You’ll often hear on The Newsreader how “upstairs” wants a change — in newsreaders fronting a bulletin, in journalists covering a story, or in the poor state of the ratings.

The latter appears especially relevant based on last night’s episode of the ABC drama, because “upstairs” is bound to be worried about the audience deserting the well-reviewed series. The Newsreader was down again last night to 639,000, its lowest figures so far.

A better night for Nine’s The Block, which is back to life with 1.15 million, but the network’s 60 Minutes sagged with 649,000. Seven’s Homicide With Ron Iddles lost ground with 779,000 but The Voice was second nationally with 1.682 million. Australian Survivor is hanging in there on Ten with 848,000.

The Paralympics is doing OK — 488,000 in the afternoon, 383,000 in the evening.

Breakfast: Insiders, 721,000;  Landline, 493,000; Weekend Sunrise, 481,000; Weekend Today, 357,000

Regional Top 5: Seven News, 623,000; The Voice, 515,000; Nine News, 446,000; 7pm ABC News, 358,000, The Block, 332,000

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (37.6%)
  2. Nine (26.2%)
  3. Ten (16.4%)
  4. ABC (13.3%)
  5. SBS (6.5%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (28.4%)
  2. Nine (18.9%)
  3. Ten (12.0%)
  4. ABC (9.7%)
  5. SBS ONE (3.6%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7mate (5.7%) 
  2. GO (3.0%)
  3. 7TWO (2.3%)
  4. 10 Bold, Gem (2.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News  — 1.962 million
  2. The Voice (Seven) — 1.682 million
  3. Nine News — 1.579 million
  4. The Block (Nine) — 1.150 million
  5. 7pm ABC News — 1.048 million
  6. AFL (Seven) — 1.025 million
  7. Australian Survivor (Ten) — 848,000
  8. Homicide With Rod Iddles (Seven) — 779,000
  9. Insiders (ABC) — 721,000
  10. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 649,000

Top metro programs: 

  1. Seven News — 1.338 million
  2. The Voice (Seven) — 1.167 million
  3. Nine News — 1.132 million

Losers: The Newsreader  

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.338 million
  2. Nine News — 1.132 million
  3. 7pm ABC News — 690,000
  4. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 484,000
  5. The Sunday Project 7pm (Ten) — 448,000
  6. Nine Late News — 383,000
  7. Ten News First — 321,000
  8. The Sunday Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 192,00
  9. SBS World News — 191,000

Morning (national) TV:

  1. Insiders (ABC, ABC News) — 721,000
  2. Landline (ABC) — 493,000
  3. Weekend Sunrise (Seven) — 481,000
  4. Weekend Today (Nine) — 357,000
  5. Offsiders (ABC) — 272,000
  6. Sports Sunday (Nine) — 248,000

Top 5 pay TV programs:

  1. AFL Semi: Western Bulldogs vs Essendon (Fox Footy) — 291,000
  2. NRL: Penrith vs Wests (Fox League) — 216,000
  3. NRL: Manly vs Canterbury (Fox League) — 191,000
  4. NRL: Sunday Ticket (Fox League) — 189,000
  5. AFL: Finals Footy On Fox (Fox Footy) — 154,000