The Winners: Seven News was number 1 with 1.257 million viewers (but not in Sydney). Today Tonight was second with 1.242 million and Nine’s Getaway was 3rd at 7.30pm with 1.162 million. The 7pm repeat of Two and a Half Men averaged 1.103 million in 4th and Nine News was 5th (but first in Sydney) with 1.096 million. A Current Affair was next with 1.075 million and Seven’s new 8.30pm program, Beauty and The Geek Australia started with 1.029 million. CSI faded at 8.30pm on Nine to 1.029 million and Ten’s Glee averaged 1.026 million at 7.30pm. Home and Away scraped into the list with 1.008 million for 10th and the last spot.

The Losers: Viewers of Beauty and The Geek. They should really get the meritorious viewing award. Nine’s Secret Millionaire at 9.30pm: 926,000. Burn Notice on Ten at 9.30pm, 749,000. Rush at 8.30pm on Ten, 871,000. Ghost Whisperer on Seven at 7.30pm, 841,000. Not great for both programs.

News & CA: Seven News again won nationally and in every market but Sydney where Nine won. Today Tonight won over ACA, which lost ground in Sydney from the News (330,000 down to 306,000). Ten News averaged 731,000; the late News/Sports Tonight, 445,000. The 7pm ABC News, 983,000 nationally. The 7.30 Report, 757,000. Lateline, 345,000, Lateline Business, 174,000. SBS News at 6.30pm, 175,000; 151,000 for the 9.30pm edition. 7am Sunrise, 396,000, 7am Today, 296,000.

The Stats: Nine won with a combined 6 pm to midnight All People share of 28.8% (30.0%), Seven was second with 26.1% (26.7%), then Ten with 21.9% (22.1%), the ABC with 18.6% (16.3%) and SBS with 4.7% (4.8%). Nine won all five metro markets. Nine leads the week, 32.6% to 25.8%.

Digitally: A draw between ABC 2 and Go. ABC 2 was on 1.70%, with ABC 1 on 16.90%, Nine’s Go was also on 1.70% with Nine’s main channel on 17.10%. Ten’s One averaged 1.50%, Ten’s main channel was on 20.40% and SBS TWO was on 0.60% and ABC ONE was on 4.0%.

In regional markets a win to WIN/NBN with 30.8% from Prime/7Qld with 25.0%, Southern Cross (Ten) with 21.0%, the ABC with 18.1% and SBS with 5.1%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: A Current Affair went the free plug for Secret Millionaire, after a free plug for Hey Hey Its Saturday. Today Tonight promised a look for Friday night at the latest Aussie girl to go Playboy.

Seven started a program called Beauty and The Geek Australia. It is one of those “Oh dear, why did they do it” programs. Likewise Secret Millionaire on Nine. The show is hosted by Russell Crowe. As the Sydney Morning Herald’s CBD column revealed this morning about last night’s rich person:

But it seems that Crowe did not look too far to find well-off people wanting to show their compassionate sides. The guest on last night’s show was the property developer and owner of Trivest, Albert Bertini, who is helping redevelop the retail and commercial space at Crowe’s beloved Souths Leagues Club.

Bertini co-owns High Concept Commercial with Crowe’s fellow Rabbitoh owner Peter Holmes a Court, a firm that paid $7 million for the club in Chalmers Street, Redfern, in 2007.

Another guest on Rusty’s show will be Derek Leddie, who sold his market research firm The Leading Edge to Photon Group for $15 million in 2004. The goatie-bearded Leddie lives near Crowe on Finger Wharf, Woolloomooloo.

Seven News was beaten in Sydney by Nine News, 330,000 to 320,000, for the second night in the past three. The problems deepen. ACA remains weak in Sydney. Daylight savings is playing havoc with early evening audiences as usual, but it was such a cold and miserable day and night in Sydney yesterday that audiences were trapped, but didn’t watch. School holidays are not helping either.

TONIGHT: Better Homes and Gardens on Seven. Nothing else. Ten has The 2007 movie of The Simpsons.

SATURDAY: Car racing on Seven for those with a desire for carbon abuse. a new Rockwiz on SBS after a new Iron Chef. Apart from that, head for the hills, it’s boring TV or go out.

SUNDAY: Back to normal. Sunday Night on Seven at 6.30pm. Rescue Special Ops on Nine at 8.30pm. Rove at 9.30 pm. Australian Idol for those young at heart and eager to be bored. the ABC has new episodes of Jonathan Creek starting at 8.30pm.

Source: OzTAM, TV Networks reports