Glenn Dyer’s TV ratings — viewers ditch commercial networks for the ABC

Another split night — Seven, Nine and the ABC did well in Sydney overall in that order, but in the main channels, Nine beat Seven and ABC1. In Melbourne Nine won the main channels with the ABC second and Seven third. In Brisbane in was Nine and Seven tying for the overall win, but Nine won the main channels. In Adelaide it was a repeat of Sydney — Seven, Nine and the ABC. But in Perth it was Seven, the ABC and Nine (overall and the main channels).

Seven might have won the ratings in metro and regional markets, but the ABC’s solid political coverage won the night from 7.30pm  to around 9.45pm. The ABC had five of the national top 10 most watched programs last night, when  it usually has just one, ABC News. The news averaged 1.402 million nationally/ 911,000 metro/ 491,000 regional viewers; 7.30 (1.357 million national/899,000 metro/ 458,000 regional viewers), Tony Abbott’s modest entry into the Kitchen Cabinet (1.382 million national/ 921,000 metro/ 462,000 regional viewers), Gruen Nation (1.770 million national/ 1.179 million metro/ 591,000 regional viewers ) and The Hamster Decides (1.335 million national/ 913,000 metro/ 422,000 regional viewers).

For Kitchen Cabinet, Gruen Nation and The Hamster Decides, last night’s figures were close to either 2013 highs or all-time highs. They proved to everyone that political coverage can be done well, with attitude and again made a mockery of the way the commercial networks steer away from similar programs these days.

Big Brother was right off the pace with 1.130 million national/ 807,000 metro/ 323,000 regional viewers. Slideshow on Seven at 7.30 pm averaged 1.402 million national/ 830,000 metro/ 578,000 regional viewers. Some of the usual suspects in the cast last night.

Gruen Nation finished well and had a solid campaign — but too many people on the bench. The last election ad from Poland capped the four program series very nicely. The Hamster Decides was the star, as well as The Roast on ABC2. The Hamster Decides had the funniest piece on the panel shows on TV (including Sky News which is back-to-back agendas and talking heads of very doubtful ability). They also included themselves in the send up.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (28.6%)
2. Nine (26.0%)
3. ABC (22.8%)
4. Ten (8.0%)
5. SBS (4.6%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (19.4%)
2. Nine (18.1%)
3. ABC 1 (17.2%)
4. Ten (12.1%)
5. SBS ONE (3.9?%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 7mate (5.3%)
2. GO (4.6%)
3. 7TWO (3.9%)
4. Eleven (3.6%)
5. ABC 2 (3.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 1.817 million
2. Nine News — 1.791 million
3. Gruen Nation (ABC1) — 1.770 million
4. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.484 million
5. ABC News — 1.402 million
6. Slide Show (Seven) — 1.402 million
7. Kitchen Cabinet (ABC1) — 1.382 million
8. 7.30 (ABC1) — 1.357 million
9. The Hamster Decides (ABC1) — 1.335 million
10. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.328 million

Top metro programs:

1. Nine News — 1.264 million
2. Seven News — 1.183 million
3. Gruen Nation (ABC1) — 1.179 million
4.  A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.088 million
5. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.035 million

Losers: Ten — not really relevant. The much hyped Wonderland was boringly predictable and the spark that was glimpsed in the first episode has faded considerably. Last night’s 973,000 national/ 686,000 metro/287,000 regional viewers suggests the audience thinks along those lines as well. They have got to have a reason to watch (Nina was the reason on Offspring). Ten said Wonderland was number one across the five metro markets in 25 to 54s and under 55’s. But that’s only among the commercial networks because overall, Gruen Nation was number one in 25 to 54s and was solid with male viewers. Females watched Wonderland, but in fewer numbers than the week before and the debut. Many of those missing 25 to 54 viewers were on watching the ABC, and the same applies to Seven and a weak Nine.Metro news and current affairs:

1. Nine News — 1.264 million
2. Seven News — 1.183 million
3. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.088 million
4. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.035 million
5. ABC  News — 911,000
6. 7.30 (ABC 1) — 899,000
7. Ten News At Five — 634,000
8. The Project (Ten)  – 580,000
9. Lateline (ABC1) — 222,000
10. SBS World News — 194,000

Metro morning TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) – 401,000
2. Today (Nine) – 314,000
3. News Breakfast (ABC1, 60,000 + 40,000 on News24) — 100,000

Top pay TV channels:

1. LifeStyle (3.8%)
2. TV1 (2.6%)
3. Fox 8 (2.5%)
4. Fox Sports 2 (2.2%)
5. Fox Classics, UK TV, Sky News  (1.7%)

Top five pay TV programs:

1. Location Location Location Australia (LifeStyle) – 145,000
2. AFL 360 (Fox Footy) – 120,000
3. NRL: 360 (Fox Sports 1) – 87,000
4. Selling Houses Australia  (LifeStyle) – 75,000
5. The Simpsons (Fox 8) – 62,000

Tonight: Kevin Rudd in the Kitchen. Sighhhh!

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. The data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of OzTAM. (All shares on the basis of combined overnight 6pm to midnight all people.) and network reports.