Tennis lovers have proved channel fluid, with Australian Open viewership holding steady, despite moving from Seven to Nine after over 40 years.
Reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, OzTam data shows Day One viewership notched 682,612 on Nine, versus 683,112 on Seven and 7Mate last year.
The news comes after Channel Nine snared rights to the 2019 Australian Open for $48.5 million.
Tip-tier partnerships for the Grand Slam tournament are headlined by the likes of ANZ and Uber Eats, with sponsors including Bunnings and Nine-owned Stan.
OzTam data reflects stable demand for free-to-air TV tennis broadcasting, despite the lure of streaming and online options.
Commentators question the long-term effect of catch-up and streaming apps – such as Kayo – on the likes of traditional and pay-TV sports, exacerbated by the launch of 5G mobile technology.
