Channel Seven makes a huge decision over Matildas’ World Cup match against France in a first for women’s sport in Australia
- Seven made major changes to programming
- Move is a first for women’s football in Australia
- Matildas kicks off against France at 5 p.m. on Saturday
As the Matildas gear up to take on France in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup, Channel Seven have made the huge decision to postpone the 6pm nightly news bulletin to show the action uninterrupted.
Australia is well and truly on the Matildas bandwagon after TV ratings confirmed that the football team is a huge success across the country.
More than 3.5 million people watched the Aussie team’s 2-0 victory over Denmark on Monday night on Channel Seven – with 3.18 million viewers on TV and 385,000 on the streaming service 7Plus.
It was the highest audience for any TV show this year, surpassing the AFL, NRL and major reality TV shows.
All eyes will be on Tony Gustavsson’s side as they take on France at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, with a possible semi-final spot on home soil at stake.
Channel 7 has made the extraordinary decision to postpone the 6 p.m. news bulletin for the broadcast of the match between Matildas and France
Viewing figures for Matildas matches during the World Cup were huge
In a first for women’s football in Australia, Channel 7 has made the decision to postpone the newscast to at least 7pm on its primary channel to broadcast the full game, which starts at 5pm.
Seven has also increased pre-match coverage for the momentous occasion from 30 minutes to an hour.
Pushing back the 6 p.m. news for a sporting event is something that happens very rarely, but it’s not unprecedented.
It happened when Steve Waugh scored his iconic last-ball-ton at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2003, and also when Michael Clarke steered the Aussies to a stunning victory over India in 2008.
However, it is the first time the move has been made to host a women’s sporting event.
The decision has caused some disruption to the network, with AFL coverage moved to 7:30pm on Saturday nights.
Channel 7 AFL commentator Georgie Parker took to social media to express her surprise at the decision.
“Before the World Cup, I wondered if Seven would put the Matildas on the main channel across the AFL,” she wrote.
“Well, Seven just said they’re putting the Matildas on the main channel and pushing back THE NEWS. Unparalleled.
The 6 p.m. news bulletin is rarely moved — and never before for a women’s football game
The historic game on Seven kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday night
“The news is the anchor of any network. Enormous.’
Seven’s coverage of the tournament has now reached a whopping 9.25 million on TV and 1.67 million on 7Plus.
The Aussie side’s next match on Saturday night could well topple Ash Barty’s monster scores as she won the 2022 Australian Open women’s singles title.