A comprehensive win in metro and regional markets last night for Seven as the new drama, 800 Words (or why we went to lower cost NZ to make an Australian TV drama) did very well and offset another slide in the metro audience of The X Factor (which had another crop of great singers), but regional viewing remained very strong. Nine’s The Block hung in with just under 1.2 million national viewers and a just OK 815,000 in the metros (But Nine News was very solid). Ten’s The Biggest Loser also hung in with 983,000 national viewers. Ten managed third slot in the metros and regions ahead of the ABC and Nine was in a weak second spot.

800 Words had 1.887 million viewers across the country last night and was the most watched program. A top debut. No doubt this is going to do well across the Tasman as well. The X Factor had 1.819 million viewers across the country and was Number 2, but fourth in the metros. 800 Words had 668,000 regional viewers (second most watched) and The X Factor topped the regions with 683,000. The second night of  The Chaser Australia saw the 5.30 slice of the program average 1.012 million national viewers (down from the debut). Metro viewers totalled 625,000 down from 720,000. Nine’s Hot Seat came within sight in the metros with 613,000. The Chase is on.

The NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings was the most watched program on Pay TV with 116,000 watching on ESPN because the Australian player, Jarryd Hayne made his debut.

The ratings glow of Monday night’s political drama faded last night, but yesterday morning, the travelling gang at Sunrise with 397,000 national viewers for the broadcast from London and Canberra, easily accounted for Today with 339,000. But News Breakfast on the ABC saw surge in its audience to a total 254,000 in the metros, among the highest so far for the still growing program.

And this morning Barrie Cassidy showed why viewers prefer him on Insiders on Sunday morning than Andrew Bolt. Bolt was on 2GB and The Project yesterday and last night nominating a leader for a new conservative program (Not him, Corey Bernadi), but this morning Cassidy was giving us the first idea of the Turnbull ministry in genuine news breaks. Cassidy is all about news and informing viewers in an informed way. Bolt is all about ideology and self-promotion.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (32.5%)
  2. Nine (24.7%)
  3. Ten (19.3%)
  4. ABC (18.1%)
  5. SBS (5.3%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (24.8%)
  2. Nine (18.2%)
  3. Ten (13.7%)
  4. ABC (12.6%)
  5. SBS ONE (?%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.2%)
  2. 7mate (3.5%)
  3. Gem (3.4%)
  4. ONE (3.2%)
  5. GO (3.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. 800 Words (Seven) — 1.887 million
  2. The X Factor (Seven) — 1.1819 million
  3. Nine News — 1.647 million
  4. My Kitchen Rules (Seven) – 2.171 million
  5. Home and Away — 1.339 million
  6. 7pm ABC News — 1.327 million
  7. The Block (Nine) — 1.174 million
  8.  Nine News 6.30 — 1.166 million
  9. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.154 million
  10. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.143 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.223 million
  2. 800 Words (Seven) — 1.219 million
  3. Nine News 6.30 — 1.166 million
  4. The X Factor (Seven) — 1.136 million
  5. Seven News — 1.064 million
  6. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 980,000

Losers: Anyone who missed Seven last night. A good night, 800 Words is a bit Sea Change, but that is a great role model.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.223 million
  2. Nine News 6.30 — 1.166 million
  3. Seven News — 1.064 million
  4. Seven News/Today Tonight — 980,000
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 980,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 908,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 794,000
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 651,000
  9. Foreign Correspondent (ABC) — 625,000
  10. Ten Eyewitness News — 594,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 397,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 339,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  150,000 + 104,000 on News 24) — 254,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 150,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) — 121,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 58,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox8  (2.6%)
  2. Sky News  (2.6%)
  3. ESPN  (2.2%)
  4. LifeStyle (2.1%)
  5. UKTV (2.1%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. NRL: Vikings v 49ers (ESPN) — 116,000
  2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) — 105,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 72,000
  4. Peppa Pig (Nick Jr) — 67,000
  5. Back Page (Fox Sports 1) — 66,000

*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.