Television ratings in Australia

Television ratings in Australia
1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
2012
Television in Australia

Television ratings in Australia are collected by three main organisations: OzTAM in metropolitan areas, Regional TAM in regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks, Nielsen Media Research Australia. Ratings are collected for 40 weeks during the year, excluding a two-week break during Easter and ten weeks over summer. The majority of locally produced comedy and drama on commercial networks is shown during the ratings period.

History

From 1991 when 2000, 'Nielsen Media Research Australia' was the company that did television ratings in Australia, and from 2001 onwards, OzTAM took over.

Up until the mid 2000s, the Nine Network had generally been the ratings leader in Australia, typically followed by the Seven Network and Network Ten respectively. While Network TEN generally rates lower in total viewers, it has traditionally been the market leader for younger viewers. The two national broadcasters; ABC TV and SBS One typically attract fewer viewers than the three commercial networks due to their various public service obligations.

FOX8, the flagship channel of the Foxtel and Austar services is the most viewed subscription channel.

The 2007 ratings period was unique in that, for the first time since 2000, the Seven Network overtook its rival Nine Network in terms of average viewers.^[1] ABC TV has also, since the early 2000s (decade), seen ratings (as well as audience reach) as a major performance indicator - this has, however, led to a decline in viewers rather than the expected increase. The Nine Network has, in the past, aggressively marketed its long-time ratings dominance through its promotional campaign Still the One.

In 2009 the commercial networks introduced new multichannels; 7Two, GO! and One HD from the Seven, Nine and TEN Networks, respectively. These were followed by 7mate, Gem and ELEVEN in 2010/11. In addition to this the ABC has launched ABC2, ABC3 and ABC News 24 and the SBS, SBS Two. The highest rating multichannels are generally Go!, 7Two and ELEVEN. The addition of these channels has fragmented the market leading to lower individual channel percentages and total viewers for programmes.

In 2011 for the first time since OzTAM record keeping began, the Seven Network won all forty weeks of the official ratings period^[2]

Sporting Events and reality television grand finals are usually top rating events in Australia.

Organisations

There are three main organisations, OzTAM (metropolitan areas), Regional TAM (regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks) and Nielsen Media Research Australia, that measure television ratings in Australia.

They are:

• OzTAM is an Australian television ratings research firm that collects and markets television ratings data. It is jointly owned by the Seven Network, the Nine Network and Network Ten, and is the official source of television ratings data for all metropolitan television in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth as well as subscription services (such as Foxtel) on a national basis.
• Regional TAM is a research firm that provides television ratings for regional television markets with three commercial television operators.
• Nielsen Media Research Australia is an American-based firm that measures media audiences for areas that remain in-aggregated, and of which are today known as diary markets.^[3] Nielsen Media Research began as a division of ACNielsen, a marketing research firm. In 1996, Nielsen Media Research was split off into an independent company, and in 1999 was purchased by the Dutch conglomerate VNU. In 2001, VNU also purchased ACNielsen, thereby bringing both companies under the same corporate umbrella.

See also

• Television in Australia
• Audience measurement
• OzTAM
• Nielsen Media Research

References