The Glenn Dyer breakdown: The X Factor (results) on Seven meant it was another big win for the network last night. Nine was a distant second, the ABC third and Ten fourth. The X Factor had more than 1.4 million metro and more than 2.1 million national viewers. Because of the Brownlow on Monday night, The X Factor was shifted to Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a bonus episode tonight.

Big Brother on Nine from 7-8.30 was the only other non-news program to reach a million metro viewers last night (1.013 million, and 1.34 million national viewers). Home and Away had 992,000 metro and more than 1.46 million national viewers, so the now usual pattern of BB just winning in the five metro markets continues, as does the big national wins for Home and Away, which of its greater audience in regional markets where BB is really on the nose. Seven’s Criminal Minds had more than 1.36 million national viewers as well (945,000 metro at 8.30pm).

Ten’s Puberty Blues had 653,000 metro and 885,000 national viewers. Just enough to keep it in the game.

Gruen Planet had 913,00 metro and 1.25 million national viewers. It is really set in its format now and getting too familiar. The Chaser’s Hamster Wheel returned to OK figures, 784,000 metro and 1.07 million national viewers. It was like the first episode of series one, a bit rusty and slow. Series one perked up as it got older, so hopefully this one will follow suit.

But the most interesting bit of data from the ratings last night was the continuing weakness in Melbourne for the Seven (especially its News and Today Tonight). Nine’s Big Brother with 359,000 was again the star, with Nine News on 375,000 (the most-watched program in the market last night, with BB second). Seven’s The X Factor could only manage 333,000 viewers in the Melbourne market. That wasn’t No.1, unlike Sydney where the 477,000 was was easily the biggest audience for any program in any market last night.

Nine’s The Farmer Wants A Wife also had a solid 326,000 viewers, in Melbourne, it’s best in any market. Nine won the night, and although it trails Seven in the week so far, Seven’s underlying weakness for much of this year (especially between 6-7pm) is there for all to see. The weakness at 6pm in Melbourne was there before the network hired former Herald Sun editor Simon Pristel as News boss. Seven is revamping the look for its 6pm news in Melbourne. Its Sydney 6pm news is also weak. Will more of the same in 2013 force Seven’s hand to make even bigger changes?

Tonight: The grand final episodes of the various footy shows Nine at 8.30. Seven has The X Factor tonight, then Criminal Minds (Better Homes and Gardens reunites the network tomorrow night at 7.30). Nine also has Big Brother. Ten hasn’t much at all … its grand final eps of its Game Plan footy shows are on tomorrow night. SBS has its usual menu of foodie programs.

Update: Foot in laptop award to me. Ms Crabb’s Kitchen Cabinet starts on October 10, not the sixth on ABC 1. Joe Hockey is the first taster. Will desert be ‘Budget Black Hole Crumble? or a Fiscal Fool?

And, despite local opposition in Bondi, the all-stars version of Nine’s The Block goes into production next month to be finished in December. A separate series of non-all-stars is also planned. Camera crews and other production people have been assembled. Bondi was the scene of the first and most successful The Block nine years ago.

The top 10 national programs (metro & regional combined):

  1. The X Factor – Results (Seven) — 2.122 million.
  2. Seven News — 1.739 million.
  3. Nine News — 1.553 million.
  4. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.468 million.
  5. 7pm ABC 1 News — 1.420 million
  6. The Farmer Wants A Wife (Nine) — 1.415 million.
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.368 million.
  8. Criminal Minds Seven) — 1.365 million.
  9. Big Brother (Nine) — 1.343 million.
  10. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.325 million.

The metro winners:

  1. The X Factor — Results (Seven, 7.30pm-ish) — 1.415 million.
  2. Seven 6pm News — 1.209 million.
  3. Today Tonight (Seven, 6.30pm) — 1.112 million.
  4. Nine 6pm News — 1.083 million,.
  5. 7pm ABC 1 News — 1.049 million.
  6. Big Brother (Nine, 7pm) — 1.013 million.

The losers: Ten, again. Seven in Melbourne.

Metro news and current affairs: Seven News and TT won everywhere bar Melbourne where Nine News and ACA won. ACA was beaten by 134,000 viewers in Perth, which helped contribute to the surprising fall for the program last night compared with earlier in the week.

