The interim ratings for the Carlton home game against Collingwood on Friday night of 1.512 million viewers is the highest audience for a home and away match for five years (ANZAC Day match in 2007).
The match attracted a market share of 41.1% in Melbourne with 41% of people watching free to air television on Friday night tuned into Carlton’s first home game of the 2012 season.
This comes on top of the 1.29 million viewers for Carlton’s opening round match against Richmond and the interim ratings of 1.046 million viewers for Carlton’s round two match against Brisbane Lions.
“This is the first time in history that we have attracted over one million viewers to each of our first three games of the season and, together with the big crowds that have attended these games, particularly the two played at the MCG, is a very positive result for the Club,” said Carlton CEO Greg Swann.
“Our membership is on target for a new record this year and we hope the positive start to the season, on and off the field, will help us attract 50,000 members for the first time in the Club’s history,” Swann added.
Carlton’s membership is currently over 42,300, three thousand more than for the same time last year. The total membership for 2011 was 44,136.
The successful television viewing audience and crowd numbers to Carlton games to start the 2012 season is set to continue this Saturday when the Blues host the undefeated Essendon at the MCG on Saturday afternoon
