More than 2.3 million Australian viewers tuned in to watch the Matildas’ victory over Canada, more than double the number of viewers who tuned in to the men’s Ashes on the same night.
The match on Monday night was Channel Seven’s most viewed television program of the year and is a significant indicator of just how much Australians are throwing their support behind the national women’s team.
The match attracted a national broadcast audience of 2.16 million viewers on Channel Seven, and another 260,000 viewers on 7plus (which was a record for a program on 7plus).
It was also the number one broadcast program nationally on Monday night and it made history as the first time a women’s sporting event has averaged more than 2 million viewers on Australian television.
The total reach of the match (which means anyone who watched one minute on television or 15 seconds online) was 4.7 million viewers.
The tv ratings for the Matildas match pulled significantly ahead of the men’s Ashes, where Australia was attempting to win the Ashes (in the end, Australia retained the Ashes rather than winning). On Monday, the Ashes had an average of 1.2 million viewers.
On Monday, the Matildas pulled off a comprehensive victory over Olympic champions Canada, with an impressive score of 4-0 to top Group B and secure their place in the next stage of the Women’s World Cup. Without injured captain Sam Kerr, the Matildas stepped up to the plate with a near flawless performance.
Next Monday, the Matildas will take on Denmark, who placed second (behind England) in Group D, in the Round of 16. The match will take place in Sydney on Monday night.