  1. Seven 6pm News — 1.209 million.
  2. Today Tonight (Seven, 6.30pm) — 1.112 million.
  3. Nine 6pm News — 1.083 million,.
  4. 7pm ABC 1 News — 1.049 million.
  5. A Current Affair (Nine, 6.30pm) — 892,000.
  6. 7.30 (ABC 1, 7.30pm) — 714,000.
  7. Ten News At Five (Ten, 5pm) — 650,000.
  8. The Project (Ten, 6.30pm) — 557,000.
  9. The Project (Ten, 6pm) — 418,000.
  10. Lateline (ABC 1, 10.40pm) — 231,000.
  11. World News Australia (SBS ONE, 6.30pm) — 167,000.
  12. The Business (ABC 1, 11.15pm, rpt) — 134,000.
  13. Ten News Late (Ten, 10.30pm) — 113,000.
  14. World News Late (SBS ONE, 10.30pm) — 69,000.
  15. The Drum (News 24, 10pm, rpt) — 49,000.

In the morning: More viewers discovered Ten’s Breakfast yesterday; will they return is still the question?

  1. Sunrise (Seven, 7am) — 351,000.
  2. Today (Nine, 7am) — 282,000.
  3. The Morning Show (Seven, 9am) — 186,000.
  4. Mornings (Nine, 9am) — 124,000.
  5. News Breakfast (ABC 1, 7am — 53,000 + 26,000 on News 24*.
  6. Breakfast (Ten, 7am) — 50,000.

*On News 24 simulcast

Metro FTA: Seven (three channels) won with a share of 33.5%, from Nine (three) on 26.5%, the ABC (four) ended on 17.7%, Ten (three), was on 16.8% and SBS (two) ended on 5.5%. Seven leads the week with 34.1% from Nine on 25.8%, the ABC is on 18.5% and Ten is on 16.8%.

Main channels: Seven won with a share of 24.4%, from Nine on 21.5%, ABC 1 was on 14.0%, Ten was on 10.2% and SBS ONE, 4.5%. Seven leads the week with 26.3% from Nine on 19.8%, ABC 1 was on 14.4% and Ten is on 10.8%.

Metro Digital: 7TWO won with a share of 4.9% from 7mate on 4.2%, ONE was on 3.4%, Eleven ended on 3.2%, GO was on 3.0%, Gem and ABC 2 were on 2.0% each, SBS TWO ended on 1.0%, News 24, 0.9% and ABC 3 was on 0.8%. The 10 digital channels had an FTA viewing share last night of 24.4%. 7TWO leads the week with 4.2% from 7mate on 3.6% and GO on 3.5%.

Metro including pay TV: Seven (three channels) won with a share of 27.8%, from Nine (three) on 22.0%, the ABC (four) ended on 14.7%, Ten (three), was on 14.0% and SBS (two) ended on 4.6%. The 15 FTA channels had a total viewing share last night of 85.0%. That was made up of 21.3% for the 10 digital channels and 63.7% for the five main channels. The 200-plus channels on Foxtel gave pay TV a total viewing share last night of 15.0%.

The top five pay TV channels were:

  1. Fox 8 — 3.2%.
  2. LifeStyle — 2.7%
  3. Nickelodeon, TV1 — 2.1%.
  4. Disney  — 2.0%.
  5. Discovery — 1.8%

The five most-watched programs on pay TV were:

  1. Location, Location, Location Aust. (LifeStyle) — 102,000.
  2. Family Guy (F8) — 95,000.
  3. Family Guy (F8) — 82,000.
  4. The Simpsons (F8) — 82,000.
  5. AFL; 360 (Fox Footy) — 81,000.

Regional: Prime/7Qld (three channels) won with a share of 36.6%, from WIN/NBN (three) on 27.0%, the ABC (four) ended on 15.7%, SC Ten (three), was on 14.5% and SBS (two) ended on 5.7%. Prime/7Qld won the main channels with 24.7%, from WIN/NBN on 21.0%, ABC 1 on 11.6% and SC Ten on 7.7%. 7TWO won the digitals with 6.9%, with 7mate on 5.0% and Eleven on 3.7%. The 10 digital channels had an FTA share last night of 29.0%. Prime/7Qld leads the week with 37.2%, from WIN/NBN on 24.6%, the ABC is on 17.9% and SC Ten is on 15.4%.

The five most-watched programs in regional markets were:

 

  1. The X Factor — 708,000.
  2. Seven News — 532,000.
  3. ACA — 477,000.
  4. Home and Away — 476,000.
  5. Nine News — 471,000.

Major metro markets: Seven won overall and the main channel in four of the five metro markets, the exception being Melbourne, where Nine won. The ABC/ABC 1 were third in all markets bar Perth where Ten was third overall. 7TWO won Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. 7mate won Sydney and ONE won Perth. Seven leads the week everywhere from Nine. Ten is third in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The ABC is third in Sydney and Melbourne.

(All shares on the basis of combined overnight 6pm to midnight All People)

Source: Oztam, TV Networks data