News Corp Australia have announced that interest in the FIFA Women’s World Cup has intensified with news.com.au’s traffic for the Matildas’ quarter-final match soaring 90 per cent compared with their first match against Ireland.
The quarter-finals coverage has so far generated a quarter of the site’s total World Cup 2023 traffic, which has generated more than 6.7 million page views since kick-off on July 20.
News.com.au editor-in-chief Lisa Muxworthy said: “We have all the talking points covered, whether it’s the moment Sam Kerr gave her match-worn shirt to a young fan after defeating France or Ellie Carpenter’s epic, visceral reaction to the penalty shootout win.”
News Corp Australia also reports that their other sites are also seeing an uplift.
Average daily page views for CODE Sports, the company’s dedicated premium sports platform, have increased by more than 50 per cent from the start of the World Cup, and average daily unique visitors have increased by more than 46 per cent compared with the rest of this year.
Digital editions of state-based and regional mastheads have seen an uplift over the past five weeks with an incremental 2.86 million page views. State-based masthead apps such as the Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph have also reported an uptick in interest.
Today’s print editions of The Daily Tillygraph (NSW), Herald Sam (VIC), The Kerr-ier Mail (QLD) and The AdvertisKerr (SA) will feature 16-page wraps, including colour posters of Mary Fowler and Mackenzie Arnold. A special glossy Sam Kerr face mask and Go Matildas sign will also be inserted in every edition.
Muxworthy said Australians were embracing multiple screens for all their Matilda news and information.
“Australians are embracing the ultimate second screen experience – watching the live broadcast and heading to news.com.au for all the moments they might have missed during the coverage,” Muxworthy said.
“News.com.au tells the stories about the team that new fans might not know, like why Mary Fowler wears gloves while playing, the story behind Hayley Raso’s ribbon in her hair, and why Sam Kerr hid her gender when playing AFL as a child.
“News.com.au is the perfect companion while watching live and we will be delivering all the best angles tonight as Australia takes on England in the semi-final.”
News.com.au has also turned its logo green and gold and will have a message board live today for fans to leave messages of support for the Matildas ahead of tonight’s semi-final against England.
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