The first week of the 2022 FIFA World CupTM has driven phenomenal audiences to SBS across both its linear and digital channels, via SBS OnDemand, with the most watched match of the tournament to 24 November being Australia v France, with an average audience of 1.001m viewers.
This match drew the highest average linear television audience at 711,000 viewers, with an average live BVOD audience of 270,000. Argentina v Saudi Arabia, was the next most watched, with an average audience of 877,00, including a live viewership of 868,000 viewers across linear (546,000) and live BVOD (322,000).
In total, the 2022 FIFA World CupTM Â matches have had a linear reach on the SBS primary channel of 3.35 million viewers tuning in to 24 November. Amid the growth of digital viewing, many Australians have chosen to watch via SBS On Demand, with some games seeing nearing 40% of their audience coming via online, and a total of 251 million minutes of football content consumed in the first week of the event.
The five most watched World Cup matches on SBS including VOD up to 24 November are: Australia v France, 23 Nov 05:00
METRO | REGIONAL | BVOD (LIVE) | BVOD (VOD) | TOTAL* | |
AVERAGE AUDIENCE | 551k | 160k | 270K | 20k | 1.001m |
Argentina v Saudi Arabia, 22 Nov 20:30 |
METRO | REGIONAL | BVOD (LIVE) | BVOD (VOD) | TOTAL* | |
AVERAGE AUDIENCE | 439k | 107k | 322K | 9k | 877k |
Morocco v Croatia, 23 Nov 20:30 |
METRO | REGIONAL | BVOD (LIVE) | BVOD (VOD) | TOTAL* | |
AVERAGE AUDIENCE | 362k | 73k | 212K | 2k | 649k |
Switzerland v Cameroon, 24 Nov 20:30 |
METRO | REGIONAL | BVOD (LIVE) | BVOD (VOD) | TOTAL* | |
AVERAGE AUDIENCE | 339k | 79k | 180K | -k | 598k |
England v Iran, 21 Nov 23:30 |
METRO | REGIONAL | BVOD (LIVE) | BVOD (VOD) | TOTAL* | |
AVERAGE AUDIENCE | 198k | 37k | 163K | 31k | 429k |
 *TOTAL = Metro + Regional + BVOD (LIVE) + BVOD (VOD) Source:  OzTAM (Metro, VPM), Regional TAM, Reach based on 1 min |
Media Release – SBS