Now that’s what I call a tennis match, indeed a sporting classic. Stan Wawrinka’s five set win over Novak Djokovic late last night will mean Stan will no longer be referred to as Roger Federer’s Olympic doubles partner and fellow gold medalist. The four hour classic, a shorter version of their five hour effort a year ago (won by Djokovic), was the best match of the tournament so far, and why tennis appeals after some boring early games. And just as good was the win by Canadian newbie, Eugenie Bouchard, who beat Ana Ivanovic to move to the semi-final against Li Na for what should be another fine match tomorrow. But will Bouchard be a repeat of last year’s women’s teenage charmer, Sloane Stephens, who made it through to the semis only to be run over by sneaky Victoria Azarenka, who went on to win the title? Azarenka plays her quarter final today. The grunt-o-meter has been activated. The Roger Federer/Andy Murray quarter final tonight looms as the best of the day. Roger’s new, bigger racket against Andy’s limited comeback after back surgery. Seven hopes they go to five sets and rate well.
As a result, it was Seven’s night last night in metro and regional areas, although Nine News and ACA won the 6-7.30 period. But Seven had the biggest audience from 7.30 to 10.30pm, and then beyond as Wawrinka and Djokovic fought out their classic. Ten was squashed — the Big Bash game did OK, but the ABC beat it.
Seven’s 7.30-10.30 tennis coverage had 1.332 million national/896,000 metro/336,000 regional viewers. The late part of the game had 1.147 million national/ 793,000 metro/ 354,000 regional viewers. Ten’s Big Bash had 901,000 national/585,000 metro/ 316,000 regional viewers averaged across the 7.30-11 pm period. ABC1’s New Tricks had 1.196 million national/ 832,000 metro/ 364,000 regional viewers from 8.30 to 9.30 pm.
Update: Ten says it will give Wonderland a second season this year. The cast is the same, featuring Brooke Satchwell, Michael Dorman, Peter Phelps and Tracy Mann. For all Ten’s hype about Wonderland, it was a flat first season for a storyline that had a lot of promise. Instead it has tried to be Offspring without Asher Keddie.
Network channel share:
- Seven (33.8%)
- Nine (24.4%)
- ABC (19.5%)
- Ten (17.6%)
- SBS (4.7%)
Network main channels:
- Seven (26.8%)
- Nine (17.8%)
- ABC1 (13.8%)
- Ten (12.0%)
- SBS ONE (3.7%)
Top 5 digital channels:
- 7TWO (4.3%)
- GO (3.9%)
- ABC2 (3.6%)
- Eleven (3.2%)
- 7mate, Gem (2.7%)
Top 10 national programs:
- Seven News — 1.658 million
- Nine News — 1.655 million
- Australian Open (Seven) — 1.332 million
- ABC News – 1.205 million
- The Big Bang Theory episode 1 repeat (Nine) — 1.202 million
- New Tricks repeat (ABC1) — 1.196 million
- A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.168 million
- Seven’s Tennis Late Night — 1.147 million
- The Big Bang Theory ep 2 repeat (Nine) — 1.136 million
- Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.112 million
Top metro programs:
- Nine News — 1.168 million
- Nine News at 6.30pm — 1.103 million
- Seven News — 1.080 million
Losers: Anyone who likes sport and missed last night’s tennis. Ten’s Big Bash was a colourful, but pale comparison. The Today Tonight summer version currently airing on Seven is tragic.Metro news and current affairs:
- Nine News — 1.168 million
- Nine News at 6.30pm — 1.103 million
- Seven News — 1.080 million
- A Current Affair (Nine) — 949,000
- Today Tonight (Seven) – 884,000
- ABC News — 823,000
- 7.30 Summer (ABC1) — 673,000
- The Project (Ten) — 323,000
- ABC Late Edition (ABC1) — 216,000
- World News Australia (SBS ONE) — 140,000
Metro morning TV:
- Sunrise (Seven) – 326,000
- Today (Nine) – 300,000
- News Breakfast (ABC 1, 65,000 + 38,000 on News 24
- Studio 10 (Ten) — 50,000
- Wake Up (Ten) — 28,000
Top five pay TV channels:
- Fox 8 (3.1%)
- LifeStyle (2.3%)
- TVHITS (2.2%)
- Disney (2.1%)
- A&E (1.7%)
Top five pay TV programs:
- Celebrity Come Dine With Me (LifeStyle) – 102,000
- America’s Next Top Model (Fox 8) – 92,000
- Coronation Street (UKTV) — 72,000
- The Simpsons (Fox 8) – 62,000
- The Carrie Diaries (Fox 8), Regular Show (Cartoon Net – 58,000
*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.
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