Screen Australia - Former AFC - FAQs

5 September 2008

Australian TV Ratings

How are ratings used?

Television ratings figures provide an insight into audience demographics and viewing habits. They can be used to track popularity and effectiveness of individual programs, formats or genres, in order to predict performance of current programs and future content.

Australian Television Ratings: suppliers

OzTAM has been the official supplier of the free to air TV ratings in Australia since 2001. OzTAM is owned by the metropolitan commercial networks Seven, Nine and Ten. Summary weekly reports are available free on the OzTAM website. Complete ratings data is available to subscribers only. OzTAM supplies the ratings for subscription TV from August 2003.

From 1957 to 1991, Australian television ratings were collated by McNair Anderson, (later AGB McNair). From 1991 to 2000, ACNielsen collated the figures. Along with weekly lists published in the major press, ACNielsen published the annual NielsenTV Trends booklet covering top ratings and demographics from 1991 to 2001. AC Neilson also has Subscription TV Trend Reports for 2001 and 2002.
Go to PRODUCTS AND SERVICES and select TV RATINGS: SUBSCRIPTION TV at www.nielsenmedia.com.au/home.asp

Top Programs: Weekly Lists

Weekly top ratings results are published in The Australian, the trade magazine Encore and are also available through OzTAM.

Go to the MEDIA SECTION of The Australian
Encore Magazine
OzTAM

Top Programs: Annual Lists

OzTAM publishes annual 'Top Programs' lists, which the AFC publishes in the 'What Australians are Watching' section of 'Get the Picture' online:
Programs 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Documentaries 1998-2003
Films 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Drama Series 1998-1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Mini-series 2002-2003.
Go to TOP PROGRAMS at
www.afc.gov.au/gtp/freetv.html

Top Australian Programs: Annual

OzTAM publishes 'Metropolitan Free to air Television Year in Review' each year in March - a comprehensive overview of Metropolitan FTA Television viewing behaviour for 2003. Cost $571.73 (ex GST)
www.oztam.com.au

The AFC publishes 'Top Rating Australian Programs' lists in the 'What Australians are Making' section of 'Get the Picture' online:
Movies 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, All time;
Documentaries 1998-2003;
Telemovies 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003;
Mini-series 1998-2003, All time;
Series 1998-2003
Go to TV RATINGS at www.afc.gov.au/gtp/release.html

Ratings by Network

The AFC publishes 'Rating Shares' summaries by network, and by market.

Pay TV Ratings

ASTRA
The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) is the peak industry body for subscription television. It was formed in September 1997, with the aim of providing a unified voice on issues affecting subscription television. ASTRA publishes weekly 'Subscription Television in Review' reports, from information collected from OzTAM. Go to NEWS at
www.astra.org.au/home.asp

ASTRA also publishes an annual 'Australian Subscription TV Trends'. Go to INDUSTRY OVERVIEW: SUBSCRIPTION TV and then SUBSCRIPTION TV TRENDS at
www.astra.org.au/home.asp

AFC PAY TV FIGURES
The AFC publishes several sets of figures on Pay TV, such as 'Audience Shares' and 'Top Channels'.
www.afc.gov.au/gtp/paytv.html

Audience

OZTAM publish 'Metropolitan Free to air Television Year in Review' each year in March - a comprehensive overview of Metropolitan FTA Television viewing behaviour for 2003. Cost $571.73 (ex GST)
www.oztam.com.au

Q-SCORES measure viewer attitudes towards TV programming, including appeal of both programs and performers, as well as tests for concepts, pilots and characters. Q scores are published by Audience Development, an independent media research company with offices in Australia and the United Kingdom.
www.audiencedevelopment.com.au

More Information

The AFC produces several reports related to TV Ratings:

Free to Air Television: Trends and Issues
www.afc.gov.au/gtp/wftvanalysis.html

Trends in Audience Shares
www.afc.gov.au/gtp/wftvratingstrends.html

Pay TV in Australia
www.afc.gov.au/gtp/wptvanalysis.html

Related Information

Australian Content: Free to Air
www.afc.gov.au/policyandresearch/policy/aus_content.aspx

Australian Content: Pay TV
www.afc.gov.au/policyandresearch/policy/aus_content_pay.aspx

Broadcasting Issues:
www.afc.gov.au/policyandresearch/policy/broadcasting.aspx

Terms and Definitions

OzTam publishes a downloadable PDF explaining the key terms used in tv ratings analysis. Go to TERMS AND DEFINITIONS at
www.oztam.com.au/html/about.htm