The Seven Network is reporting that the channel has taken the crown in 2023, marking the third year in a row that Seven has claimed the most-watched network.
This result means Seven has come out on top in 15 of the past 17 years, including this year.
With the official 2023 ratings year set to end on December 2, Seven reports that it is in an unbeatable position nationally.
So far this survey year, which started on February 12, Seven reports a 42.3% commercial share nationally in all people, 40.8% in the capital cities and 45.2% in regional Australia. It also reports a national lead in 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s and total shoppers.
In the calendar year to date (1 January to 7 October), Seven reports being number one nationally in total people and 25 to 54s.
Across the calendar year to date, Seven reports the top position nationally in 26 weeks and #1 in the capital cities in 21 weeks.
Every month, Seven reports a reach of more than 17 million people nationally across broadcast and digital. The audience of 7plus has jumped 17% during 2023 and it has a 36% share of the BVOD market year-to-date.
Seven’s 2023 Programming
Seven reports that the top five most-watched programs so far in 2023 were all on Seven, with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Semi Final between the Matildas and England at #1 with 7.32 million total TV viewers (broadcast and BVOD).
The Matildas’ Semi Final was the most-watched TV program in more than two decades and reached more than 11 million people. It was also the most streamed event ever in Australia, with 957,000 viewers on 7plus.
So far this year, all of Seven’s sport coverage has reached more than 18 million people. The AFL Grand Final reached 4.98 million and delivered an average total TV audience of 3.75 million.
Almost 18.6 million Australians watched the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 tournament across the screens of Seven, including 14.76 million reached on broadcast and 3.82 million on 7plus.
Seven’s Dancing With The Stars, Farmer Wants A Wife and My Kitchen Rules are three of the four fastest-growing 7.30pm shows across all commercial networks this year. Seven also launched what it reports as the top new entertainment series of the year: The 1% Club.
The Chase Australia is the top game show and Home and Away and RFDS are the most watched local drama series on commercial TV. Better Homes and Gardens is the top lifestyle show on commercial TV.
Seven claims that 7NEWS is the top news bulletin of 2023 nationally and in the capital cities – with its biggest lead nationally since 2019 – and Sunrise is the top breakfast TV program for the 20th year in a row. Both have ranked #1 every single week this year. The Morning Show is claiming the top spot for morning TV in 2023, meaning it has ranked #1 for the past 16 years.
“No fine print, no disclaimers”
Seven West Media managing director and chief executive officer, James Warburton, said: “Seven is the clear winner in 2023 – no fine print, no disclaimers.
“The success of our content across all screens has once again made Seven the most watched broadcast and digital network in Australia, including across the capital cities and in every state. Seven is home to the most popular news, sport and local drama content and many of our entertainment shows have grown their audiences this year.
“7plus keeps going from strength to strength and will jump to a whole new level from late next year, when we add AFL and then cricket digital rights,” he said.
“Seven invests in and creates great content. In fact, we are the leaders in content. That’s why we have been the most watched network for 15 of the past 17 years.
“From breakfast right through the day and into the night, Australians vote with their eyeballs and turn to Seven more than any other network. Thank you to all our viewers and to the talented, hard-working team at Seven,” Warburton said.
James Warburton
Seven West Media chief revenue officer, Kurt Burnette, said: “Being the most watched network translates to the biggest opportunity for brands to engage with their current and future customers. Every single day, we provide brands with the platforms and powerful cultural moments to reach millions of Australians and we will continue to do so in 2024.
“Importantly, Seven’s focus on convergence and total TV is helping clients and agencies navigate through an evolving landscape and providing them a competitive edge in a noisy media world where reach and attention is everything. We have the audiences, and we have the insights and understanding of those audiences to enable clients to be more agile and sweat every dollar they invest with us.
“We are incredibly proud of the work we have done this year with our client and agency partners who leveraged our powerful assets to weave their brands authentically into the stories of Seven. Be it the AFL, cricket, Supercars, The Voice, My Kitchen Rules or Farmer Wants A Wife, powerful integration delivers incredible results,” he said.
Kurt Burnette
By The Numbers
The numbers Seven are reporting for 2023 so far are:
National free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Survey year:
Seven Network 42.3%
Nine Network 36.6%
Network Ten 21.1%
National free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Calendar year:
Seven Network 41.9%
Nine Network 36.9%
Network Ten 21.2%
Capital city free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Survey year:
Seven Network 40.8%
Nine Network 38.3%
Network Ten 20.9%
Capital city free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Calendar year:
Seven Network 40.2%
Nine Network 38.8%
Network Ten 21.0%
Regional free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Survey year:
Seven Network 45.2%
Nine Network 33.1%
Network Ten 21.7%
Regional free-to-air network commercial shares (%) Calendar year:
Seven Network 45.2%
Nine Network 33.1%
Network Ten 21.7%
See Also: Seven Network reveals its lineup of speakers, stars and senior executives for SXSW Sydney 2023