I am convinced that the drop in crowds this season have largely been due to the scheduling, primarily selected by Channel 9. Featuring games between the bottom teams weeks before the semis, certainly does not inspire people to go to games, if the TV game is to represent the standard of the NRL. You can say what you like about Monday games, but it looks like Fox pull in over 200,000 viewers a week. For example, the Sunday channel 9 games have been poor selections during the season, missing out on top of the table matches stops the game marketing the spectacle and solely relying on the tribal theme of the game
On another note,
I have been wondering if Channel 9 have got it right by having Brisbane (nearly) every Friday. Looking at the ratings for Rounds 20,21 & 22 and there are some interesting results for the Friday night games.
Round 20 Brisbane v NQ 263k viewers in Brisbane
Round 20 CB v Parra 350k viewers in Sydney
Round 21 Brisbane v Newcastle 254k viewers in Brisbane
Round 21 ES v Penrith 263k viewers in Sydney
Round 22 224k viewers in Brisbane
Round 22 SS v Melbourne 396k viewers in Sydney
Round 22 is an interesting result, no Qld team on the Friday night and the best combined result between the two cities. A top of the table match and nearly 400k viewers in Sydney. Not sure which game aired first in Brisbane, guessing Melb&SS, but it certainly did well in comparison and especially constantly being told that Brisbane has to be on air for the Qld ratings.
Take what you want for this, but boy, it is going to be a long off season!
On another note,
I have been wondering if Channel 9 have got it right by having Brisbane (nearly) every Friday. Looking at the ratings for Rounds 20,21 & 22 and there are some interesting results for the Friday night games.
Round 20 Brisbane v NQ 263k viewers in Brisbane
Round 20 CB v Parra 350k viewers in Sydney
Round 21 Brisbane v Newcastle 254k viewers in Brisbane
Round 21 ES v Penrith 263k viewers in Sydney
Round 22 224k viewers in Brisbane
Round 22 SS v Melbourne 396k viewers in Sydney
Round 22 is an interesting result, no Qld team on the Friday night and the best combined result between the two cities. A top of the table match and nearly 400k viewers in Sydney. Not sure which game aired first in Brisbane, guessing Melb&SS, but it certainly did well in comparison and especially constantly being told that Brisbane has to be on air for the Qld ratings.
Take what you want for this, but boy, it is going to be a long off season!