Friday TV Ratings: Seven News wins as AFL dominates and FIFA World Cup lifts SBS

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Friday TV Ratings: Seven News wins as AFL dominates and FIFA World Cup lifts SBS – Seven News was Australia’s most-watched program on Friday night, finishing ahead of 9News in both reach and average audience. Seven’s AFL: Friday Night Football delivered another strong result for the network, while Better Homes and Gardens remained a consistent entertainment performer.

SBS enjoyed a rare surge into the Total People Top 30 as the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup attracted substantial audiences, demonstrating the tournament’s immediate impact on the overnight ratings landscape.

News

ProgramReachAverage AudienceBVOD
Seven News1,986,0001,269,000150,000
9News1,868,0001,144,000198,000
10 News615,000291,00026,000
ABC News1,124,000812,00051,000

Breakfast Television

ProgramReachAverage AudienceBVOD
Sunrise999,000434,00063,000
Today724,000289,00065,000
News Breakfast660,000230,00024,000

Morning Shows

ProgramReachAverage AudienceBVOD
The Morning Show646,000282,00041,000
Today ExtraNot in Top 30Not in Top 30Not in Top 30
ABC News Mornings529,000107,00014,000

Afternoon News

ProgramReachAverage AudienceBVOD
Seven News at 4704,000357,00043,000
9News Afternoon695,000362,00053,000

Game Shows

ProgramReachAverage AudienceBVOD
The Chase Australia1,379,000695,00085,000
Tipping Point Australia1,428,000779,000126,000
Seven

Seven News ranked as the number one program nationally, recording a reach audience of 1,986,000 viewers, which was a lead of 118,000 viewers over 9News. Seven News also achieved an average audience of 1,269,000 viewers, representing a lead of 125,000 viewers over 9News.

Friday Night Countdown reached 552,000 viewers nationally and averaged 276,000 viewers before Seven’s AFL: Friday Night Football reached 1,705,000 viewers nationally, with a national average audience of 565,000 and a BVOD audience of 87,000. Better Homes and Gardens followed with a reach audience of 937,000 viewers and a national average audience of 480,000. Farmer Wants a Wife – Encore later reached 588,000 viewers nationally and averaged 139,000 viewers.

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Nine

TV Central does not currently provide analysis for Channel 9.

10

Selling Houses Australia RPT reached 534,000 viewers nationally and recorded a national average audience of 245,000, alongside a BVOD audience of 15,000.

ABC

Gardening Australia reached 937,000 viewers nationally and achieved a national average audience of 523,000. Shetland followed with a reach audience of 647,000 viewers and a national average audience of 392,000.

Hard Quiz S7 RPT reached 678,000 viewers nationally and recorded a national average audience of 403,000.

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SBS

SBS delivered an unusually strong overnight performance thanks to coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Korea v Czech Republic match reached 1,050,000 viewers nationally, with a national average audience of 506,000 and a BVOD audience of 271,000. Mexico v South Africa reached 787,000 viewers nationally and averaged 352,000 viewers, while the replay reached 745,000 viewers nationally.

Additional World Cup coverage also featured prominently, with the Mexico v South Africa post-match program reaching 222,000 viewers nationally and the Korea v Czech Republic post-match analysis reaching 204,000 viewers. Pre-match coverage for both fixtures also secured Top 30 positions, highlighting the tournament’s ability to elevate SBS into Australia’s most-watched programs.

TOTAL PEOPLE

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 12,699,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 9,820,000
  • BVOD Reach: 4,885,000

Total TV Overnight Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN NEWSSeven1,986,0001,269,000150,000
29NEWSNine1,868,0001,144,000198,000
3SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven1,705,000565,00087,000
4TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine1,428,000779,000126,000
5THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven1,379,000695,00085,000
6FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine1,301,000625,000142,000
7A CURRENT AFFAIRNine1,301,000843,000142,000
8ABC NEWS-EVABC1,124,000812,00051,000
92026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE LIVESBS1,050,000506,000271,000
10SUNRISESeven999,000434,00063,000
11BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven937,000480,00059,000
12GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC937,000523,00028,000
132026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA LIVESBS787,000352,000170,000
14FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -PRE MATCHNine758,000404,000104,000
152026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA RPTSBS745,00065,00014,000
16TODAYNine724,000289,00065,000
17SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven704,000357,00043,000
189NEWS AFTERNOONNine695,000362,00053,000
19HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC678,000403,00021,000
20NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC660,000230,00024,000
21SHETLAND-EVABC647,000392,00016,000
222026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS – FINALSNine646,000139,00018,000
23THE MORNING SHOWSeven646,000282,00041,000
2410 NEWS10615,000291,00026,000
25FARMER WANTS A WIFE – ENCORESeven588,000139,00021,000
26FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -POST MATCHNine584,000233,00053,000
27FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven552,000276,00044,000
28SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10534,000245,00015,000
29ABC NEWS MORNINGS-AMABC529,000107,00014,000
30TIPPING POINT UK -RPTNine527,000294,00030,000

