The metro figures told the story of last night: only two programs with a million or more viewers — Seven News and Seven News/Today Tonight from 6 to 7pm, and perhaps a third, Nine’s 6.30 News component which had 999,000 viewers. From then the figures fell away, despite the line up including Zumbo’s Just Desserts (which did better than Monday night), The Block (which faded, as expected) and Australian Survivor on Ten, (which helped bolster Ten’s performance).

But the grim fact for the networks is that none of the trio managed to crack the million viewer level in the five metro markets. Perhaps had one had not aired last night then the audiences for the remaining duo might have been higher. But that might not have happened automatically such is the level of boredom among viewers about these so-called ‘reality’ programs.

That was underlined nationally where the top four programs were Seven News, Nine News, Seven News/Today Tonight and Home and Away. Just Desserts jumped to fifth nationally from ninth on Monday night. That must have been all those ABC viewers from Monday night who migrated to other networks last night looking for something sweeter than the much weaker line up from the national broadcaster.

Zumbo added around 160,000 people nationally for 1.329 million people nationally with solid support from the regions. 800 Words — which although down on last year and in the metros — continues to do well in the regions. The Block was down because it is not a reveal night and averaged 1.120 million. Australian Survivor helped Ten, but failed to crack the million viewer mark nationally with 987,000.

Married At First Sight was just outside the top 10 with 1.081million and moved from beating 800 Words in the metros ( 810,000 v 742,000) to being beaten nationally. Winners and Losers could only manage 655,000 national viewers from around 9.45pm . That was solid enough, but it is fading towards the departure gate (as one of the stars is doing). In breakfast, Today (310,000) beat Sunrise (288,000) in the metros.

Regionally, the most watched programs were Seven News with 663,000, Home and Away was second with 536,000, Seven News/Today Tonight had 522,000, fourth was The Chase Australia 5.30pm with 501,000 and 800 Words had 452,000. Zumbo was fifth with 448,000 and that is why Seven was an easy winner in the regions.,

Seven won total people, Nine did well in the demos with Married At First Sight. In the regions, Seven had an easy win. Ten moved from fourth on Monday night to third last night, thanks to Australian Survivor replacing Life In Pieces which has vanished without a trace. A case for NCIS, perhaps?

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (29.8%)
  2. Nine (25.8%)
  3. Ten (20.3%)
  4. ABC (18.6%)
  5. SBS (7.0%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (20.5%)
  2. Nine (19.8%)
  3. Ten (14.0%)
  4. ABC (11.7%)
  5. SBS ONE (5.1%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7mate (4.2%)
  2. ABC 2, ONE (3.4%)
  3. 7TWO(3.2%)
  4. GO (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News  — 1.853 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.617 million
  3. Nine News — 1.344 million
  4. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.337 million
  5. Zumbo’s Just Desserts (Seven) — 1.329 million
  6. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 1.215 million
  7. 800 Words — 1.193 million
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.183 million
  9. The Block (Nine) —  1.120 million
  10. ABC News — 1.114 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.190 million
  2. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.095 million

Losers: Winners & Losers on Seven. Fading slowly

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.190 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.095 million
  3. Nine News (6.30pm) — 999,000
  4. Nine News — 976,000
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) – 840,000
  6. ABC News – 756,000
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 718,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 662,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 493,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 452,000

Morning TV:

  1. Today (Nine) – 310,000
  2. Sunrise (Seven) – 288,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  103,000 + 58,000 on News 24) — 161,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 151,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 129,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 72,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. TVHITS  (2.4%)
  2. Fox 8  (2.2%)
  3. Sky News, Nick Jr (1.9%)
  4. LifeStyle  (1.7%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Back Page (Fox Sports 1) — 91,000
  2. Paw Patrol (Nick Jr) — 74,000
  3. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 64,000
  4. Curious George (Nick Jr) – 60,000
  5. Paul Williams Live (Sky News) – 60,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2016. 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.