Ratings | Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 reaches over half the nation

Ratings | Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 reaches over half the nation – The 9Network’s coverage of the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026™ was a ratings powerhouse, reaching a massive 15.0 million viewers. Captivating more than half the Australian population, the Games dominated the screens across Channel 9, 9Gem, 9Now and Stan Sport.

The record-breaking viewership mirrored a historic performance on the snow and ice, with Team Australia finishing the Games with an unprecedented six medals (three gold, two silver and one bronze), marking the highest medal tally in the nation’s Winter Olympic history.

Australians embraced 9Now’s coverage with the platform achieving an 18.0% incremental reach to broadcast TV across the Games with 2.3 million viewers tuning in exclusively to the Olympics through 9Now. Most notably, the digital shift was led by younger viewers with 46.0% of People 16-39 watching solely on 9Now.

Furthermore, across Total TV the coverage of the Games reached 4.0 million viewers with People 16-39, 6.3 million with People 25-54 and 10.7 million with Grocery Shoppers 18+.

The highest rating session of the Games occurred on Day 9, where the Night Session drew a National Total TV Reach of 2.124 million and a National Total TV Audience of 1.441 million. The nation tuned in to witness Australian hero Matt Graham clinch a bronze medal in a high-stakes men’s dual moguls final against Takuya Shimakawa.

This session also set a digital benchmark with a BVOD average audience of 252,000. This record was only narrowly eclipsed by the Day 2 Night Session, which reached 255,000 which was headlined by the harrowing Women’s Downhill event where viewers watched in shock as American icon Lindsey Vonn suffered a high-speed crash.

Overall, primary channel coverage of the Winter Olympics delivered an average National Total TV Audience of 375,000 viewers.

Meanwhile, Stan Sport saw over 200 million minutes watched, contributing to the most weekly active users in Stan Sport’s history.

The 9Network’s comprehensive coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 has set a new benchmark for sports broadcasting in Australia, proving that the appetite for winter sports has never been higher.

Hamish Turner, Executive Director of 9Network and 9Now, said:

“Milano Cortina 2026 has proven that the Winter Games found their place in the hearts and minds of all Australians. In a fragmented world, these big events galvanize the country through a shared experience, and our nation truly embraced this record-breaking result for Team Australia.

“Nearly half of our younger viewers watched the Games exclusively via 9Now. This success isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about the deeper engagement Nine delivers, proving that the Olympic movement now provides a culturally impactful cycle every two years for our partners and advertisers.”

Brent Williams, Nine’s Director of Sport, said:

“The 2026 Winter Olympics has once again proven that sport is the ultimate national connector. I’d like to commend our incredible athletes on their achievements and relentless determination on the world stage, which has been nothing short of inspiring.

“Whether it’s on snow or ice, the Games have ignited a passion across Australia, reflected in the record-breaking engagement across our entire network. This success is a tribute to the powerful connection our audience has with the Olympic spirit and the world-class storytelling of our broadcast team. It’s been an unforgettable journey, and we can’t wait to do it all again when the Winter Paralympics kick off next week.”

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games will be broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport from March 6.