Media briefs and TV ratings, Sep 05, 2007

Seven backs down; acknowledges AFL masters. It’s a cliché that a week is a long time in something or other, but this week we saw it aptly illustrated in TV: specifically the time it took the Seven Network to bite the bullet and make up with the AFL players. A statement issued late yesterday by Seven started:

The Seven Network today announced it would not publish or re-publish any details regarding a news item that went to air on Friday, August 24, 2007 and would consent to continuing the injunctions issued in the Supreme Court proceedings.

The Seven Network values the co-operation it receives from AFL players and sincerely regrets any damage which has been caused to our relationship with the players by virtue of a story which was aired on Friday 24th August.

The word “apology” wasn’t used, but regret is close enough, and that regret is sincerely expressed. But what then are we to make of the comment from Seven’s news and Current Affairs boss, Peter Meakin on Media Watch on Monday night, including this final quote:

Monica Attard: Now the footballers want Seven to apologise. Will Seven apologise?

Peter Meakin: Not at the moment. We’re distressed that they’re upset but we think the primary issue is drugs in sport and you know medical confidentiality is a secondary factor.

So Seven has bitten the bullet and put its commercial interests ahead of whatever news value it saw in the story. Despite its position as the main broadcaster and dominant paymaster of the AFL, the network has been forced to recognise that for all the $260-$280 million it is paying over the life of the current contract, Seven is the servant of the AFL, not the other way round. — Glenn Dyer

Last night’s TV ratings
The Winners: A night well won by Seven, with Nine close up for second (well, closer than Monday night). The most watched program was Seven’s RSPCA Animal Rescue with 1.764 million people at 7.30pm with the 8pm program, Medical Emergency second with 1.707 million. Seven News was next with 1.453 million, followed by Home and Away (1.440 million), Today Tonight (1.418 million), All Saints (1.388 million), A Current Affair (1.350 million), Nine News (1.309 million) and Temptation (1.245 million). Things To Do Before You Die finished with a solid rise to 1.201 million (the “Far East”, how quaint, done in an hour!). The 7pm ABC News averaged 1.141 million people and Ten’s repeat of NCIS had 1.095 million. The second ep of The Simpsons repeats at 8pm averaged 1.038 million, Nine’s repeat of CSI Miami drew 1.022 million and the first Simpsons repeat had 1.013 million. Seven’s Deal or No Deal averaged 925,000. South Side Story on the Russell Crowe’s toy football side, South Sydney, averaged 650,000.

The Losers: Numb3rs on Ten at 9.30pm: 796,000 for a new ep isn’t real hot. It was beaten by the recovering Life Begins on Seven with 833,000. Nine’s Crime Investigations Australia fell below the million viewer mark and will continue to fade away. Viewers are not strongly attracted to endless re-enactments and “what if” questions. It and The Sopranos (463,000) at 10.45pm, kept Nine in the hunt last night. Is it true that the Sunday program will see a change this week at 8am (its in between the USA Open tennis)?

News & CA: Seven News and Today Tonight won nationally but both lost Melbourne and Brisbane. The Ten News averaged 889,000; the Late News/Sports Tonight, 400,000. The 7.30 Report averaged 814,000; Lateline, 193,000; Lateline Business 103,000. Nightline, 344,000. SBS News, 191,000 at 6.30pm; 179,000 at 9.30pm; Insight, 226,000. 7am Sunrise, 383,000; 7am Today, 266,000.

The Stats: Seven won with a share of 31.3% (30.3%) from Nine with 28.0% (25.3%0, Ten with 21.4% (24.05), the ABC with 14.7% (13.8%) and SBS with 4.7% (6.5%). Seven won all markets bar Melbourne where Nine trumped it. Seven leads the week, 30.2% to 25.4%. In regional areas a win to Seven through Prime/7 Qld with 32.5% from WIN/NBN with 26.2%, Southern Cross (Ten) with 23.5%, the ABC with 12.9% and SBS with 4.9%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: Last night’s 7.30 Report had another of those boring political point-scoring battles between Joe Hockey and Julia Gillard. The program was saved by the uplifting story which followed a young woman who had received her PHD and participated in ground breaking research on memory after suffering brain damage as a result of mumps and meningitis at a very early age. It was one of the best stories of any kind, on any program, this year. Nicely told, with a minimum of fuss and never mawkish. It more than made up for Shrek and Big Bird arguing about AWAs. Tonight Ten returns Thank God You’re Here and then runs a Nicole Kidman movie at 8.30pm called The Interpreter (viewers run for the hills). Nine has McLeod’s Daughters, RPA (which should do better without House as competition) and Without A Trace. Seven tries that shocker, Las Vegas, in the 8.30pm timeslot. The title of Seven’s program at 7.30pm describes that move: Most Shocking. The highlight is Air Crash Investigations at 9.30pm. Spicks and Specks on the ABC and then The Chaser returns from repetition.