The latest TV ratings from the United States reveal a significant rise in viewership for rugby league, notably during the NRL’s attempt to penetrate the American market in Las Vegas. The season opener saw the Canberra Raiders secure a decisive 30-8 victory over the New Zealand Warriors, attracting 371,000 viewers on FOX’s free-to-air network—a staggering 510% increase compared to last year’s inaugural match.
When factoring in additional viewership from the international streaming service Watch NRL, total viewership for the Raiders-Warriors clash is estimated to have surpassed 400,000, surpassing the number of fans tuning in from the Warriors’ home base in New Zealand. This is a remarkable shift from last year’s average viewership of only 61,000 for the most-watched game, signalling a positive trend in American interest.
Despite the NRL’s progress, challenges remain. The second of the weekend’s NRL matches, featuring the Panthers and Sharks, attracted only 33,000 viewers, partly due to a lopsided women’s Test match earlier in the day that may have diminished audience interest.
Comparatively, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix attracted about 951,000 viewers on ESPN, illustrating the competitive landscape for sports viewership in the U.S. However, the remarkable overall audience figures from the NRL double-header show that rugby league is starting to gain traction, enough to catch the interest of rival broadcasters.
In Australia, the NRL’s viewership is on the rise, with projections estimating audiences on Nine and Fox Sports will reach around 2 million, including approximately 300,000 viewers in New Zealand. The Jillaroos’ women’s Test match achieved a record for the most-watched international women’s game, while enthusiasm for the men’s matches led to significant Australian viewership numbers for a regular season game.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo expressed pride in the league’s accomplishments in the U.S., noting the need to maintain this momentum. He stated, “I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved in the US… The challenge for us is to keep the momentum going.” Plans for future matches in Las Vegas include expected participation from teams like the Bulldogs and Dragons, aiming to further entrench rugby league within the American sporting culture.