Paramount+ have released impressive numbers regarding how the A-League performed in the Grand Final digitally and on broadcast TV.
The A-League Men 2024 Grand Final reached 1.12 million Australians with audiences up 12% year-on-year.
It broke the previous record as the most-watched match on 10 and 10 Play and was very popular with the 16-39 age group, with it being the #2 program of the night.
The A-League Men’s and Women’s 2023/24 season reached a combined 5.72 million Australians across Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+ which highlights the impact the new digital broadcast has.
The 2023/24 A-League Men’s season was up 16% on broadcast TV, 33% on 10 Play and 53% on Paramount+.
The Liberty A-League Women’s audiences grew 114% on 10 Play and 125% on Paramount+.
The A-League All Stars Men vs. Newcastle United, and A-League All Stars Women vs. Arsenal Women matches reached 557,000 Australians on 10.
Paramount Australia Sports Production Director Adam Cush said via media release:
“As the Home of Australian Football, Paramount is committed to our partnership with the APL and the growth of the A-Leagues.
“The Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s 2024 Grand Final was a testament to this dedication, drawing unprecedented viewership numbers and showcasing the power of football in Australia. It’s been a phenomenal season of action across Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+ and we can’t wait to do it again next season for the 20th anniversary of the league.”
Nick Bower, Paramount Australia’s General Manager of Ad Sales, explained the broadcast success of the season and specifically the Grand Final.
“The incredible passion exhibited by the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory, along with the record number of fans at Industree Group Stadium and the biggest ever audiences watching at home, highlight everything that makes football in this country extraordinary,” Bower added in a statement.
“We extend our gratitude to our partners and clients for their support and enthusiasm, as they too benefited from the impressive audiences this thrilling final series attracted.”
Commenting on the Grand Final and the 2023/24 season gone, A-Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia described the success of the finals series and what the future has in store for the league.
“It’s been an incredible finals series with sold out crowds, record TV viewers and fantastic football, and what a way to cap it off with the highest ever Industree Group Stadium crowd and history being made on the pitch,” Garcia added via media release.
“As the curtain falls on an exciting season, we would like to thank our fantastic fans who showed up week in week out, contributing to an atmosphere that sets our game apart from the rest. We now look forward to what will be the 20th anniversary of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and another phenomenal season of A-Leagues action.”
Digitally, the A-League is seemingly popular, with it being named the second most engaging sport by YouGov in 2023. Specifically the 18-34 age range in that study were by far the most engaged, insisting there is a future audience for the league.
The future of Paramount+, 10 and 10 Play past 2026 is still up in the air, but the numbers are encouraging, and the A-League finals series provided an insight into there being interest in the local game for a feasible future.