Modest returns for Pay TV movies

More Australians watched Pay TV than any other television network last year — although movies do not appear to be much of an audience draw.

Source: www.tradeguys.com.au
Online - 6th Jan 2010

According to figures issued by the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association, Pay TV channels accounted for over 22 percent of all metropolitan viewing in 2009, putting it ahead of the other Free To Air networks.

However, that percentage is based on viewing across all Pay TV channels and audiences remain relatively small for individual programs.

The biggest rating of the show was the World Cup Qualifier between Australia and Uzbekistan, which attracted an all-time record audience of 431,000 viewers. However, Pay TV’s most watched entertainment show last year, Australia’s Next Top Model Live Finale , attracted only 285,000 viewers.

Only three movies made the top 25 entertainment programs of the year on Pay TV: The Mummy Returns (at No. 15 with an audience of 140,000), Taken (No. 21, 131,000) and I Am Legend (No. 25, 121,000).

However, episodes from popular DVD franchises such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama and Torchwood did make the top 20. No details were provided about Pay Per View downloads.