The biggest Sydney audience in the history of OzTAM ratings for any program on the Nine Network has celebrated the NSW VB Blues’ stunning 16-12 victory over the XXXX Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium last night.
An average Sydney audience of 1.199 million viewers on the Nine Network tuned in as the VB Blues forced a series-deciding match in front of a record crowd of 83,110 fans – the biggest attendance at a Sydney Origin since the reconfiguration of ANZ Stadium following the 2000 Olympics.
The OzTAM ratings, introduced in 2001, recorded the largest Sydney audience in Harvey Norman State of Origin history and placed last night’s match as the third highest rating program in Sydney ever across all networks.
A national average audience of 3.865 million viewers tuned in across the Nine, WIN and NBN networks, the second largest audience in Origin history after Game 1 of this year’s series (3.957m).
Across the five capital cities on Channel Nine, 2.495 million average viewers tuned in – again the second highest in Origin history after Game One of this year’s series (2.515m).
Across regional Australia, the match was also the second highest rating Origin match ever, with an average audience of 1.370 million.
The match was the most watched in Origin history in Melbourne, with a record average audience of 370,000 viewers, and the highest rating Game Two in history.
It was an outstanding result for a remarkable game,” ARL Commission Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, said today.
“Origin keeps setting new benchmarks in Australian sport with the series selling out in every state and setting new ratings records with each match.”
Nine Network Managing Director, Mr Jeffrey Browne, said: “The contest was as great as the concept.
“We salute the players, the best in the world, and their coaches Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga, who do so much to promote Origin.
“It doesn’t get any better. Personally, I’m so proud of our commentators and crew – and how they put together a record-breaking broadcast to once again confirm Nine’s commitment to the great game of Rugby League.”
Game Three of the 2012 Harvey Norman State of Origin Series will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 4.
