328 million. A Current Affair also crossed the one-million reach mark with 1.174 million viewers.
Seven’s The Chase Australia remained one of television’s most reliable performers with a reach of 1.314 million, while Better Homes and Gardens rounded out the network’s successful Friday schedule with 886,000 viewers.
ABC’s biggest entertainment offering was Monty Don’s British Gardens, which reached 831,000 viewers, while SBS continued its Tour de France coverage with Stage 13 reaching 475,000 Australians.
