Broncos\u2019 Nail-Biting NRL Grand Final Breaks TV Records and Outscores AFL Decider<\/p>\n
The NRL Grand Final has stormed into the record books, becoming Australia\u2019s highest-rating television program of 2025 and eclipsing the AFL Grand Final audience for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n
A national Total TV Average Audience of 4.460 million tuned in on Nine\u2019s broadcast to watch the Brisbane Broncos edge out the Melbourne Storm in a gripping 26\u201322 victory \u2014 a contest that kept viewers glued until the final whistle.<\/p>\n
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The landmark numbers place the NRL\u2019s decider as the highest-rating Australian sporting broadcast since the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup, confirming rugby league\u2019s return to the top of the national sporting conversation.<\/p>\n
Across the five major cities, the NRL decider recorded strong numbers: Sydney 1.099 million, Melbourne 734,000, Brisbane 941,000, Adelaide 127,000, and Perth 198,000.<\/p>\n
On streaming platform 9Now, the game set a new benchmark for BVOD viewing, attracting 1.316 million viewers \u2014 the largest BVOD audience in VOZ history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s phenomenal ratings are a testament to Nine\u2019s unwavering commitment to being the true home of rugby league,\u201d
said Amanda Laing, Nine\u2019s Managing Director of Streaming & Broadcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe the greatest game of all should be accessible to everyone, and by providing that universal, free-to-air access, we are helping to grow the sport\u2019s fan base in every corner of the country. To see that commitment reflected in record-breaking audience numbers is incredibly rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2025 AFL Grand Final broadcast in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot on Seven, posted a national total TV audience of 4.076 million \u2014 a solid result that narrowly surpassed its 2024 performance but fell short of rugby league\u2019s dramatic finale. The AFL\u2019s Pre-Game and Post-Match coverage each attracted audiences around the 1.5 to 3.8 million mark, while 7plus recorded 969,000 viewers, up 48 per cent year-on-year.<\/p>\n
By comparison, the NRL\u2019s surge of 33 per cent year-on-year growth places it firmly ahead in the 2025 ratings race. The victory was particularly sweet for Brisbane fans, with the Broncos\u2019 win marking a return to television dominance not seen since the 2015 Grand Final, when the team fell short to the North Queensland Cowboys in another all-time classic.<\/p>\n
The NRLW Grand Final also delivered a historic performance, with the Roosters\u2013Broncos clash pulling 1.032 million viewers \u2014 up 36 per cent from last year \u2014 highlighting the growing national appetite for women\u2019s rugby league.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to extend a sincere thank you to the players, coaches and clubs,\u201d
said Brent Williams, Nine\u2019s Director of Sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only have their world-class performances captivated the nation, but their generosity in providing access for interviews and features has allowed us to showcase the personalities and stories behind the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The record-breaking result comes at a pivotal moment for the NRL, which is negotiating its next broadcast rights deal from 2028. With Nine, Seven, Foxtel\/Kayo, and emerging streaming platforms expected to battle for rights, the NRL\u2019s latest viewing surge could see its value climb beyond the AFL\u2019s $4.5 billion, seven-year deal signed earlier this year.<\/p>\n
While Seven claimed an 81.1 per cent commercial TV share on AFL Grand Final day, Nine\u2019s grand final broadcast ultimately seized the national spotlight, reaffirming the NRL\u2019s broad reach across all screens.<\/p>\n
The 2025 NRL season concluded as one of the sport\u2019s most successful in modern television history, delivering strong growth across traditional and digital platforms \u2014 and crowning a year in which rugby league once again ruled the nation\u2019s screens.<\/p>\n
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