SYDNEY: The Seven and Ten Networks have clashed over Seven's claims its broadcast of the opening round of the V8 Supercars out-rated Ten's coverage of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix (APG).
According to Seven, its telecast of the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on Saturday 3 March scored an average of 540,000 viewers compared to Ten’s average of 340,000 for the APG, while on Sunday 4 March Seven reached an average audience of 710,000 compared to Ten’s 615,000.
Seven also claims its coverage of the opening V8 round delivered a 34% jump in audience on day one and a 46% jump in audience on day two compared with Ten’s coverage of the same event in 2006. Seven picked up the broadcast rights for the V8 series for the next six years from Ten last year.
Ten has strongly hit back at Seven’s claims, saying its rival has been “very mischievous” in failing to compare similar events.
Gus Seebeck, Ten’s sport marketing & publicity manager, said “they are obviously two very different events”, with the APG featuring a seven-hour telecast and the V8s a five-hour telecast on the Sunday.
“It is misleading and not a fair comparison to make,” he said.
Seebeck said Ten delivered a peak audience for the APG of 1.2 million while Seven’s coverage of the V8s peaked at only 1.07 million.
Seebeck also refuted Seven’s comparison to Ten’s V8 telecast last year as unfair, as in 2006 the V8s squared up against the Commonwealth Games.
“If you compare the 2007 V8 figures to those in 2005 there’s still nowhere near the increase [that Seven claims],” he said.
Simon Francis, Seven’s head of corporate affairs, said: “We're bemused by Ten's ravings.”
“Anyone who looks at the audience ratings can quite clearly notice that more Australians watched Seven's coverage of the V8 Supercars in Adelaide than watched the Australian Grand Prix on Ten,” he said.
“As for comparisons, Seven's coverage of the Clipsal 500 also out-rated Ten's coverage of the same event in 2005. Ten should move on and stop moaning and whingeing.”
Wayne Cattach, CEO of V8 Supercars Australia, was thrilled with the audience results and believes it is a direct comparison.
“I think the APG has become a little tired and jaded, it needs a fresh look,” he said.
Ten's Seebeck said “it’s a long year”, and noted it will be interesting to see how the V8s fares when up against the AFL later in the year.
“We were very, very happy with the telecast of the APG,” he said.
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