BY STAFF WRITERS

Channel Seven’s 12-year run as rulers of Australian television came crashing down in 2019 with Nine stealing top spot thanks in huge part to rugby league.

Seven had dominated TV with an iron fist but it was Nine who came out on top last year by less than half a percentage point.

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That wouldn’t have happened without the NRL and their content.

Of the top five programs in 2019, rugby league held top spot and 4 of the top 5.

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A whopping 11.64 million people tuned into those four games alone without considering the weekly premiership and finals games played throughout the season.

TOP 10 PROGRAMS OF 2019

1. State of Origin Rugby League: Qld v NSW 1st Match, Nine, 3.23 million
2. AFL Grand Final: Richmond v GWS, Seven, 2.96 million
3. State of Origin Rugby League: NSW v Qld 3rd Match, Nine, 2.91 million
4. State Of Origin Rugby League NSW v Qld 2nd match, Nine, 2.84 million
5. NRL Grand Final Day Match, Nine, 2.66 million
6. 2019 Australian Open Men’s Final, Nine, 2.11 million
7. Married At First Sight, Nine, 1.95 million
8. 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival Race, 10, 1.92 million
9. Lego Masters, Nine, 1.89 million
10. 2019 Australian Open Women’s Final, Nine, 1.60 million

• 4 of the top 5 spots went to rugby league on Nine
• Those 4 games amassed 11.64 million viewers

TOP 10 PROGRAMS OF 2019
*Without rugby league

1. AFL Grand Final: Richmond v GWS, Seven, 2.96 million
2. 2019 Australian Open Men’s Final, Nine, 2.11 million
3. Married At First Sight, Nine, 1.95 million
4. 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival Race, 10, 1.92 million
5. Lego Masters, Nine, 1.89 million
6. 2019 Australian Open Women’s Final, Nine, 1.60 million
7. Seven News, 1.50 million
8. Seven News Sunday, 1.50 million
9. Ninja Warrior, Nine, 1.44 million
10. Seven News/Today Tonight, 1.44 million

• Without rugby league, Nine holds just 5 spots in the Top 10 instead of 8