Watching sport on TV is a defining part of an Australian summer, bringing people together in living rooms and communities across the country. This was proven once again over the holiday season, with millions tuning in for both tennis and cricket.
The Australian Open (AO) on Nine delivered another electrifying fortnight of world-class tennis, captivating audiences nationwide. The 2025 tournament reached an impressive 13.1 million Australians across Total TV (TV: 11.3M | BVOD: 3.3M), marking a 1.7% year-on-year increase.
Streaming continues to reshape how Australians experience live sport, with 9Now attracting 1.8 million exclusive viewers across the two weeks of the Australian Open. BVOD delivered an impressive 34% incremental increase to Broadcast TV among viewers aged 16-39.
From city apartments to regional towns, Australians are embracing new ways to connect with the biggest sporting moments, and the AO’s growing digital audience proves that live sport remains a must-watch event for all.
Similarly, the Seven Network’s cricket coverage was a summer highlight. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series between Australia and India was hailed as one of the most exciting in recent history, reaching 13.4 million viewers across Seven and 7plus, with average audiences up 39% compared to last summer.
Cricket fever continued with the Big Bash League (BBL), which has reached 11.5 million viewers so far this season – a 20% increase on Seven and 7plus compared to last summer. Notably, this season delivered BBL’s biggest audience on Seven in five years, cementing its place as a summer staple for Australian sports fans.
Riveting matches, packed stadia, a shorter season, and an incredibly tight race to the Finals have cemented BBL’s standing as one of the most exciting sporting competitions in the world.
Bridget Fair believes the importance of free access to sport to Australians cannot be underestimated. “Only through our total Free TV offering across broadcast and free streaming can Australians be assured of being able to watch iconic sporting moments, genuinely for free, regardless of where they live or work. The audience numbers for sports viewing this summer demonstrate that watching sport continues to be an integral part of the Australian summer.”