The NRL has allayed fears its "summer of hell" would have a dire impact on TV viewing numbers, trumpeting strong growth across both free-to-air and pay platforms in the opening seven rounds of the season.

Spike: NRL fans have warmed to the on-field action this season despite fears of the effect the scandal-ridden summer may have on television audiences. Credit:AAP

The average audience per match on Nine's platforms has increased 3 per cent year-on-year for the five capital cities, part of an overall 4 per cent spike in free-to-air viewership.

The figures have also been reflected across Fox League, which has swelled its national viewership by 3 per cent year-on-year.

It is a marked turnaround from the forecast negative effects a string of off-field incidents would have on the game prior to a ball being kicked this year, which even prompted NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg to say he feared the game could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in its next broadcast-rights deal.