Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Not only was Optus Stadium packed for the highly-anticipated return of AFL Origin, but viewers across Australia tuned in to watch Western Australia battle Victoria on Saturday night.
The historic clash was a ratings smash-hit, with nearly two million Australians tuning in on Seven and 7PLUS to watch Victoria claim a 24-point victory over Western Australia in what was the first State against State clash since 1999.
The average TV audience was 843,000, which was up 34 per cent on last year’s full season average, while over on 7plus Sport it was streamed by more than 182,000 viewers, up 227 per cent on the 2025 season average and 41 per cent on the finals.
Channel 7 had a blockbuster ensemble of commentators led by play-by-play icons Brian Taylor and James Brashaw, with Seven’s experts Kane Cornes and Luke Hodge sharing their knowledge.
They were joined by Abbey Holmes and West Coast great Nic Naitanui who were on the boundary.
Seven’s head of AFL and Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe said AFL Origin’s return was a resounding success with both fans and players.
“This morning’s exclusive announcement on Sunrise confirming Origin will return next year is incredibly exciting,” he said.
“We look forward to working closely with the AFL again to build on this momentum and make it even bigger and better in 2027.
“Our attention now turns to delivering an exceptional broadcast experience for the 2026 AFL Premiership Season, starting with opening night at the SCG between the Sydney Swans and Carlton on Thursday, March 5, live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.”
Seven’s National Sport Sales Director, Rob Maclean, said: “Seven’s major events and sport this past year have delivered consistent total TV growth, fuelled by a surge in streaming audiences. The strength of the AFL Origin audience across Seven and 7plus is further evidence of the value of live sport in today’s landscape.
“7plus is playing an increasingly important role for brands wanting to connect with footy-loving audiences. AFL Origin’s streaming audience, well above the 2025 season average, highlights the scale of that opportunity.”
Seven’s coverage of the 2025 AFL Grand Final reached 6.2 million Australians, with an average total TV audience of 4.18 million. It scored a record audience on 7plus Sport, with 985,000 streaming the match alone, up 51 per cent year-on-year.
The Grand Final capped off a stellar 2025 AFL season for Seven, which reached 17.4 million Australians, including 4.4 million on 7plus Sport.
The 2025 full season average audience was 630,000, while an average of 1.05 million tuned in for the Finals series – up five per cent on 2024.
The 2026 AFL Premiership Season begins on Thursday, 5 March, live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, with the Sydney hosting Carlton at the SCG in what will be Charlie Curnow’s first game for the Swans since crossing from the Blues.
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