What happened to our TV ratings reporting?

Jason Lassey May 16, 2026 3 minutes read

Timeline

2001 – Oztam changes to new reporting structure, making it difficult to compare with previous ratings.
2013 – Regional ratings reports became more commonplace after being rare and difficult for public to access, thorugh RegTAM.
- At this time not all matches were shown on Foxtel for either AFL or NRL.
2015 – Throng.NZ shutsdown, killing off NZ reporting for ratings. NZ reports a top 20 per week.
2015 – US media reports cease posting AFL/NRL data from cable ratings.
2022- Oztam begins trialling its VOZ system
2023 – We begin to recieve proper ratings data for streaming through Oztam for Foxtel, but not Stan or Paramount+
2023 – May. VOZ becomes publicly available data but not in its final form. VOZ aims to eliminate double counting and other inaccuracies in the old system as well as including streaming data with linear data. VOZ means Australia will be among the first countries in the world with an industry-agreed way to “de-duplicate” how many people are watching shows and ads through a TV aerial and through a broadcast video on-demand app like 7plus, 10 Play or SBS On Demand.
2024 – VOZ goes live with national reach, average and bvod data, streaming data ceases to be available separately. Regtam ceases separate reporting.
2024 – Foxtel announces withdrawal from Oztam citing 40% undercounting in ratings data. Foxtel announces Kantar.
2025 – Foxtel STV and streaming data ceases to be reported by Oztam.
2025 – US cable ratings begin to be reported again
2026 – Extended US Cable reporting ceases.

The Foxtel Issue

In March 2013, it was reported that Rupert Murdoch’s TV and streaming company Foxtel was fighting claims it is overstating its audience on key entertainment and sports content, including NRL and AFL broadcasts, which could reduce how much money it receives from advertisers.

According to the SMH, Multiple media sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly, claim Foxtel is misstating data it receives from OzTAM by combining it with internal data and failing to remove duplicate audiences across its services, such as Foxtel IQ, Foxtel Go, Binge and Kayo Sports.

The sources said Foxtel was told its audiences may be overstated by between 30 per cent and 40 per cent

Later in March 2013, it was reported that Rupert Murdoch’s Foxtel may have inadvertently overstated audiences on key sports matches by as much as 40 per cent, an issue that has forced TV ratings provider OzTAM to rapidly update the way it measures the pay TV and streaming company’s data.

In September 2024, Australia’s TV ratings agency OzTAM has announced that Foxtel has chosen to withdraw from its measurement data from the end of the year.

In October 2024, Foxtel Media announced it will launch a new total audience measurement solution, Kantar, to better capture and report the viewing habits of all of the Foxtel Group’s 4.8 million linear and streaming subscribers.

Foxtel reportedly finds Kantar to be more to their liking with previous OzTAM reporting 49 per cent of half-hour slots with zero ratings across Foxtel programming in August 2024, compared to 2 per cent with the new measurement solution.

From January 1, 2025, no Foxtel data is available in either streaming or STV data. Foxtel ratings now supplied on occasion by broadcaster or sports league.