Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson (Image: ABC)

One figure tells the story of last night. One of the most powerful signs of summer is the combined share for the networks’ non-main channels, 38.0%. It’s a much larger than main channel shares for any of the networks.

Even though there was a heap of repeats and dross on the non-primary channels, the main channels’ offerings forced viewers to look elsewhere (so far no one has produced figures on the diversion of people to streamers Netflix or Stan).

The exceptions last night were again Hard Quiz (894,000 and the most watched non-news program) and Gruen (884,000). That saw the ABC dominate prime time from 7pm (helped by ABC News, 885,000 7.30, 767,000) onwards while the commercial networks showed their hands by screening low cost rubbish. It’s programming by bean-counters.

In breakfast, Sunrise had 452,000 national and 270,000 metro viewers; Today, 296,000 and 202,000; ABC News Breakfast, 283,000 and 175,000.

In regional markets: Seven News, 488,000; Seven News 6.30, 467,000; 7pm ABC News, 278,000; The Chase Australia 5.30pm, 270,000; Nine/NBN News 6.30, 265,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (25.0%)
  2. Nine (24.7%)
  3. ABC (22.0%)
  4. Ten (19.2%)
  5. SBS (9.1%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven, ABC (15.8%)
  2. Nine (15.6%)
  3. Ten 10.3%)
  4. SBS ONE (4.4%)

Top 5 digital channels:

  1. 10 Bold, 7TWO (4.7%)
  2. 10 Peach (3.5%)
  3. ABC Kids/Comedy (3.1%)
  4. 7mate, Gem (2.7%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.34 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.30 million
  3. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.06 million
  4. Nine/NBN News — 1.01 million
  5. Hard Quiz (ABC) — 894,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 885,000
  7. Gruen (ABC) — 884,000
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 822,000
  9. 7.30 (ABC) — 767,000
  10. Border Security (Seven) — 684,000

Top metro programs: None with a million or more viewers

Losers: Viewers of Ten, Nine and Seven, again.

Top Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 847,000
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 835,000
  3. Nine News 6.30 — 793,000
  4. Nine News — 785,000
  5. ABC News – 607,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) — 572,000
  7. 7.30 — 531,00
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten)–— 347,000
  9. Ten News First — 255,000
  10. The Project 6.30 (Ten) — 234,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 452,000/270,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 296,000/202,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 283,000/175,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 199,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) – 131,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 49,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Cricket: ODI, Game 3 Post-Game (Fox Cricket) — 449,000
  2. Cricket: ODI, Game 3 (Fox Cricket) — 383,000
  3. Cricket: ODI, Game 3 (Fox Cricket) — 213,000
  4. Cricket: ODI, Big Break (Fox Cricket) — 161,000
  5. Bolly Week: Legend: Tendulkar (repeat) — (Fox Cricket) — 118,000