Glenn Dyer’s TV ratings: the end of The Beast

As expected, My Kitchen Rules’ Grand Finale won last night and won it easily for Seven, but the ratings tell us the format is now a shadow of its incredible self back in 2013. In fact such has been the loss of viewers in the past couple of years (a third or around 1.5 million nationally) that we can now see the end (or at best, a gentle decline) to the program, unless Seven revives it somehow.

Tonight it’s the battle royale of reality programs from 7:30pm. House Rules on Seven, Renovation Rumble on Nine and Masterchef Australia on Ten. There’s so much riding on this battle, especially for Ten. And a nervy morning at the three networks at just after 9am tomorrow as the first ratings arrive. Nine’s Renovation Rumble is nothing but a spoiler to Seven’s House Rules (a little like the way Seven started House Rules several years ago). Including the Rumble. Nine will have renovation programs on its main channel for 42 weeks of the 44 week ratings battle this year — a big ask of viewers.

And did anything else happen last night? Yes, Four Corners ran a ripper of an expose on the reality of fresh food production in this country — the downside of our cafe, eating out boom and the fresh food demands from consumers in our supermarkets and other stores. It was the sort of story Nine (60 Minutes) or Seven (Sunday Night) would have given their back teeth for. But would the have given over a single program to such a complex story?

Good news for The Simpsons addicts — the Murdoch clan’s Fox TV has given the series a two season renewal. At the end of season 28, a total of 625 eps will have been made and aired. And word from Fox is that Family Guy will also be renewed shortly. Earlier Fox had renewed a third cartoon series, Bob’s Burgers as well as live-action comedies New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Last Man on Earth.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (40.5%)
2. Nine (21.0%)
3. ABC (19.6%)
4. Ten (14.1%)
5. SBS (4.8%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (34.3%)
2. Nine (15.7%)
3. ABC (16.0%)
4. Ten (9.2%)
5. SBS ONE (3.6%)

Top digital channels: 

1. 7mate, 7TWO (3.1%)
2. Gem (2.9%)
3. ABC2, ONE (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. My Kitchen Rules Grand Final (Seven) – 2.946 million
2. My Kitchen Rules Winners Announced (Seven) –  2.937 million
3. Nine News –  1.634 million
4. Home and Away (Seven) –  1.557 million
5. Seven News –  1.468 million
6. Four Corners (ABC) –  1.395 million
7. ABC  News–  1.364 million
8. Australian Story (ABC) –  1.332 million
9. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) – 1.249 million
10. 7.30 (ABC) –  1.165 million

Top metro programs:

1. My Kitchen Rules Grand Final (Seven) –  2.082 million
2. My Kitchen Rules Winners Announced (Seven) –  2.039 million
3. Nine News –  1.181 million
4. Seven News –  1.100 million
5. Seven News/ Today Tonight –  1.078 million
6. Nine News 6.30 –  1.076 million

Losers: No one — not on a night when a major reality series has its GF .Metro news and current affairs:

1. Nine News –  1.181 million
2. Seven News –  1.100 million
3. Seven News/ Today Tonight –  1.078 million
4. Nine News 6.30 – 1.076 million
5. ABC News –  944,000
6. Four Corners (ABC) –  922,000
7. A Current Affair (Nine) –  914,000
8. Australian Story (ABC) –  862,000
9. 7.30 (ABC) –  807,000
10. The Project 7pm (Ten) –  785,000

Morning TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) – 345,000
2. Today (Nine) –  334,000
3. Mornings (Nine) –  161,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) –  154,000
5. News Breakfast (ABC 87,000 + 37,000 on News 24) –  124,000
6. Studio 1o (Ten) –  68,000

Top pay TV channels:

1. showcase, Fox8, TVHITS  (2.3%)
2. LifeStyle  (1.9%)
3. Arena (1.8%)

Top five pay TV programs:

1. Game of Thrones (showcase) –  201,000
2. Game of Thrones (showcase) –  156,000
3. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) –  93,000
4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 92,000
5. The Simpsons (Fox8) –  89,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2015. 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.