image source - Fairfax
Sunday evening's 2017 A-League Grand Final was the most watched Hyundai A-League match on Fox Sports ever following the release of preliminary broadcast figures overnight.
With an average of 367,000 viewers, and a peak of 553,000 this number was a 10% increase on the previous highest 2014 Grand Final between the Brisbane Roar FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
On free-to-air, the delayed coverage on SBS VICELAND was the most watched FTA multichannel program across metro and regional markets with an averaged combined audience of 303,000 in Metro and Regional market.
Coverage on SBS VICELAND peaked at 465,000 (340,000 Metro and 125,000 Regional). SBS Network also had its highest Sunday evening Metro Audience Share for 2017 YTD (10.1%).
"On top of a sold-out match, the broadcast numbers for the Hyundai A-League 2017 Grand Final were truly outstanding," said Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO David Gallop.
"This confirms that football is entitled to be ambitious and confident in its future. No other code could match the atmosphere last night."
"Credit must go to Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory who provided such an enthralling and compelling match topped off by the drama of a penalty shoot-out.
"I'd like to thank football fans around the nation who tuned in and welcome the many people who were watching for the first time.
"I would also like to thank personally Patrick Delany and his team at Fox Sports for once again producing such a fantastic broadcast. Fox Sports really are the leaders in the production of live sport in Australia and around the world.
"With the Hyundai A-League 2017 Grand Final broadcast to 115 Territories globally, this could very well be the most watched Hyundai A-League match in history.
"As we continue our core strategic focus to convert football's massive grassroots participation into Hyundai A-League fans, we are confident we will to continue to grow television audiences over the life of our new broadcast deal with Fox Sports," concluded Gallop.