SYDNEY: In the biggest week of television this year, Network TenÕs Australian Idol Final Verdict captured the eyes of a whopping 65% of people, with 3.3 million viewers tuning in, making it the most-watched show of 2003. TomorrowÕs Rugby World Cup final between Australia and England on Seven Network should be another ratings winner, expecting to top the 2.4 million people who tuned in to last weekendÕs semi-final between Australia and New Zealand. Nine Network also had a crack at winning the ratings week with The National IQ Test 2003 on Tuesday night. The show was a ratings winner last year with 3.1 million viewers, but this yearÕs event was watched by only two million people. Ten made an estimated $26m in advertising revenue from Idol, after selling packages to six sponsors including McDonalds, NestlŽ, LÕOrŽal, Garnier, Sony and Sakata, which cost approximately $2m each. Grant Blackley, Ten general manager of network sales, would not confirm how much Idol was worth to the network, but said 45% of advertising revenue was generated from sponsors, with the rest coming from spot sales.
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