Another so-so night, with only the ABC and some of the digital channels showing programs with a spark of interest for viewers. Nine was the most watched network in metro markets. In regional markets Seven won total people, Nine won the demos, Ten had more viewers, ABC easily beat Ten into third in the main channels.

In the race to the bottom of TV’s ratings pond, Nine’s Big Brother with 739,000 national viewers from 8.30 to 9.40pm, was beaten by Seven’s Beauty and The Geek Australia (790,000 average across two episodes from 8 to 9.30pm). Now I don’t know if its a good thing — but on balance, The Beauty and the Geek doesn’t feature as much mindless drivel as we get on Big Brother.

Ten’s Madame Secretary had 786,000 national viewers from 8.30 to 9.30pm. Upper Middle Bogan on ABC at 8.30pm had 878,000 national viewers while at 9pm, It’s A Date had 704,000. For the 8.30 to 9.30pm timeslot ABC1 had 791,000 national viewers so give it to the good programs for the hour. Nine and Seven’s programs had every shrinking groups of 16 to 39 group viewers watching. Ten though pointed out that Madame Secretary won the 8.30 to 9.30pm slot in metro markets, which it did, but not nationally.

Still, I wonder how many Ten executives watched last night’s line-up go to air. Ten’s 2015 program launch was held in Sydney and by all reports a jolly good time was had by all — I wasn’t there. Ten seemed to mislay my invitation this year (as did Foxtel for its launch the week before). A year ago there was a definite whiff of the band playing on the Titanic as the deck chairs re-arranged themselves.

Seven’s only real highlight was another solid win at breakfast by Sunrise with 394,000 metro viewers to Today’s 299,000. ABC’s best performing program nationally was Catalyst with 1.097 million viewers and a top 10 finish, which it deserves.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (28.3%)
  2. Seven (26.4%)
  3. Ten (20.0%)
  4. ABC (19.1%)
  5. SBS (6.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (18.7%)
  2. Seven (15.1%)
  3. ABC (13.4%)
  4. Ten (13.2%)
  5. SBS ONE (5.2%)

Top digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (6.5%)
  2. GO (5.3%)
  3. 7mate . Eleven(4.8%)
  4. GO (4.2%)
  5. ABC2 (3.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.367 million
  2. Kings Cross ER (Nine) — 1.197 million
  3. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.193 million
  4. Seven News  – 1.131 million
  5. Catalyst (ABC) — 1.097 million
  6. ABC News — 1.054 million
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 968,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 918,000
  9. Nine News 6.30 — 918,000
  10. Upper Middle Bogan (ABC) — 878,000

Losers: Viewers except for those watching the ABC — at least it had a go. Seven would have been better off showing Dancing With The Stars than Beauty and the Geek Australia.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 948,000
  2. Nine News  6.30 — 918,000
  3. Seven News  – 866,000
  4. A Current Affair (Nine) – 804,000
  5. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 785,000
  6. ABC News — 721,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 608,000
  8. Ten Eyewitness News — 516,000
  9. The Project 7pm – 491,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm –404,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 394,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 299,000
  3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 136,000
  4. News Breakfast (ABC,  72,000 + 43,000 on News 24) — 115,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) — 96,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 43,000

Top pay TV channels:

  1. LifeStyle  (3.4%)
  2. Fox 8  (2.8%)
  3. Nick Jr, UKTV  (1.9%)
  4. Sky News TVHITS (1.8%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Grand Designs Aust. LifeStyle) – 132,000
  2. The Big Bang Theory (Comedy Channel) — 70,000
  3. Selling Houses Australia (LifeStyle) – 59,000
  4. The Big Bang Theory (Comedy Channel) — 56,000
  5. Family Guy (Fox8) – 56,000

*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.