The only traditional television I have watched in the last couple of years is the Australian rugby union team, the Wallabies test matches and most recently the World Series Rugby Competition and the team Western Force. This year I have managed to watch some of my favourite television dramas and comedies via catch up TV.
Australian television programs like sport and reality continue to do well in the ratings. The reason sport continues to do well is because yes, Australians do love their sport and sport is in our DNA but they also televise local teams and competitions. Also these programs are not competing with pirated content that has been previously shown in other countries.
The commentator did not mention that Australian free-to-air television stations have failed to attract viewers for many overseas dramas and comedies because of irregular programming, because they know these programs do not do well in the ratings because most fans have access to pirated content. Having access to regular content is essential for fans participating in television based fandoms.
Australian free-TV-air television stations put money into sporting broadcasting rights rather than other content choosing instead to supplement their programming with cheap overseas re-runs.
Pay television dramas seem to rate well because they are shown almost simultaneously in all countries and have worked to stop Australians having access to piracy and illegal means.
I have copied the article below which has been edited for copyright reasons. No copyright infringement intended.
Australian television programs like sport and reality continue to do well in the ratings. The reason sport continues to do well is because yes, Australians do love their sport and sport is in our DNA but they also televise local teams and competitions. Also these programs are not competing with pirated content that has been previously shown in other countries.
The commentator did not mention that Australian free-to-air television stations have failed to attract viewers for many overseas dramas and comedies because of irregular programming, because they know these programs do not do well in the ratings because most fans have access to pirated content. Having access to regular content is essential for fans participating in television based fandoms.
Australian free-TV-air television stations put money into sporting broadcasting rights rather than other content choosing instead to supplement their programming with cheap overseas re-runs.
Pay television dramas seem to rate well because they are shown almost simultaneously in all countries and have worked to stop Australians having access to piracy and illegal means.
I have copied the article below which has been edited for copyright reasons. No copyright infringement intended.
'Ratings illustrate Aussie TV trends.' published in The West Australian on 10 May, 2018.
A comparison of the most-watched programs over the past two decades shows how audience appetite have changed - and stayed the same.
Some things never change. While reality has taken hold as its own genre, Australia’s love affair with sport has remained the one constant on our television screens over the past two decades.
To illustrate the point, Today has collated viewing figures for the highest-rating shows of 1997, 2007 and 2017.
“This snapshot catalogues accurately the changing tastes of Aussies over the past 20 years,” Mediaweek editor and commentator James Manning says.
“In 1997, nine movies flooded the top 20 and there was no reality TV big enough to register on the list. There was also home for scripted drama in the top 20 back then.
“Just 10 years later, movies had all but disappeared from the chart and reality was making its mark via Dancing With The Stars, The Biggest Loser and Big Brother.
“Fast forward another decade and drama has disappeared, reality strengthened its grip as a significant draw card.
“The only significant presence across the two decades is sport, which is why we still see networks forking out big cash for broadcast rights.” Manning points towards a broader dilution of the viewing market, with the rise of Foxtel and streaming platforms such as Netflix and Stan delivering quality drama.
“We’ve seen drama take less of a front seat on the free-to-air platforms,” he says. “But then look at Foxtel’s Picnic at Hanging Rock . . . and the huge international success of shows like Wentworth. They show there’s an audience for drama still, people are just more targeted in their viewing.”
Sport too has a bigger profile. A recent example is the Seven network, together with Fox Sports, wrestling the cricket rights from free-to-air broadcasters Nine and Ten. Mario D’Orazio, managing director of Seven Perth, says sport has always been a cornerstone of local programming and the landmark cricket deal is a game-changer for Australian audiences.
“Channel Seven Perth has a long history of sporting excellence,” he says. “We’ve been long-time supporters of the WAFL, we were on the spot when West Coast Eagles played their very first game in the AFL, and on the spot when the Dockers made their debut.
“We know West Australians love their sport, from footy to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. We’re particularly proud to be the new home of cricket in WA, and we’re already making big plans to take the game to a new level.”
“Sport is part of Australian’s DNA,” Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delaney adds. “We are a sports-loving nation and there is nothing like watching your team in the heat of the battle. It’s the best unscripted drama of all. So it should come as no surprise that the popularity and demand to watch live sport continues to soar.”