PEOPLE 25–54

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 5,016,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 3,271,000
  • BVOD Reach: 2,505,000

Total TV Overnight Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven559,000211,00046,000
22026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE LIVESBS552,000277,000157,000
3SEVEN NEWSSeven530,000316,00071,000
49NEWSNine511,000290,00095,000
5FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine468,000225,00078,000
62026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA LIVESBS406,000187,000100,000
7TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine361,000178,00058,000
8THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven347,000166,00040,000
9A CURRENT AFFAIRNine344,000213,00070,000
10SUNRISESeven307,000135,00033,000
112026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA RPTSBS275,00030,0008,000
12BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven252,000129,00028,000
13TODAYNine236,000101,00034,000
14FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -PRE MATCHNine233,000136,00056,000
152026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA POST-MATCHSBS222,000111,00047,000
16FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -POST MATCHNine209,00092,00030,000
172026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE POST-MATCHSBS204,000105,00051,000
182026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE PRE-MATCHSBS192,00085,00041,000
19FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven186,000102,00023,000
202026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS – FINALSNine185,00046,0009,000
21NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC184,00070,00011,000
222026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA PRE-MATCHSBS178,00055,00023,000
23ABC NEWS-EVABC177,000126,00018,000
24SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven174,00091,00020,000
25THE MORNING SHOWSeven171,00073,00021,000
26FARMER WANTS A WIFE – ENCORESeven163,00046,00011,000
27SUNRISE -EARLYSeven158,00081,00019,000
2810 NEWS10150,00076,00012,000
29SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10148,00064,0007,000
30GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC144,00067,00010,000

PEOPLE 16–39

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 2,772,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 1,564,000
  • BVOD Reach: 1,480,000

Total TV Overnight Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
12026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE LIVESBS378,000188,000108,000
2SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven268,000100,00029,000
32026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA LIVESBS267,000126,00062,000
4FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine236,000112,00046,000
59NEWSNine213,000122,00046,000
6SEVEN NEWSSeven185,000101,00035,000
7TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine167,00082,00029,000
8A CURRENT AFFAIRNine144,00086,00035,000
92026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA POST-MATCHSBS137,00067,00026,000
102026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA RPTSBS133,00014,0005,000
112026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA PRE-MATCHSBS130,00044,00015,000
122026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE PRE-MATCHSBS126,00052,00028,000
132026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE POST-MATCHSBS125,00066,00031,000
14THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven124,00051,00020,000
15FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -PRE MATCHNine108,00067,00030,000
16FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -POST MATCHNine93,00050,00016,000
17ABC NEWS-EVABC91,00067,0008,000
18BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven90,00045,00013,000
19FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven89,00042,00013,000
20SUNRISESeven82,00033,00014,000
21TODAYNine72,00030,00015,000
222026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS – FINALSNine69,00017,0005,000
239NEWS AFTERNOONNine66,00030,00012,000
24NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC64,00018,0005,000
25GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC63,00031,0005,000
26FARMER WANTS A WIFE – ENCORESeven62,00020,0006,000
27FRANCE 24 ENGLISH NEWSSBS61,0004,0001,000
28LETHAL WEAPONNine58,00017,0004,000
29HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC52,00025,0004,000
30SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – POST MATCHSeven51,00030,00010,000

GROCERY SHOPPERS (18+)

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 9,356,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 7,225,000
  • BVOD Reach: 3,826,000

