ANZ Premiership delivering to Netball fans
Netball fans are switching on to the 2018 ANZ Premiership with New Zealand’s elite Netball league attracting more viewers than ever.
The ANZ Premiership’s mid-season report card is promising as a band of new super stars catch the attention of fans nationwide and the thrilling tussles on court keep them coming back for more.
When the Waikato-BOP Magic netted a 64-61 victory over the Northern Stars earlier this week, it marked the 12thgame this season which has been decided by four goals or less.
The race for 2018’s top three remains wide open after six rounds of play. SKYCITY Mystic’s shooter Bailey Mes stunned everyone when her miracle goal on the siren helped her side end Te WānangaO Raukawa Pulse’s six-game unbeaten run, and it was also the fifth game in six weeks to have been decided by one goal.
It highlights how close the league has been with some of New Zealand’s best emerging talent igniting the game in all areas.
Eight goals or less was the difference between teams in just 18 of the 47 matches in 2017 but that number has already climbed to 16 after just six rounds this season.
The tight nature of the Premiership has ensured that Netball fans are switching on to the action and SKY Sport has seen an increase in live viewing, total cumulative audiences and a rise in the average game rating and audience.
Fans have also enjoyed their first extra-time ANZ Premiership when back in Round 1 when the Silvermoon Tactix beat the Northern Stars by just one goal in an extra six minutes of play.
Live viewing has increased by 27 per cent, and a total of 565,000 people have watched coverage of the ANZ Premiership across SKY Sport and Prime.
The ANZ Premiership enters Round 7 this week as teams begin a serious push towards an Elimination Final on August 8 and the Grand Final which will be played on August 12.
ANZ Premiership mid-season report:
• Five matches have been decided by one goal this season after six rounds, one more than the four matches decided by one goal across the entire 2017 season.
• The first ANZ Premiership extra time match was played in Round 1 between the Tactix and Stars on Super Sunday in Palmerston North.
• 55% of matches (12/22) played this season have been decided by four goals or less, while just nine matches (19%) were decided by four goals or less across the 47 matches last season.
• 73% of matches (16/22) have been decided by eight goals or less in 2018 compared to 18 matches (38%) decided by eight goals or less across the 47 matches last season.
• Live viewing for the first five rounds have increased by 27%
• After six rounds, 565,000 have watched coverage of the ANZ Premiership across SKY Sport and Prime which is an increase of 12% over 2017.