Nine’s big defeat

The Nine Network slumped to its worst performance of the year last
week, helped by the debacle over the 4:30pm news, which was out, in,
out and finally back in.

Resignations, retirements and new jobs also dominated what was one of
the worst weeks of publicity for the Packer-controlled network and came
after almost four months of consecutive wins over rival Seven Network.

Nine ended the week with a share of 25.8%, equal to its lowest share
this year. Seven was the clear winner with a share of 27.3%. Ten was
third with 22.2%, the ABC was on 14.8%.

Last night’s TV ratings:

The Winners

 Nine, big time. It had the top four programs and five in the top six.
News (1.808 million), 60 Minutes (1.576 million), Backyard Blitz (the tear
jerker episode, 1.515 million), the movie Two Weeks Notice with Hugh Grant and
Sandra Bullock (1.512 million) and You Are What You Eat, sixth with 1.361 million.
Ten’s Big Brother Eviction split them with 1.439 million viewers on average.
Seven’s top programs were the 6pm news with 1.351 million (at number seven) and the Guinness
Book of Records episode in tenth spot with 1.125 million.
The Losers

Seven, in a big black hole, thanks to the Canadian-produced
special on the Bali bombing which sank the network for the night. Just over half
a million viewers: a miserable fourth. The final two hours of the Ashes on SBS: only
464,700 people on average watched the gripping final moments of the second test.
24 on Seven was only watched by 845,100 people over almost two hours. A
disappointing result for the network.
News & CA
Nine News and 60 Minutes were
big winners. ABC’s 7pm news gathered 1.11 million viewers. Mixed results in
the battle of the morning chats; Sunday (Nine) was still the most popular but its
audience fell 70,000 or so to 273,000 people, just ahead of Sportsworld on Seven
with 272,600. Seven’s Weekend Sunrise wasn’t far behind with 261,700, Insiders
on the ABC at 9am had 173,300 people, up a little on the previous Sunday.
Business Sunday (Nine) at 149,200, equal with the half hour My Business on Seven
(but later in the morning at 11am). Inside Business on the ABC was subdued on
89,800, despite having a more rounded program than Business Sunday with an interview with media minister Helen Coonan. Ten’s Meet The Press was watched by
72,300 people.
The Stats

 Nine was an easy winner, a big reverse from the
preceding Sunday night when Seven won. Seven was a poor third, Ten was second,
the ABC was fourth and SBS came in last but was boosted by the cricket. Nine’s share
was 30.9%, to Ten with 22.7%, Seven with 19.5%, ABC with 14.0% and SBS with
12.9%. Nine won everywhere
Glenn Dyer’s
comments

 A good reply from Nine to its big loss last Sunday night. Seven will now find it tough winning this week. The failure of the
Bali special is not good news for Seven, which has been slowly venturing back
into expanded news and current affairs. A lot is riding therefore on a good
result for the premiere of True Stories tomorrow night at 8pm. But before then, the
final episode of Desperate Housewives tonight and the premiere of a new US
series, Grey’s Anatomy. DH should do well over two million people – and Seven hopes
that by exposing them to Grey’s right after will see them return next Monday
night at 8.40pm for the second episode. Nine’s big test tonight is
The Alice at 7:30pm. Ten isn’t
helping by introducing a British woman (who underwent a sex change operation as
a boy of 12 to become a girl) into the Big Brother House. Tasteful, again, Ten.