Over 7 Million Australians Watch Women’s World Cup Semi-Final Defeat

The Matildas’ dramatic Women’s World Cup semi-final defeat to England yesterday was reportedly viewed by nine in ten Australians watching televison last night according to the Seven Network.

The incredible figures, which do not include those watching live on other streaming platforms, are set to make the match the most-watched television broadcast in Australia since records began.

An average audience of 7.13 million watched the game played at Stadium Australia in Sydney on the Seven Network. This figure is comprised of a broadcast audience of 6.17 on terrestrial television plus another 957,000 who watched on the channel’s streaming service 7plus. This would make the match the most-viewed single broadcast since the ratings began in 2001.

The television viewership reached a peak of 6.9 million which amounts to an audience share of 89.8%. This means at that point, nine out of ten Australians watching televison, were tuned into the Women’s World Cup semi-final.

The viewing figures released by Seven have grown throughout the tournament for matches involving the Austalian women’s national team, known as The Matildas. An average of 1.94 million tuned in for their opening match victory over the Republic of Ireland, 2.42 million saw the decisive group-stage win over Canada.

As the knockout stages began, these numbers surged once more. An average of 3.56 million saw the Round of 16 victory over Denmark, which made it the most-watched broadcast in Australia in 2023. It was a record that was surpassed five days later when 6.2 million watched the heart-stopping penalty shoot-out win over France in the quarter-finals.

These early ratings are based on what is known as the OzTAM Five City Metro Average which is the viewership on panels within the five largest cities within the country – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. It does not include viewership in regional parts of the country which comprise 40% of Australia’s population of 25.69 million.

The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 was watched by six million Australians, a figure which was the aggregate of simultaneous broadcast across the four major networks – ABC, Seven, Network 9 and Network 10.

The previous record based on OzTAM ratings for a sporting event was the 4.1 million average who watched the 2022 Australian Open women’s singles final from Melbourne on Channel Nine. Australian Ashleigh Barty defeated Danielle Collins in straight sets to become the first Australian to win at Flinders Park in 44 years.

In 2005, 4.04 million watched another local tennis player, Lleyton Hewitt lose the men’s singles final at the Australian Open to Marat Safin on the Seven Network. Two years before that, 4.02 million watched another World Cup match between Australia and England at Stadium Australia, the final of the Rugby Union World Cup, also won by England.

It is estimated that 8.8 million Australians watched athlete Cathy Freeman run to win Gold in the 400m final at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, a victory that inspired many of the current generation of Matildas. Once ratings from the host subscription broadcaster for the tournament, Optus Sport, are included, it is anticipated that last night’s match will also surpass that figure.

In a statement, Seven Melbourne’s Managing Director and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin said “Australia was captivated last night as the Matildas played their hearts out and did us all proud.”

“Although their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 journey ended last night, the Matildas have re-written the history books and captured the hearts and minds of the nation with a performance that is sure to inspire generations of Australians for many years to come. The Matildas’ performance captured the Australian spirit like nothing we have seen in decades.”

Speaking after the match, which Australia lost 3-1 to the European champions, England, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said “it’s bigger than ninety minutes of football. We’re very disappointed that we lost, but hopefully we won something else. We won the heart and the passion for this team in this country.”