The Australia v Japan match on Saturday created a new Australian pay TV record audience with an average of 419,000 people watching the game on Fox Sports.

The Asian Cup quarter final clash had a higher average audience than any program in the history of Australian pay TV, as well as a peak audience of 515,000 during the penalty shoot out.

The match, which saw Australia knocked out in heart-breaking circumstances, also attracted a total audience of 1,029,000, according to ratings recorded by OzTAM Data.

“This is a watershed result for Fox Sports and subscription TV,” said CEO David Malone. “To achieve audiences of this magnitude is a clear indication of the significant growth in subscription TV and further evidence of the viewing numbers we can deliver.

“It also reinforces Fox Sports' investment in Australian sport and the fans are reciprocating by embracing the Socceroos, NRL, AFL, Wallabies and the other sports and teams we proudly broadcast.”

The previous pay TV record was 415,000 (an innings of a New Zealand v Australia Chappell Hadlee cricket match).

The Australia v Japan figure follows the earlier clash between Australia and Oman, which attracted an average audience of 345,000.

Fox Sports will continue to televise the AFC Asian Cup with the two semi-finals on Wednesday night, the third-place play-off on Saturday night and Sunday's final.