It’s only ever happened 3 times in history, and never before for women’s sport. Channel 7 is moving the news. FOR WOMENS FOOTBALL! Can I get a, “Who run the world!”
In an unprecedented move, Channel 7 has agreed to postpone the daily news bulletin to accommodate for the Tillys’ quarter final game against France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday at 5 pm AEST.
Proving how big the occasion is not only for Australian sport but women’s sport, the game is airing on 7’s main channel and they are pushing back their nightly news bulletin.
In history the only other times it’s been pushed back were in 2003 when Steve Waugh hit 100 at the SCG, when Michael Clarke took 3 wickets in the final over of the game to beat India in 2008 and Dylan Alcott’s last ever Australian Open in 2022. It truly shows how much the Matildas have captured the hearts of the nation, in a first for women’s sport.
Channel 7 AFL commentator and former Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker summed up how epic this whole situation really is.
Before the World Cup I wondered whether Seven would put the Matilda’s on the main channel over the AFL? Well Seven have just said they’re putting the Matilda’s on the main channel, pushing back THE NEWS.
Unprecedented.
The news is the anchor of every network. Huge.
— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) August 9, 2023
It comes after the previous round 16 game against Denmark – that sent them into the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter finals – being watched on Channel 7 by more people than last year’s AFL and NRL grand finals.
Millions of people tuned in making it the highest rating TV program of 2023, not only claiming bragging rights over the AFL and NRL’s main events from 2022, but also beating all of this year’s State of Origin battles in rugby league and all huge reality TV shows.
The Matildas’ victory reached an incredible 6.54 million people on Seven and 7plus, with an average audience during the game of 3.56 million.
The game’s average audience of 3.56 million included a national broadcast audience of 3.18 million viewers on Seven (2.29 million in the capital cities) and another 384,000 viewers on 7plus.
All we can say, is YEAH THE GIRLS. Bring on Saturday, and watching the full game on the biggest channel. Go Matildas!
