Re: TV ratings reporting, the AFL and Seven.

Under Sevens broadcast arrangement with the AFL, they show Thu N, Fri N, Sat N, Sun A fixtures. They also show local teams in local markets outside of Victoria that are Foxtel produced. The difference between the AFL FTA average ratings data, and the Seven average data appears to be that Seven only cares about its designated slots. 

If you take the data as presented thus, Sevens AFL coverage beats Nines NRL coverage on average FTA ratings. However its not the full story.

Now if you are a journo and you havent got a lengthy spreadsheet of data like some of us keep, then you go to Oztam and Seven looking for data. Seven will give you the data it cares most about - which appears to be the Thu/Fri/Sat N broadcasts.

All data originates with Oztam, there is no "independent source". Seven is part owner of Oztam. (as are Nine and Ten)

Throw in a lack of availablity on Foxtel data this season, as well as Oztams move to Reach, and the ratings picture is a mess.  

Seven were unhappy with the ratings reporting and led the push for Reach believing it was more reflective of total audiences. Foxtel stopped working with Oztam altogether alleging that 40% of its ratings went unreported. Paramount, Stan and Optus rarely give ratings data if ever, and while not Australian, SkyNZ also seem reluctant to hand out tasty ratings morsels.