Glenn Dyer's TV ratings: no fairytale ending for Once Upon a Time

Seven lost last night in metro markets but won the main channels in regional markets in a closer ending to what was another poor night for viewers.

Seven replaced the weak Once Upon A Time in the 9.15pm timeslot with a not so special special called Dynamo The Magician Impossible at 9.15pm, which didn’t perform any magic on the network’s performance last night. More like Mission Impossible, with 1.038 million national/ 674,000 metro/ 364,000 regional viewers. It was easily beaten by Nine’s Footy Shows (1.280 million national/ 927,000 metro/ 353,000 regional viewers) from 8.30pm. Once Upon A Time was pushed back to 10.15pm, where it almost disappeared (Dynamo’s doing?). It was an even bigger flop (357,000 national/ 218,000 metro/ 135,000 regional viewers).

But for Seven there was another win by House Rules over Nine’s The Block nationally, metro and regional markets. This is now one of the most important program moves for 2014. Much to my surprise Seven now has a program that will grow ratings next year, while The Block has peaked and will probably lose ground next year as viewer ennui sets in. This will put enormous pressure on Seven because The Block is one of its cornerstone programs of the ratings year. House Rules had 1.864 million national/1.219 million metro/ 645,000 regional viewers v The Block with 1.699 million national/ 1.174 million metro/ 525,000 regional viewers.

7.30, with its report on 457 visa rorts at Qantas and then Lateline, with its report on how a senior NSW police officer had shredded years of notes and comments regarding dealings and investigations of alleged s-x crimes by Catholic priests and other discussions, confirmed that the ABC is the only TV broadcaster seriously probing current issues in this country. Seven and Nine and Ten do break stories, but not with the consistency of ABC programs such as Lateline, Four Corners or 7.30. Stories with a political bent, such as 457 visas or s-xual abuse issues seem to be very light on in current affairs news programs on commercial TV lately.

Network channel share:

Seven (31.4%)
Nine (27.0%)
Ten (18.6%)
ABC (16.5%)
SBS (6.6%)

Network main channels:

Nine (23.7%)
Seven (21.5%)
Ten (13.0%)
ABC1 (11.8%)
SBS ONE (5.6%)

Top digital channels:

GO (5.2%)
Eleven (3.5%)
ABC2 (2.9%)
7mate, Gem (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

Seven News — 1.913 million
Nine News — 1.911 million
House Rules (Seven) — 1.864 million
The Block (Nine) – 1.699 million
Home and Away (Seven) — 1.532 million
ABC1 News — 1.455 million
Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.339 million
A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.283 million
The Footy Shows (Nine) — 1.280 million
7.30 (ABC1) — 1.156 million

Top metro programs:

Nine News — 1.332 million
Seven News — 1.259
House Rules (Seven) — 1.219 million
The Block (Nine) — 1.174 million
A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.08 million
Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.025 million

Losers: Us viewers last night, apart from House Rules and The Block.Metro news and current affairs:

Nine News — 1.332 million
Seven News — 1.259
A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.08 million
Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.025 million
ABC1 News — 979,000
7.30 (ABC1) — 751,000
Ten News — 687,000
The Project (Ten) – 546,000
Lateline (ABC1) — 267,000
Ten Late News — 248,000

Metro morning TV:

Today (Nine) – 325,000
Sunrise (Seven) – 323,000
News Breakfast (ABC1) – 47,000 + 31,000 on News 24

Top five pay TV channels:

TV1 – (2.7%)
Fox 8 (2.6%)
LifeStyle – (2.5%)
Disney- (1.7%)
UKTV (1.6%)

Top five pay TV programs:

AFL: 360 (Fox 8) – 98,000
The Simpsons (Fox 8) – 69,000
CSI Miami (TV1) – 63,000
Futurama (Fox 8) – 63,000
Family Guy (Fox 8) – 59,000

*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.) Plus network reports.