Rugby World Cup

The Wallabies dramatic Quarter Final triumph has delivered Australian subscription television its second highest rating program of all time behind the 2011 Super Rugby Final which attracted an average audience of 531,000 viewers.  

The Wallabies-Springboks contest drew 25,000 more viewers than August’s Tri Nations decider between the Wallabies and All Blacks (443,000). 

The result has seen Rugby Union climb into the top three positions for highest rating programs on Australian subscription television.

The Wallabies will now face the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup Semi Final showdown next Sunday.  FOX SPORTS 3HD and FOX SPORTS 3 will broadcast the knockout contest LIVE, UNINTERRUPTED and in HIGH DEFINITION next Sunday at 7.00pm (AEDT) with pre match coverage commencing at 6.00pm. 

TOP THREE SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION RATINGS RECORD

1. 2011 SUPER RUGBY FINAL – SATURDAY 9 JULY, 2011

QUEENSLAND REDS v CRUSADERS

AVERAGE AUDIENCE:  531,000

2. RUGBY WORLD CUP QUARTER FINAL – SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2011

AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA

AVERAGE AUDIENCE:  468,000

3. TRI NATIONS DECIDER – AUGUST 27, 2011

AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND

AVERAGE AUDIENCE: 443,000

PREVIOUS RECORD SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AUDIENCE: 431,000 (SOCCEROOS v UZBEKISTAN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER, APRIL 1, 2009)

Source: OzTAM National STV Panel; All People; Average Audience; Overnight.

The Number One Ladies Detective Agency, ABC1, 8.20pm
Precious visits an orphanage where a young woman tells her she is worried about her father who has become unusually fearful, and a wealthy landowner asks her to investigate a family poisoning.

Terra Nova, Ten, 8.30pm
Jim and Taylor try to save the colony from attacking Pterosaurs. Elisabeth discovers an ex-boyfriend is living in Terra Nova and may have been responsible for her being recruited.

Ringer, Ten, 9.30pm
Pilot. On the run from the mob, Bridget assumes the identity of her deceased twin sister, Siobhan, only to realise that her sister’s life was no less complicated than hers.

Rugby World Cup, Nine, 3.30pm AEDT
Australia Vs South Africa Sudden death Quarter Final. Also at 6pm AEDT is New Zealand Vs Argentina on GEM (Nine in WA)

You Only Live Twice, 7mate, 8.30pm
7mate’s playing of Bond movies on Saturday and Sunday nights continues. When an American spacecraft disappears during a mission, it’s widely believed to have been intercepted by the Soviet Union, and after a Russian space capsule similarly goes missing, most consider it to be an act of American retaliation. Soon the two nations are at the brink of war, but British intelligence discovers that some sort of UFO has crashed into the Sea of Japan and Agent 007, James Bond, is sent to investigate.

FOX SPORTS will add another layer to its Rugby World Cup broadcast by offering both Australian and South African commentary when the Wallabies take on the Springboks in Sunday’s Quarter Final blockbuster.

Rugby fans will have the choice of listening to Australia’s leading commentary team or the South African commentary team by pressing the red button on their FOXTEL or Austar remote.

The game’s number one voice Greg Clark will lead the FOX SPORTS commentary team alongside former Wallabies Phil Kearns, Greg Martin and Rod Kafer, while the Supersport South African team will feature Matthew Pearce, Bob Skinstad and Owen Nkumane.

Soames Treffry, Director FOX SPORTS Channels, said the ability for FOX SPORTS to provide both commentary teams gives fans greater control and allows them to follow both sides of the story of this critical contest.

“It’s all about providing choice and thanks to FOXTEL’s unique and exclusive technology fans will be able to personalise their viewing experience of this Sunday’s must win match.”     

FOX SPORTS LIVE and HIGH DEFINITION coverage of Sunday’s sudden-death duel between Australia and South Africa will commence at 3.00pm (AEDT) when Nick McArdle, Brendan Cannon and Tim Horan preview the match before the action kicks off at 4.00pm.     

FOX SPORTS will show all Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals matches LIVE, UNINTERRUPTED and in HIGH DEFINITION on FOX SPORTS 3HD and FOX SPORTS 3 beginning tomorrow when Ireland and Wales go head to head at 4pm.  Later that day England will face European foe France at Eden Park.  The final Quarter Final played on Sunday will see hosts New Zealand collide with Argentina at Eden Park at 6.30pm.

