Actually the Origin rated over 3 and a half million.

which is over 3,000,000 down on the boat race.....

In a country with a fraction of the population, 3.5 million is truly wonderful. Surely you agree?

I do.
51,000,000 is the population of England...15.5% of the population watched the Boat race
22,500,000 is the population of Australia...15.5% of the population watched SoO .......

.......ergo, SoO is as popular as the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge

Only shown into 3 of the mainland markets live remember.

But you knew that anyway didn't you.

Some correction here - I would suspect it is the biggest sports program of the year - I would suspect there will be programs with other content that have had higher viewing numbers.

Union is a sport where the revenues are based on the international game - e.g. the six nations. The crowds, TV viewing and revenue numbers dwarf anything that origin can muster - this is not a troll or jealousy this is just putting things into perspective.

If you really want to see a revenue/spectator bonanza - soccer's Champions League - now when Origin gets anywhere near that then come back - the idea that Origin is the biggest thing on the planet simply doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

I am all for promotion but it has to be credible - this "Brand" thing smacked of insecurity

[urlhttp://www.throng.com.au/node/27239[/url

"Last night’s State of Origin opener drove Channel Nine to a smashing ratings victory with the highest rating program of the year."

You suspect wrong troll boy. Feel like a goose? You should.

Origin is huge. You can try and compare it to other crap that is on overseas but here, Origin is massive. That might make your blood boil but it's true. No one says it's "the biggest thing on the planet". It's only trolls like you who try to suggest anyone actually says that so you can slag it off. It's pretty sad that people come on an RL forum to behave in such a way.

To be fair. We looked into this on the NRL forum and discovered that the RU bloke did indeed say this, but the official media release confirmed that it was a potential "reach of 4 billion worldwide" ie, they had that much reach, to that much of the planet. So the main man was talking nonsense, but the official release showed the truth. How many watched it???? Nowhere near 4 billion worldwide.

The other night they said on a couple of occasions they could be seen in up to 40 million homes in the US thanks to Fox Sports. How many over there watched it? Nowhere near 40 million, never mind homes. Good effort though by Mr Crowe, he should be applauded.

Highest rating "program" of the year is nowhere near the most watched event of the year in Australia. That goes to the Royal Wedding. Still Origin is indeed massive in sports terms over here, moreso in 2 states, but it is MASSIVE in those two. Imagine if we truly cracked the other ones? Sal did afterall say[i I would suspect there will be programs with other content that have had higher viewing numbers.[/i

Not having a dig at you ECT, just the aussie media as they have a tendency to chose their words well.

wow the same old arguments over and over

some people on this thread really need to get a life and stop it lol

Yeah

And don't forget it was a pretty low skill game.