Television ratings in Australia

Television ratings in Australia are collected by three main organisations: OzTAM in metropolitan areas, Regional TAM in regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks, Nielsen Media Research Australia. Ratings are collected for 40 weeks during the year, excluding a two-week break during Easter and ten weeks over summer. The majority of locally produced comedy and drama on commercial networks is shown during the ratings period.

History

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Nine Network has been the ratings leader in Australia, typically followed by the Seven Network and Network Ten. Subscription television and the two national broadcasters, ABC1 and in particular SBS TV, due to its special-interest nature, typically attract fewer viewers than the three commercial networks. FOX8 has been the most viewed subscription channel. Network Ten, due to its programming line-up, has traditionally been the market leader for younger viewers.

The 2007 ratings period was unique in that, for the first time since 2000, the Seven Network overtook its rival Nine Network in terms of average viewers. [ cite web
url = http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-pacificislands.asp?parentid=70786
title = Nine scores ratings goal on back of league draw
accessdate = 2007-06-06
date = 2007-05-29
work = The Age
publisher = AsiaMedia ] ABC1 has also, since the early 2000s, seen ratings (as well as audience reach) as a major performance indicator - this has, however, led to a decline in viewers rather than the expected increase. The Nine Network has, in the past, aggressively marketed its long-time ratings dominance through its promotional campaign Still the One.

Organisations

There are three main organisations: OzTAM in metropolitan areas, Regional TAM in regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks, Nielsen Media Research Australia, that measure television ratings in Australia.

OzTAM

OzTAM is an Australian television ratings research firm that collects and markets television ratings data. It is jointly owned by the Seven Network, the Nine Network and Network Ten, and is the official source of television ratings data for all metropolitan television in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth as well as subscription services (such as Foxtel) on a national basis.

Regional TAM

Regional TAM is a research firm that provides television ratings for regional television markets with three commercial television operators.

Nielsen Media Research Australia

Nielsen Media Research Australia is an American based firm that measures media audiences for areas that remain un-aggregated, and of which are today known as diary markets. [ cite web
title = Regional Television Diary
publisher = Nielsen Media Research
url = http://www.nielsenmedia.com.au/MRI_pages.asp?MRIID=21
year = 2007
accessdate = 2007-07-15 ] Nielsen Media Research began as a division of ACNielsen, a marketing research firm. In 1996, Nielsen Media Research was split off into an independent company, and in 1999 was purchased by the Dutch conglomerate VNU. In 2001, VNU also purchased ACNielsen, thereby bringing both companies under the same corporate umbrella.

References

ee also

* Television in Australia
* Television Ratings
* OzTAM
* Nielsen Media Research Australia

External links

* [http://blogs.smh.com.au/sit/archives/the_tribal_mind/index.html Tribal Mind]