Wide World of Sports will cover both preliminary finals live in a feast of football this weekend on Channel Nine as the four teams left standing in the 2011 NRL Telstra Premiership fight to make the Grand Final.

In Friday Night Football, the Manly Sea Eagles meet the Brisbane Broncos in the first preliminary final at Sydney Football Stadium, with live coverage from 7.30pm on Nine.

With Brisbane’s inspirational skipper Darren Lockyer out after fracturing a cheekbone against the Dragons last weekend, the Sea Eagles – who have beaten the Broncos five times in their last seven clashes – will go in as favourites.

Immediately following the first NRL preliminary final tonight, Nine will broadcast the Rugby World Cup game between Australia and the USA at 9.45pm from Wellington Regional Stadium. After losing to Ireland last weekend, Australia must beat the USA to keep their dreams of a play-off position alive.

On Saturday night from 7.30pm, Channel Nine will have live coverage of the second NRL preliminary final when Melbourne Storm take on the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The Warriors, who have yet to win a premiership, are a danger side for a Storm outfit with plenty to prove.

At 9.45pm, straight after the Storm-Warriors match, Nine will broadcast the Rugby World Cup game between New Zealand and France at Eden Park in Auckland. Both teams are unbeaten and share top spot on the Pool A ladder.

The voice of rugby league, Ray Warren, will lead Nine’s NRL commentary team for the preliminary finals. Joining him in the commentary box are Peter Sterling and Phil Gould, while Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Wally Lewis make up the expert panel.

George Gregan heads up the Wide World of Sports expert rugby panel. Joining him is former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, with Tim Gilbert hosting.

Then on Sunday at 10.00am Ken Sutcliffe presents Wide World of Sports on Nine. Joining him live in the studio is Socceroo and Sydney FC marquee signing, Brett Emerton. The Sunday Footy Show with Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler follows at 11.00am as the boys review the preliminary finals and preview the NRL grand final.

Next at 12.00pm it’s The Sunday Roast. Andrew Voss, Mark Geyer and Terry Kennedy will have all the news on and off the rugby league field, peppered with their irreverent brand humour. The show will cross live to Phil Gould in Penrith.

Another cracking weekend of football is coming up with Wide World of Sports covering the NRL Telstra Premiership semi-finals and the Rugby World Cup on Channel Nine.

In week two of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series, the Wests Tigers play the New Zealand Warriors in Friday Night Football, live from 7.30pm on Nine. It’s the first semi-final and at stake is a berth in the preliminary final against the minor premiers, Melbourne Storm, next week. That winner goes to the Grand Final on October 2.

Rugby World Cup 2011 continues on Saturday when defending champions South Africa take on Fiji at Wellington Regional Stadium. Both teams have a win apiece from their opening games and another win on Saturday will put one at the top of Pool D. Nine will broadcast this game LIVE on Saturday from 3.55pm AEST.

At the special time of 6.30pm live on Saturday night it’s the second NRL Telstra Premiership semi-final. The Brisbane Broncos will play the defending premiers, St George Illawarra Dragons, for the right to meet the Manly Sea Eagles in the other preliminary final and a shot at the Grand Final.

At 8.40pm, straight after the Broncos-Dragons clash, the Wallabies play Ireland in their second Rugby World Cup game at Auckland’s Eden Park. Australia and Ireland both won their first round matches, with Australia beating Italy 32-6 and Ireland defeating the USA 22-10.

The voice of rugby league, Ray Warren, will lead Nine’s NRL commentary team. Joining him in the commentary box are Peter Sterling and Phil Gould, while Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Wally Lewis make up the expert panel.

George Gregan heads up the Wide World of Sports’ expert rugby panel. Joining him is injured Wallabies prop Benn Robinson and host Tim Gilbert. Nine sports reporter Tim Sheridan will be joined by injured Wallabies sensation Digby Ioane.

The Footy Show gets viewers off to an early start for the action-packed weekend tonight at 9.30pm on Nine. Suspended Bronco Sam Thaiday will co-host the show while New South Wales and Sharks captain Paul Gallen joins the panel and also plays Perfect Partners with his wife Anne. Plus, the Warriors’ Feleti Mateo is on the show and retiring Knights veteran Adam “Mad Dog” MacDougall talks about life after rugby league.

Then on Sunday at 10.00am Ken Sutcliffe and Michael Slater present Wide World of Sports on Nine, with all the latest news, results, features and special guests. The Sunday Footy Show with Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Nathan Hindmarsh follows at 11.00am as the boys review all the NRL highlights and preview the preliminary finals.

