F1 Ratings' Downward Trend Continues As Only 1.72 Million Tune In To Watch Opener

German free-to-air TV channel RTL "was unable to stop F1 ratings' downward trend with its broadcast of the Sunday's season opener," according to Alexander Krei of DWDL. The Australian Grand Prix, which started shortly after 6am, attracted an average of 1.72 million viewers. In comparison, last year's race from Melbourne's Albert Park recorded more than 3 million viewers. The race's market share also declined, from 43.2% last year to 28.6% on Sunday. In the target demographic 14-49, the race, which was won by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, obtained a market share of 34.9% and therefore seven percentage points less than in '14. The replay of the race at a more convenient time was watched by 1.63 million viewers. German pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland, which also aired the season opener, obtained a market share of 6.7% in the target demographic. A total of 180,000 viewers tuned in to watch the race on Sky.

ON ARD: German public broadcaster ARD recorded 5.77 million viewers and a market share of 27.2% for its broadcast of the biathlon world championships. In the target demographic, ARD's coverage of the men's mass start race had a 17.4% share. On Saturday, the men's relay race, which was won by Germany, obtained a market share of 27% as 4.77 million viewers tuned in. ARD's Bundesliga highlights show, Sportschau, which aired following the biathlon event, attracted 5.87 million viewers and had a share of 23.8% (DWDL, 3/16).

NRL SUNDAYS: In Sydney, Christian Nicolussi reported there are 133,000 reasons why Sunday night National Rugby league games "should be dumped." That is "how many people tuned into Fox Sports" to watch the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors slug it out in the nation's capital in the "unfriendly" 6:30pm timeslot. To put it into perspective, Saturday night's Manly-Melbourne blockbuster on Fox Sports "pulled in 305,000 viewers." Raiders CEO Don Furner suggested clubs receive A$40,000 ($30,600) compensation from the NRL "for hosting matches on Sunday evening" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/17).