Nothing To See Here

The National Rugby League is "nowhere near hitting the panic button" despite a 5.3% drop in total TV ratings through the first three rounds of the '19 season. Last year, the league "trumped" the Australian Football League in the fight for viewership for the first time since '10. While AFL viewership has remained "relatively stagnant" through its first two rounds this year, NRL ratings have dropped. Viewership has reportedly fallen 6.3% on Nine's free-to-air coverage and 4.3% on Foxtel when compared to figures after three rounds last year. A total of 12.3 million viewers for the opening three rounds last year has fallen to 11.7 million this season. Streaming via Kayo, Nine Now and Telstra Live Pass is not included in the ratings, "leaving some question mark as to the accuracy of the figures" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/3).