Total TV Overnight Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN NEWSSeven1,597,0001,043,000121,000
29NEWSNine1,475,000918,000162,000
3SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven1,309,000427,00068,000
4TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine1,170,000635,000104,000
5THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven1,111,000572,00069,000
6A CURRENT AFFAIRNine1,047,000680,000116,000
7FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine977,000468,000112,000
8ABC NEWS-EVABC938,000683,00045,000
9SUNRISESeven822,000359,00052,000
10GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC802,000451,00025,000
112026 FIFA WORLD CUP: KOR V CZE LIVESBS783,000377,000203,000
12BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven758,000403,00049,000
13FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -PRE MATCHNine592,000318,00084,000
14SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven583,000299,00035,000
15HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC579,000343,00019,000
16TODAYNine577,000237,00054,000
172026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA LIVESBS575,000256,000131,000
182026 FIFA WORLD CUP: MEX V RSA RPTSBS573,00050,00011,000
199NEWS AFTERNOONNine571,000301,00044,000
20SHETLAND-EVABC555,000336,00015,000
21NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC550,000197,00022,000
22THE MORNING SHOWSeven530,000235,00033,000
232026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS – FINALSNine523,000114,00015,000
2410 NEWS10505,000241,00021,000
25FARMER WANTS A WIFE – ENCORESeven478,000114,00017,000
26ABC NEWS MORNINGS-AMABC444,00090,00013,000
27FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE -POST MATCHNine444,000169,00043,000
28ANTIQUES ROADSHOW-PMABC443,000203,0009,000
29TIPPING POINT UK -RPTNine439,000248,00025,000
30SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10427,000201,00013,000

TOTAL PEOPLE

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 19,497,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 16,167,000
  • BVOD Reach: 9,256,000

Total TV Consolidated 7 Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN NEWSSeven1,974,0001,223,000131,000
29NEWSNine1,761,0001,081,000164,000
3SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven1,683,000648,00099,000
4TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine1,449,000794,000116,000
5THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven1,295,000670,00079,000
6A CURRENT AFFAIRNine1,228,000762,000115,000
7FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine1,225,000532,000114,000
8ABC NEWS-EVABC1,126,000774,00047,000
9SUNRISESeven1,020,000421,00062,000
10GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC955,000546,00051,000
11BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven890,000464,00050,000
12FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – PRE MATCHNine798,000356,00077,000
139NEWS AFTERNOONNine794,000389,00052,000
14TODAYNine786,000318,00066,000
15SHETLAND-EVABC784,000528,00059,000
16SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – POST MATCHSeven758,000244,00038,000
17M- ANGELS & DEMONSSeven705,000155,00014,000
18HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC693,000398,00019,000
19SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven661,000322,00042,000
20NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC632,000227,00027,000
21THE MORNING SHOWSeven615,000279,00040,000
2210 NEWS10594,000272,00025,000
23TIPPING POINT UK – RPTNine567,000287,00030,000
24FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – POST MATCHNine557,000213,00049,000
25SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10548,000223,00012,000
26FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven510,000274,00041,000
27ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAUNine499,000188,00026,000
28ANTIQUES ROADSHOW-PMABC491,000227,00010,000
29ABC NEWS MORNINGS-AMABC489,000107,00015,000
30SUNRISE – EARLYSeven458,000227,00035,000

PEOPLE 25–54

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 8,103,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 6,038,000
  • BVOD Reach: 4,685,000

Total TV Consolidated 7 Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven552,000232,00053,000
29NEWSNine513,000295,00078,000
3SEVEN NEWSSeven505,000282,00062,000
4FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine417,000181,00063,000
5TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine367,000185,00053,000
6A CURRENT AFFAIRNine346,000201,00055,000
7THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven308,000158,00037,000
8SUNRISESeven306,000129,00032,000
9TODAYNine268,000115,00035,000
10SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – POST MATCHSeven253,00082,00021,000
11FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – PRE MATCHNine232,000122,00041,000
12BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven199,000105,00023,000
13FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – POST MATCHNine193,00079,00028,000
149NEWS AFTERNOONNine187,00099,00024,000
15NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC181,00065,00013,000
16M- ANGELS & DEMONSSeven173,00048,0007,000
17FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven171,00098,00022,000
18ABC NEWS-EVABC168,000113,00016,000
19SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10165,00068,0005,000
20SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven161,00085,00020,000
21SUNRISE – EARLYSeven160,00080,00019,000
22HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? ENCORE10160,00079,0003,000
2310 NEWS10159,00069,00012,000
24THE MORNING SHOWSeven159,00078,00021,000
25TODAY – EARLYNine142,00070,00020,000
26GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC137,00075,00020,000
27TODAY EXTRANine131,00060,00022,000
28THE BIG BANG THEORY RPT10130,00028,0002,000
29ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAUNine122,00044,00012,000
30FRIENDS RPT10121,00020,0001,000

PEOPLE 16–39

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 5,204,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 3,608,000
  • BVOD Reach: 2,736,000

