The Front Bar (Image: Seven)

Nothing of any note last night. Not a thing on free to air TV except the cricket version of The Front Bar –– 410,000 for Seven, in prime time. How daring of Seven programmers! Merv Hughes was his usual entertaining self. Good value, like his cricket. Mick Lewis, self-deprecating about his brief international career. Like the AFL version, it is a combination of pub sport/FM radio breakfast humour that Melbourne does better than Sydney (eg Have You been Paying Attention on Ten).

On Foxtel the second semi-final in the Women’s Big Bash League had 70,000 people watch, followed by Outback Opal Hunters with 69,000, along with the lead up to the Big Bash League semi.

The After Dark barkers on Sky News were beaten again. Jones was watched by 60,000 in fourth slot.

Seven from Nine, the ABC and Ten. Snorrrrre.

The digital channels had a combined share of 39.2%. Earlier in the week it was a touch over 35%.

It’s always the best sign of viewers searching for something more interesting than the dross on the main channels at this time of year (summer).

In breakfast, Sunrise had 443,000 national and 253,000 metro viewers; Today with 323,000/219,000; ABC News Breakfast 313,000/212,000.

In regional markets Seven News 6.30, 491,000; Seven News, 490,000; Home and Away, 359,000; The Chase Australia 5.30pm 313,000; 7pm ABC News, 303,000. 

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (29.6%)
  2. Nine (25.7)
  3. ABC (17.9%)
  4. Ten (17.8%)
  5. SBS (8.9%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (18.1%)
  2. Nine (16.2%)
  3. ABC (12.9%)
  4. Ten (9.7%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.5%)

Top 5 digital channels:

  1. 7mate (5.0%)
  2. 10 Bold (4.4%)
  3. 7TWO (4.1%)
  4. ABC Kids/Comedy (3.2%)
  5. GO (3.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News 6.30 — 1.38 million
  2. Seven News — 1.36 million
  3. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.003 million
  4. Nine/NBN News — 1.00 million
  5. 7pm ABC News — 929,000
  6. Home and Away (Seven) — 861,000
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 801,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 773,000
  9. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 735,000
  10. Hot Seat (Nine) — 551,000

Top metro programs: None with a million or more

Losers: Even weaker than the previous Thursday night

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News 6.30 — 884,000
  2. Seven News — 867,000
  3. Nine News — 748,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 743,000
  5. 7pm ABC News – 627,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) — 565,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 516,000
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 403,000
  9. Ten News First 6pm — 294,000
  10. The Project 6.30 (Ten) — 229,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 443,000/253,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 323,000/2194,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 313,000/212,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 185,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) – 136,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 51,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Cricket: Second WBBL Semi-Final (Fox Cricket) — 70,000
  2. Outback Opal Hunters (Discovery), The Blast final (Fox Cricket) — 69,000
  3. Alan Jones (Sky News) — 60,000
  4. Chris Smith Tonight (Sky News) — 47,000