LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The NRL's global expansion strategy has proven successful with a significant increase in viewership during the opening matches of the season at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
More than 2.7 million viewers from the US, Australia, and New Zealand tuned in, setting new broadcast records for the league.
The US alone saw a remarkable 600% increase in viewers compared to the previous season opener.
Exposure on the FOX network played a significant role in driving this unprecedented viewership, with the Raiders-Warriors match attracting an average US audience of 371,000.
This is a substantial improvement from the 61,000 viewers the previous year's match drew in the US.
The success continued with the Panthers-Sharks match, which outperformed last year's viewership on FS1 by over 100%, drawing 33,000 viewers compared to 16,000 for the previous season's match.
The impact of streaming on WatchNRL further boosted these numbers.
According to nrl.com.au, "In further proof that rugby league's globalisation strategy is already paying off after just the second year of the NRL's Vegas venture, viewership in the US increased by more than 600 per cent on the 2024 season opener." This demonstrates the league's ability to attract a broader audience and expand its reach beyond traditional markets.
The impressive 371,000 average viewers on FOX marked an 86% increase compared to their previous rugby telecast performance, showcasing the growing interest in rugby league in the US.
The success of the Vegas venture has helped the NRL gain traction in a new market and establish a stronger foothold in the region.
With the combination of traditional broadcasting on FOX and streaming on WatchNRL, the NRL has been able to significantly increase its viewership numbers and engage fans across different platforms.