The recent Ashes series has proven to be a monumental success for the Seven Network, delivering unprecedented television and streaming audiences that have set new benchmarks for summer cricket in Australia.
Unprecedented Audience Numbers Across the Series
The 2025-26 Ashes campaign reached a staggering 14.2 million Australians across the five-Test series. It now stands as the highest-rated Test series ever broadcast on the Seven Network, boasting an average total TV audience of 1.19 million viewers per match. This figure represents a significant 12 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The shift towards digital consumption was even more dramatic. On average, 196,000 viewers streamed each session on 7plus Sport, marking an extraordinary 103 per cent surge year-on-year. This highlights a rapidly growing trend of audiences, particularly younger ones, choosing to watch via digital platforms.
Boxing Day Test Smashes All Records
The pinnacle of the summer was the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, which shattered multiple records. It became Seven's highest-rated Test match ever, attracting an average total TV audience of 1.52 million people, up by 16 per cent from the previous year.
Streaming numbers for the match were equally impressive, with an average of 246,000 people watching each session on 7plus Sport—a 94 per cent jump. A specific session, Day 1 Session 3, achieved a historic milestone. It reached 3.4 million viewers nationally and secured a national audience of 1.84 million, while also setting a new cricket streaming record with 299,000 concurrent streams on 7plus Sport.
Strong Finish and Executive Reaction
The series concluded powerfully with the Fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, headlined by the poignant Jane McGrath Day. The match reached over 7.4 million Australians across its five days.
Seven Network's Director of Sport, Chris Jones, hailed the results as "an unbelievable start to the Summer of Cricket." He noted that audience interest remained incredibly high even after Australia retained the Ashes earlier in the series. "With new, younger audiences flocking to 7plus to stream the cricket, paired with a growing linear broadcast audience, it’s a powerful reflection of the nation’s passion for the sport," Jones stated.
Joel Starcevic, Seven's Head of Cricket, added that the series "reaffirmed cricket’s place at the heart of Australian sport." He also looked ahead to the continuing Big Bash League and the upcoming women's series against India starting February 15.
Test-by-Test Ratings Breakdown
The series built momentum from the very beginning:
- First Test: Reached 6.2 million; average TV audience of 1.15 million (up 57%); streaming up 232%.
- Second Test: Reached 8.06 million; average TV audience of 1.21 million (up 36%); streaming up 180%.
- Third Test: Reached 7.64 million; average TV audience of 1.08 million (up 35%); streaming up 201%.
- Fourth Test (Boxing Day): As above, with record-breaking figures.
- Fifth Test (SCG): Reached 7.47 million; average TV audience of 1.14 million; streaming up 27%.
The broadcast was supported by Seven's acclaimed commentary team, featuring experts like Ricky Ponting, Stuart Broad, Justin Langer, and Alison Mitchell. The success has also flowed into the Big Bash League, with its total TV audience up five per cent and streaming on 7plus Sport skyrocketing by 109 per cent.
