Remember when television was something you gathered around for? Those days aren’t gone – they’ve just changed shape. In 2025, Australians of all ages still made time for free-to-air TV, whether it was the thrill of live sport, the familiar comfort of news bulletins, or the guilty pleasure of reality shows that had the nation talking.
From record-breaking viewers at the NRL Grand Final to everyday favourites like 7NEWS and A Current Affair, the way we watch may now include screens of all shapes and sizes – but the biggest free-to-air hits still united households from Canberra to Cairns. Here’s a look back at what we watched most in 2025 – and what it says about our changing viewing habits.
A Nation United by News and Sport
It shouldn’t surprise us that practical, live and immediate content dominated the year.
At the top of the ratings pyramid was sport. The NRL Grand Final smashed records, drawing around 4.46 million viewers nationally, making it the most-watched free-to-air broadcast of the year.
Across the year, Rugby League – including the State of Origin series – regularly pulled in multi-millions, showing that few things still capture a national audience like live sport.
And then there’s the daily habit: news. 7NEWS and 9NEWS consistently ranked among the most watched programs each week, reminding us that staying informed remains a free-to-air staple.
Reality and Entertainment: Familiar Faces, Familiar Places
2025 proved that reality TV still pulls its weight – and then some.
Married at First Sight continued its reign as Australia’s highest-rating entertainment program, with episodes averaging about 2.58 million viewers across broadcast and streaming.
The Block wasn’t far behind, especially its Grand Final, which drew around 2.69 million.
The Floor ignited curiosity as one of the season’s most-watched new launches – often topping non-sports ratings.
Couple these with staples like Tipping Point Australia, Lego Masters and Travel Guides, and you can see how familiar formats with a twist continue to win viewers – uniting generations around shared laughter and light competition.
Drama and Daily Rituals
Not every hit was about spectacle. Some were about routine.
Long-running soaps like Home and Away returned strong throughout 2025, regularly cracking top rating slots on weeknights.
And while ABC shows don’t always sit at the very top of raw audience tables, they consistently brought millions to drama, documentary and community-connected content – from The Family Next Door to Australian Story, Hard Quiz and Grand Designs Australia.
These programs are part of the rhythm of ordinary weeks – the comfort shows that slide into your living room at predictable times, reliably watched with cuppas and conversations.
What It All Tells Us
2025 was a year that reaffirmed something many of us already knew: free-to-air TV still matters.
Sporting events remain crown jewels, drawing mass audiences that streaming services would envy. Current affairs and evening news continue to be daily rituals for millions. And our appetite for reality, light entertainment and story-driven programs shows no sign of abating.
At the same time, the viewing landscape is evolving. Networks are now measuring Total TV – combining broadcast and streaming – to capture how audiences watch across platforms, and younger networks like Channel 10 are reporting record streaming growth alongside strong traditional ratings.
In other words: whether it’s live sport, a news bulletin or your favourite Wednesday night show, Australians are still gathering – digitally and physically – around the shared experience of television.
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