Total TV Consolidated 7 Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven275,000121,00033,000
2FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine209,00089,00036,000
39NEWSNine206,000118,00037,000
4SEVEN NEWSSeven197,000104,00030,000
5TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine164,00077,00026,000
6A CURRENT AFFAIRNine128,00071,00027,000
7SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – POST MATCHSeven127,00043,00012,000
8FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – PRE MATCHNine115,00054,00021,000
9THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven107,00056,00018,000
10FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – POST MATCHNine93,00035,00015,000
11SUNRISESeven93,00038,00015,000
129NEWS AFTERNOONNine78,00042,00012,000
13TODAYNine78,00029,00016,000
14FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWNSeven75,00043,00012,000
15BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven75,00039,00011,000
16ABC NEWS-EVABC74,00052,0008,000
17HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? ENCORE1064,00032,0001,000
18SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven64,00031,00010,000
19NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC63,00019,0006,000
20SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT1059,00026,0002,000
21THE BIG BANG THEORY RPT1058,00010,0001,000
22M- ANGELS & DEMONSSeven54,00012,0003,000
23THE MORNING SHOWSeven54,00024,00010,000
24GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC53,00029,0009,000
25FRIENDS RPT1050,0008,0001,000
26TASKMASTER AUSTRALIA ENCORE1050,00022,0000
27HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC48,00025,0003,000
28TODAY EXTRANine48,00019,00010,000
29MILLIONAIRE HOT SEAT RPT1047,00026,0003,000
30ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAUNine43,00014,0005,000

GROCERY SHOPPERS (18+)

‘When Watched’ Cumulative Reach

  • National Total TV Reach: 13,242,000
  • Broadcast TV Reach: 10,875,000
  • BVOD Reach: 7,187,000

Total TV Consolidated 7 Top 30 Programs

RankProgramNetworkReachAverage AudienceBVOD Audience
1SEVEN NEWSSeven1,562,000981,000106,000
29NEWSNine1,381,000851,000134,000
3SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLSeven1,278,000481,00076,000
4TIPPING POINT AUSTRALIANine1,152,000646,00096,000
5THE CHASE AUSTRALIASeven1,056,000552,00064,000
6A CURRENT AFFAIRNine964,000610,00094,000
7ABC NEWS-EVABC931,000647,00041,000
8FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVENine919,000392,00090,000
9SUNRISESeven826,000347,00051,000
10GARDENING AUSTRALIA-EVABC802,000463,00045,000
11BETTER HOMES AND GARDENSSeven714,000377,00041,000
12SHETLAND-EVABC667,000454,00052,000
139NEWS AFTERNOONNine644,000316,00043,000
14TODAYNine622,000263,00055,000
15FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – PRE MATCHNine610,000274,00062,000
16M- ANGELS & DEMONSSeven590,000131,00011,000
17SEVEN’S AFL: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – POST MATCHSeven588,000191,00030,000
18HARD QUIZ S7 RPTABC576,000330,00017,000
19SEVEN NEWS AT 4Seven544,000264,00034,000
20NEWS BREAKFAST-AMABC541,000197,00024,000
21THE MORNING SHOWSeven498,000228,00033,000
2210 NEWS10479,000223,00021,000
23TIPPING POINT UK – RPTNine479,000244,00025,000
24SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA RPT10444,000181,00010,000
25FRIDAY NIGHT NRL LIVE – POST MATCHNine419,000160,00039,000
26ANTIQUES ROADSHOW-PMABC413,000195,0009,000
27ABC NEWS MORNINGS-AMABC412,00091,00014,000
28ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAUNine406,000155,00022,000
29SUNRISE – EARLYSeven389,000193,00029,000
30THE CHASE-UKSeven370,000195,00019,000

Media Release

7

No media release provided today.

9

TV Central does not currently provide information from Channel 9.

10

No media release provided today.

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Friday TV Ratings: Seven News wins as AFL dominates and FIFA World Cup lifts SBS

Friday TV Ratings: Seven News wins as AFL dominates and FIFA World Cup lifts SBS

Happy New Year from TV Central
Aaron Ryan

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Aaron Ryan

Aaron Ryan

Aaron Ryan is the owner and editor of TV Central, an independent Australian television and media publication. He has more than 25 years of media experience, including work with The Kalgoorlie Miner, ebroadcast, Mumbrella and TV Blackbox. Aaron leads editorial direction for TV Central and writes television news, ratings coverage, interviews, programme features, cinema reviews and podcasts.

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