Elections, elections — how many ABC correspondents does it take to cover a US election? A whole lot more than is needed. There’s Michael Rowland from News Breakfast, and Chris Uhlmann from the ABC’s Canberra bureau, plus regular Stephanie March, Zoe Daniel and Michael Vincent in the US, Phillip Williams, the ABC’s chief foreign correspondent. Charlie Pickering, the host of The Weekly is there (privately). So a cast of light-bulb changers. Chris Uhlmann stands out as the odd person there. Why? John Barron from Planet America (he’s in the ABC studios in Sydney today) would be more informed and better able to easily explain the oddities of the US electoral and voting systems. He is a trainspotter on the issue who isn’t, well, boring.

Nine and Seven shared the honours in the metros, but Nine had better figures in the demos. In the regions, another big win by Seven.

First Dates on Seven had more oomph than The Block (which is in its predictable phase of setting up the final episode and auction on Sunday night). The Block had 1.313 million national viewers and was the most watched non-news program. First Dates was second. First Dates’ audience edged up to 1.240 million viewers nationally from 1.204 million a week ago (last night was the second episode in this series). The metro audience rose to 854,000 last night from 798,000 a week ago — a development that will please Seven.

Don’t be surprised if First Dates wins the local gong for the best reality program of 2016. It is said to be a favourite.

The top five regional programs were: Seven News, 587,000, Home and Away, 521,000, Seven News/Today Tonight, 476,000, The Block, 416,000, The Chase Australia, 5.30pm, 397,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (30.0%)
  2. Nine (28.5%)
  3. Ten (18.1%)
  4. ABC (16.9%)
  5. SBS (6.6%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (19.2%)
  2. Seven (19.0%)
  3. Ten, ABC (11.8%)
  4. SBS ONE (5.0%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.4%)
  2. 7mate (4.0%)
  3. Gem (4.0%)
  4. GO (3.3%)
  5. One (3.4%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News  — 1.602 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.446 million
  3. Nine News — 1.326 million
  4. The Block (Nine) — 1.313 million
  5. First Dates (Seven) — 1.240 million
  6. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.226 million
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.120 million
  8. 7pm ABC News — 1.116 million
  9. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 977,000
  10. Nine News 6.30 — 933,000

Top metro programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.015 million

Losers: First Dates boosted what was a weak night. Todd Sampson’s Body Hack on Ten had 600,000 national viewers — 450,000 in the metros. Weak for Ten.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.015 million
  2. Nine News  — 997,000
  3. Seven News/Today Tonight — 970,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 927,000
  5. 7pm ABC News — 803,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) —784,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 607,000
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 577,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 463,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 423,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 325,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 299,000
  3. News Breakfast (AB,  105,000 + 61,000 on News 24) — 158,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 164,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 109,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 91,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Australia’s Next Top Model (Fox8) — 98,000
  2. Great Australian Bake-Off  (LifeStyle) — 68,000
  3. Curious George (Nick Jr) — 66,000
  4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 61,000
  5. Back Page (Fox Sports 1) — 60,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. 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.