The last week of non-ratings and like the drums in Fernando, you can hear and feel the ratings pressure mounting as Nine, Seven and Ten (and the ABC) step up their onscreen and online spruiking. But apart from the sport, there’s nothing much on the screen to hold us in front of the box in eager anticipation … more like resignation. So it’s no wonder TV sport shines like a beacon of sanity, except for them drums of promotion … remorseless, never ending. A bit like the drums in a B-grade movie about Africa from the 1940s, 50s or 60s.

Now, in the new era of knighthoods for Prince Phil and Captain’s Calls, my dilemma tonight will seem a little lightweight, but it is still important.  The question is simple: what do I watch tonight (and you, dear reader)?  Do I support Australian playing the UAE in the semi-final of soccer’s Asian Cup in Newcastle;  or should I be watching Nick K take on Andy (the Scott/Briton) Murray at the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne? Will it be the done thing to watch one and abandon the other?  It is in fact a rare dilemma. I think I will do my national duty.

Although we are not in ratings, the morning shows on a holiday morning yesterday were interesting. Seven’s Sunrise had 374,000 metro viewers and clearly beat Today on Nine, which had just 245,000, while Ten’s Studio 10 had its best ever figures of 100,000 metro viewers. Nine’s figures last night were confused by the abandoning of the One Day International cricket match between Australia and India because of rain in Sydney. Instead of the ODI Nine ran A Current Affair and repeats of The Big Bang Theory.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (34.9%)
  2. Nine (24.5%)
  3. Ten (19.6%)
  4. ABC (14.9%)
  5. SBS (6.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (23.6%)
  2. Nine (16.6%)
  3. Ten (13.3%)
  4. ABC (10.0%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.7%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (6.7%)
  2. Gem (4.8%)
  3. 7TWO (4.6%)
  4. ONE (3.6%)
  5. GO (3.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.592 million
  2. Seven News — 1.295 million
  3. Tennis, Australian Open Night 8 (Seven) — 1.180 million
  4. ABC News — 1.124 million
  5. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.029 million
  6. ODI abandoned, but includes The Big Bang Theory and A Current Affair (Nine) — 969,000
  7. Ten Eyewitness News — 911,000
  8. ODI abandoned, but includes The Big Bang Theory and A Current Affair — 835,000
  9. 7.30 Summer — 787,000
  10. Tennis Day 8 (Seven) — 738,000

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.077 million
  2. Seven News — 1.031 million
  3. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.028 million

Losers: Tennis haters, again. Tonight they will be joined by soccer haters.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.077 million
  2. Seven News — 1.031 million
  3. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.028 million
  4. ABC News — 750,000
  5. Ten Eyewitness News — 654,000
  6. 7.30 Summer (ABC) — 499,000
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 496,000
  8. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 416,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 374,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 245,000
  3. Mornings (Nine) — 217,000
  4. News Breakfast (ABC 81,000 + 40,000 on News 24) — 121,000
  5. Studio 1o (Ten) — 100,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Soccer: Asian Cup Semi Final 1 (Fox Sports 4) – 128,000
  2. Top Gear (BBC Knowledge) – 84,000
  3. Selling Houses Australia (LifeStyle) – 79,000
  4. Coast Australia (History Channel) – 67,000
  5. Double Your House For Half The Money (LifeStyle) – 66,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2015. 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.