Seven’s night in metro and regional markets. Nine was second, Ten third and the ABC fourth, but in the metros that disguised some mixed results in the various capitals. Seven won Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide (the main channels) and Perth. Nine won Melbourne, won Total People in Brisbane and that was that. But the ABC (thanks to The Killing Season) ended up third in Sydney and Brisbane, pushing Ten back to fourth. Ten managed second in Perth and with the ABC, pushed Nine back to fourth spot.

The Killing Season is a rarity in Australian TV. The second part actually added to its opening audience last week, with 1.312 million nationally against 1.308 million last week (4,000 viewers only I know, but it’s up). The gains came in the regionals while the metro audience was down around 18,000. After wading through the first part (it’s amazing the audience didn’t drop) we got to the crunchy bits and they were worth the wait. Now for the final episode next week. It again underlines how far the ABC (and SBS for that matter) are ahead of the commercial networks in TV News and current affairs. But it should also be pointed that the commercials are wittingly or unwittingly responding to the rapid change in media consumption younger people. They get theirs from social media at an increasing rate and especially Facebook. TV News and current affairs is the preserve of the older (ABC and SBS) viewer, and we are the dying demo and the wider community will be the poorer for this dramatic change, no matter what social media companies say and do.

Just look at the demos last night — it was the 14th most watched program for every demo up to 25 to 54s, which is still the core group watching TV (18 to 49’s are the most desirable). For viewers 55 and over, it was the fourth most watched program with around 60% of its metro audience of 968,000 in that demo. For all the chat, gossip and comment on websites today about last night’s episode, it is all hot air so far as the bulk of the under 55s in the Australian population. That’s what last night’s demo break down tells us.

Nine News dominated the night — on top nationally and in metro markets. It beat Seven News in Melbourne by 226,000 viewers, 54,000 in Sydney and 44,000 in Brisbane. In the morning Sunrise was a narrower winner over Today 315,000 to 294,000 — almost nothing in it.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (26.6%)
  2. Nine (25.7%)
  3. Ten (22.4%)
  4. ABC (20.4%)
  5. SBS (4.8%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (20.3%)
  2. Nine (18.2%)
  3. Ten (17.0%)
  4. ABC (16.0?%)
  5. SBS ONE (3.8%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. GO (4.7%)
  2. 7TWO (3.2%)
  3. 7mate (3.1%)
  4. ABC2 (3.0%)
  5. Gem (2.8%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.755 million
  2. House Rules (Seven) — 1.739 million
  3. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.461 million
  4. Home and Away  (Seven) – 1.387 million
  5. Seven News — 1.321 million
  6. ABC News — 1.315 million
  7. The Killing Season (ABC) — 1.312 million
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.216 million
  9. Nine News 6.30 — 1.126 million
  10. Love Child (Nine) — 1.101 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.261 million
  2. Nine News 6.30 — 1.126 million
  3. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.096 million
  4. Seven News — 1.005 million
  5. House Rules (Seven) — 1.004 million

Losers: Julia Gillard. In the first part of The Killing Season  we got to juicy bits towards the end, which sort of made up for being bored asleep by the climate change stuff.  But there is a crucial problem, how can you be sympathetic to Kevvie Rudd? I mean, it’s too hard. And then there’s Julia Gillard blotting her holier than thou copybook last night. No wonder Rudd and his supporters hate her so much.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.261 million
  2. Nine News 6.30 — 1.126 million
  3. Seven News — 1.005 million
  4. A Current Affair (Nine) — 983,000
  5. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 949,000
  6. ABC News  — 889,000
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 705,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 695,000
  9. Foreign Correspondent (ABC) — 672,000
  10. Ten Eyewitness News — 617,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 315,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 294,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC 111,000 + 29,000 on News 24) — 140,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 132,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) —  121,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 78,000

Top pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8  (2.9%)
  2. LifeStyle  (2.2%)
  3. TVHITS (2.1%)
  4. UKTV (1.8%)
  5. Arena. Nick Jr (1.6%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Wentworth (SoHo) – 109,000
  2. Back Page (Fox Sports 1) — 102,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 91,000
  4. Family Guy (Fox8) – 89,000
  5. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 86,000

*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.