The Block did well for Nine last night, but it has quickly become a shadow of its earlier series this year with support contracting to Melbourne (especially) and Brisbane last night. In fact Dancing With The Stars’ grand final beat The Block in Sydney. The Block also received moderate support in the regions. As a result, while Nine won the metros main channels and was just pipped by Seven overall, it was a very different story in the regions where Seven was a clear winner. The Block had 1.333 million national viewers, Dancing With The Stars Grand Final had 1.355 million national viewers and number two nationally. The Block was fourth.

The ABC did well, again with its strong news and current affairs line up, pushing Ten to fourth for a second night. Ten’s The Great Australian Spelling Bee had a solid 868,000 national viewers.

Viewing warning: Cats are going to try and make you laugh out loud for a second round on Seven at 7.30pm. Its up against The Block and the Grand Final of The Spelling Bee on Ten. The cats loom as a viable option.

And in the US a big moment in broadcast TV with Stephen Colbert tomorrow taking over The Late Show on CBS from David Letterman. With the US 2015-16 ratings season starting this week (with a fleet of new and old programs returning from this week onwards, and the NFL starting early Friday morning, our time), Colbert’s move from Comedy Central to the big time at CBS is the big move. His first guests for the first program are George Clooney and Jeb Bush, one of the fleet of Republicans aiming to be President. The first show airs at 1.35 pm Sydney time on Wednesday (11.35 US east coast time Tuesday).

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (27.1%)
  2. Nine (27,0%)
  3. ABC (22.6%)
  4. Ten (18.1%)
  5. SBS (5.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (20.2%)
  2. Seven (18.9%)
  3. ABC (17.3%)
  4. Ten (12.5%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.5%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.9%)
  2. GO (4.1%)
  3. ABC2 (3.7%)
  4. 7mate (3.3%)
  5. ONE (2.8%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.667 million
  2. Dancing With The Stars Grand Final (Seven) — 1.355 million
  3. Seven News — 1.335 million
  4. The Block (Nine) – 1.333 million
  5. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.327 million
  6. ABC News — 1.324 million
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.291 million
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.244 million
  9. Australian Story (ABC) — 1.215 million
  10. Nine News 6.30 — 1.214 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.218 million
  2. Nine News 6.30 — 1.214 million
  3. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.088 million
  4. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.042 million
  5. Seven News — 1.036 million

Losers: Anyone who missed the ABC’s solid line up. Another great night of TV, especially Q&A which reminded me of why the program works when its on its game and not trying for stunts. Even the politics last night wasn’t too miserable or gainsaying. A real debate and discussion.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.218 million
  2. Nine News 6.30 — 1.214 million
  3. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.088 million
  4. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.042 million
  5. Seven News — 1.036 million
  6. ABC News  – 915,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 877,000
  8. Australian Story (ABC) — 837,000
  9. Four Corners (ABC) — 823,000
  10. Media Watch (ABC) — 714,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 336,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 319,000
  3. Mornings (Nine) — 164,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 145,000
  5. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  89,000 + 44,000 on News 24) — 133,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 76,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. LifeStyle  (2.2%)
  2. UKTV (2.1%)
  3. Fox 8  (1.9%)
  4. Disney Jr (1.7%)
  5. TVHITS, Nick Jr, Universal (1.6%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 124,000
  2. AFL: On the Couch (Fox Footy) – 102,000
  3. Monday Night With Matty Johns (Fox Sports 1) — 77,000
  4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 76,000
  5. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 67,000

*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.