Next at 12.00pm it’s The Sunday Roast, with Andrew Voss, Phil Gould, Mark Geyer and Terry Kennedy talking about the characters and controversies on and off the rugby league field in their outspoken style.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is in full swing and Heineken have just released the first of their new online series discussing all the finer points of the game.

In a rather strange turn of events, Nine have decided to air tonight’s (Friday Sept 9) Rugby World Cup live in VIC, SA and WA on GEM from 6.30pm AEST.

In Victoria, Friends remains at 6pm, with New Zealand Vs Tonga airing from 6.30pm until 8.30pm on GEM. In SA, the rugby airs from 6pm, with Friends at 8pm. In WA, it airs from 4.30pm with normal programming from 6.30pm.

VIC and SA miss out on the Farmer Wants a Wife encore, but Rugby fans are the winners overall albeit in a bizarre set of circumstances that sees the game air live in non-rugby markets first and live and on over three hour delay in traditional rugby markets, who will be enjoying live Rugby League (Saints Vs Tigers)  from 7.30pm instead. Obviously it would be crazy for Nine to have the two games overlap.

Situation is similar this Saturday night (Sept 10) – with the Rugby World cup match between England and Argentina airing live at 6.30pm into VIC, 6.00pm SA and 4.30pm (local times) on GEM but not until after 10.30 in NSW & QLD, after the completion of the night’s two Rugby League finals.

Next Saturday (Sept 17), when the Wallabies play Ireland – will Nine do the same? And what about live on GEM at the same time as NRL on Nine in NSW and QLD?

This dilemma is discussed in detail on sports web site “The Roar“.

The wait is almost over for the Wallabies and the nation is ready to turn green and gold with just over 24 hours remaining until the opening ceremony of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Over the next six weeks, FOX SPORTS 3HD and FOX SPORTS 3 will be the home of rugby with LIVE coverage of every match, extensive pre and post-game coverage, highlights packages, regular news updates from the Wallabies camp, historic matches, weekly magazine show The Rugby Club and much more.

FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers will be treated to a Rugby World Cup experience like never before, with coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the tournament.

Fronting the coverage for FOX SPORTS will be rugby’s most recognised commentary team, including a collection of experts who account for a combined 210 Wallabies Test appearances. The game’s number one voice, Greg Clark, will lead the team in New Zealand alongside Phil Kearns, Tim Horan, Brendan Cannon, Greg Martin and Rod Kafer.

The FOX SPORTS commentary team will call all matches involving the Wallabies, plus tomorrow night’s opening clash between hosts New Zealand and Tonga LIVE from 6.30pm AEST. Coverage of the opening ceremony will precede the match at 5.00pm AEST.

Beyond the television coverage, FOX SPORTS is the ultimate online destination for Rugby World Cup 2011 with a purpose-built match centre to feature live scores and statistics and enable fans to review every try just minutes after they are scored.

FOX SPORTS News will feature up-to-the-minute coverage of the tournament with three dedicated Rugby World Cup bulletins at 8am, midday, and 9pm AEST each day, plus regular crosses to reporters Gerard Middleton and dual international Russell Fairfax on location with the Wallabies in New Zealand.

Fans can also stay in the know whilst on the move with a fully-featured Rugby World Cup 2011 section on the FOX SPORTS mobile site m.foxsports.com.au (for iPhone and Android devices) and extended highlights packages of all Wallabies and finals matches on the FOX SPORTS iPad app, FOX SPORTS View.

FOX SPORTS RUGBY WORLD CUP COVERAGE

·         24/7 coverage on FOX SPORTS 3HD & FOX SPORTS 3

·         LIVE coverage of all 48 matches (including the Rugby World Cup Final on October 23).

·         All matches in High Definition.

·         All matches ad-break free during live play.

·         LIVE pre-game coverage before every match.

·         Classic Rugby World Cup matches from the archives, as well as daily and weekly highlights shows.

·         The Rugby Club each Thursday night at 8.30pm AEST, hosted by Nick McArdle.

·         FOX SPORTS commentary team of Greg Clark, Tim Horan, Phil Kearns, Greg Martin, Brendan Cannon and Rod Kafer to call all Wallabies matches, plus tournament opener between New Zealand and Tonga.

·         News updates with Greg Clark on location in New Zealand covering the latest from the Wallabies camp

Wide World of Sports will broadcast the opening game of Rugby World Cup 2011 when New Zealand and Tonga meet at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, September 9, at 9.45pm.

