A close night in metro markets, but not in the regions where narrow results from the two previous nights were forgotten as Seven sprinted to a big, big lead. In metro markets Seven won Total People by 2 points, in the regions it was by 9 points. Nine won Sydney and Melbourne, Seven won the rest, but in Adelaide and Perth, Ten beat NIne into second place. Masterchef Australia proved it is the most popular of the trio of so-called reality programs, at least in metro markets (and second nationally). Seven’s House Rules pulled itself further away from Nine’s spoiler Reno Rumble in metro markets, and maintained the big gap in the regions, where Masterchef Australia continues to underperform, but nowhere near as much as Reno Rumble. Helping Seven was a solid performance by Criminal Minds, especially in the regions. Nine News topped the night nationally and was second in the metros.

The metro performances of the big three reality shows has Masterchef Australia well in front, with House Rules starting to pull clear of Reno Rumble as viewers start to make up their minds about the two. But in the regions House Rules does rule: it had 492,000 regional viewers last night to Masterchef Australia’s 374,000 and Reno Rumble back on 287,000. That weak performance saw Reno Rumble struggle into 10th spot nationally, while House Rules was 276,000 viewers ahead in fifth place. Masterchef Australia was second. The upshot is that Ten continues to add viewers compared to a year ago.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (27.7%)
  2. Nine (25.7%)
  3. Ten (24.4%)
  4. ABC (16.4%)
  5. SBS (5.9%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (19.0%)
  2. Nine (18.4%)
  3. Ten (17.8%)
  4. ABC (12.0%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.1%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.9%)
  2. GO (4.2%)
  3. 7mate (3.9%)
  4. Eleven (3.8%)
  5. Gem (3.2%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.580 million
  2. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.502 million
  3. Seven News — 1.3641 million
  4. Home and Away (Seven) – 1.313 million
  5. House Rules (Seven) — 1.255 million
  6. ABC News — 1.158 million
  7. Criminal Minds (Seven) — 1.145 million
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.055 million
  9. Nine News 6.30 — 1.033 million
  10. Reno Rumble (Nine) — 979,000

Top metro programs:

  1. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.127 million
  2. Nine News — 1.099 million
  3. Seven News — 1.041 million
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 1.033 million

Losers: The Weekly. It added 122,000 viewers to 892,000. The metro audience picked up last night. Sympathy viewing? No, it was better last night, but they should have let Charlie Pickering’s opening rant go longer, it was his best, and most coherent so far.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.099 million
  2. Seven News — 1.041 million
  3. Nine News 6.30 — 1.033 million
  4. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 955,000
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) –  862,000
  6. ABC News  – 818,000
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 667,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 656,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 600,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 491,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 333,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 294,000
  3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 134,000
  4. News Breakfast (ABC 101,000 + 29,000 on News 24) — 130,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) — 122,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 51,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8  (2.8%)
  2. TV, LifeStyle  (2.3%)
  3. UKTV (1.8%)
  4. Sky News (1.6%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. The Flash (Fox8) – 156,000
  2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 109,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 76,000
  4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 68,000
  5. Sterlo: On The Couch (Fox Sports 1) – 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.