Nine Network Sweeps Ratings Battle With State Of Origin Broadcast

Nine Network's State of Origin coverage "once again swept all before it, recording another dominant victory in the ratings battle," according to Cameron Mee of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. However, the sport's dominance has "slipped somewhat," with ratings "slightly down on last season's record-breaking Game One." An average of 2.35 million viewers tuned in across the five metro areas to "easily hand" the first installment in the "annual battle between New South Wales and Queensland" a ratings win. With regional areas included, an average of 3.53 million viewers tuned in. Channel Nine's coverage "also collected second and third place," with the pre-show and post-show recording 1.51 million viewers and 1.2 million viewers, respectively. Those figures were "enough to give the telecast the biggest ratings numbers of the year so far," and scored Nine a "hefty" 45.2% of the evening's total audience (SMH, 6/1).