The match will immediately follow the first night of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series on the Nine Network.

In the pinnacle of rugby competition the top 20 rugby nations will compete for the most prestigious trophy in the game, the William Webb Ellis Cup, over six intense weeks. With the opening clash now just days away, rugby fans the world over are ready for a massive tournament in New Zealand.

Australia is drawn to play Ireland, Italy, Russia and USA for a berth in the quarter-finals whiles hosts New Zealand will meet Canada, France, Japan and Tonga.

Defending champions South Africa will face Fiji, Namibia, Samoa and Wales in their pool round while 2003 victors England will play Argentina, Georgia, Romania and Scotland for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Nine Network is the official free-to-air broadcaster of Rugby World Cup 2011 and Wide World of Sports will present 17 matches, beginning with the opener on Friday, September 9, at 9.45pm. Wide World of Sports will also broadcast nine pool matches involving Australia, plus the entire play-off series including the four quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final and the final live on Sunday, October 23, from 6.30pm.

Wide World of Sports’ expert panel is led by Ken Sutcliffe. Joining him are former Wallabies captains George Gregan, Andrew Slack and John Eales, injured Wallabies prop Benn Robinson, and Nine sports reporter Tim Sheridan.

George Gregan represented Australia from 1994 to 2007 and took over as captain from John Eales when he retired in 2001. Gregan played in four World Cups (1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007) and led Australia to a home Rugby World Cup final in 2003 when a heartbreaking field goal from England’s Johnny Wilkinson in extra time robbed the Wallabies of a third title.

Andrew Slack made 39 appearances (1978-1987) in the green and gold and was captain for 19 Test matches (1984-1987). He captained the Wallabies at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 where Australia placed fourth.

John Eales wore the Wallabies jersey from 1991 until he retired in 2001 and played 86 Tests. He captained the Wallabies from 1996 to 2001 and steered Australia to their second World Cup crown in 1999 in Wales. Eales represented Australia at three World Cups (1991, 1995 and 1999).

Benn Robinson made his debut for the Wallabies in 2006 after a stellar performance for Australia at the IRB Under-21 World Championship in Argentina in 2005. He has played 42 matches for Australia and is widely regarded as one of the world’s best prop. A knee injury in July forced him out of this year’s World Cup side.

Ken Sutcliffe began his broadcasting career in 1966 and joined the Nine Network presenting feature spots on Wide World of Sports. He began presenting sport on National Nine News in 1979. During his 33 years at Nine, Sutcliffe has covered many great sporting events including the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, Formula One Grand Prix, Wimbledon and US Open Tennis, America’s Cup in Freemantle, Masters and US Open Golf, the FINA World Swimming Championships, the Ashes, State of Origin, NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Finals and the Golden Slipper. Sutcliffe also hosts Wide World of Sports on Nine each Sunday.

Tim Sheridan, a former player for the New South Wales Waratahs, joined the Nine Network in 1983 as a sports reporter. His career at Nine has seen him cover Wimbledon and the US Open, Formula One, World Swimming titles, Olympics, the US Masters, the Tour de France and World Cup Cricket.

The Wallabies will play their first match at Rugby World Cup 2011 on Sunday, September 11, against Italy at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium. The Nine Network will be live from 1.00pm.

Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand vs. Tonga, Friday, September 9, at 9.45pm on Nine

With under one week to go until the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, FOX SPORTS 3HD and FOX SPORTS 3 will become the home of Rugby from Monday 5 September to Sunday 23 October.

The channel will be available to FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers on the existing sports tier and will include all 48 Rugby World Cup matches LIVE and in HD with no ad-breaks during play.      

LIVE pre-game shows will feature before every match with Australia’s most recognised Rugby commentary team of Greg Clark, Tim Horan, Phil Kearns, Greg Martin, Brendan Cannon and Rod Kafer behind the mic to call all Wallabies matches plus the opening fixture between New Zealand and Tonga on September 9.

The Rugby World Cup Channel will ensure viewers are kept up-to-date on all the developments from New Zealand with match day highlight shows and regular news updates from Greg Clark on location with the Wallabies.

The Rugby Club, hosted by Nick McArdle, will deliver in-depth analysis of all the matches plus monitor the Wallabies progress each Thursday at 8.30pm.  Fans will also be able to relive Rugby’s most memorable moments with classic matches airing throughout the tournament.

The Rugby World Cup Channel will launch with the premiere of RWC Greatest – a program showcasing Rugby’s most historic moments on Monday 5 September at 7.30pm AEST.