Nine was a narrow winner in the metros, while Seven was an easy winner in the regions. Masterchef was the most watched non-news program with 1.395 million national viewers. The Chaser’s Election Desk  averaged a solid 1.076 million on its debut (a merger between The Chaser and The Checkout), just in front of Mad As Hell with 1.030 million. Both well ahead of 7.30 and its exclusive interview between host Leigh Sales and Prime Minister Mal Turnbull.

It is quite clear from the weak figures for 7.30 last night, especially in metro markets, that viewers are not really interested in interviews with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The program could only manage 801,000 national viewers — 563,000 metro and 238,000 regional. It was lower than Tuesday and Monday nights (and yes more people watch TV on those nights). Compared to last Wednesday night, when up against the first State of Origin game on Nine. 7.30 managed 800,000 national viewers, and the Wednesday before that it managed 894,000, with 600,000 metro and 294,000 regional viewers. 7.30’s audience last night also fell short of Q&A on Monday night with 972,000 national (691,000 metro and 281,000 region viewers).

So the exclusive interview with the PM last night was not really popular with viewers, who tuned out. Now let’s see how they handle Bill Shorten on Q&A next Monday night in a solo flight. A repeat is anticipated. But at least over 800,000 people wanted to watch the PM last night. On Sky News’ People’s Forum in Brisbane, Bill Shorten attracted only 41,200. Now accounting for the low penetration of Pay TV (around 30% of the total Australian TV market, that’s 150,000 at best). It’s not the media vehicle or the hosts that are on the nose with viewers, it’s the pollies and the tedious campaign whose length is due to a decision by the PM and his government.

In breakfast, Today with 343,000 metro viewers, beat Sunrise with 330,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (26.5%)
  2. Seven (25.8%)
  3. Ten (22.5%)
  4. ABC (18.2%)
  5. SBS (6.9%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (18.4%)
  2. Seven (16.9%)
  3. Ten (16.6%)
  4. ABC (12.8%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.7%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.9%)
  2. GO (3.7%)
  3. ABC 2, ONE (3.3%)
  4. Eleven (2.7%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.783 million
  2. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.588 million
  3. Nine News — 1.4635 million
  4. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.395 million
  5. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.271 million
  6. ABC News — 1.158 million
  7. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 1.130 million
  8. The Chaser’s Election Desk (ABC) — 1.076 million
  9. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.075 million
  10. Highway Patrol Special (Seven) — 1.049 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.132 million
  2. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.105 million
  3. Nine News — 1.059 million
  4. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.049 million
  5. Nine News 6.30 — 1.009 million

Losers: There was actually a half decent offering: Mad As Hell and The Chaser both stood out, Masterchef did for Ten viewers. Nine and Seven weren’t really interested.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.132 million
  2. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 1.105 million
  3. Nine News — 1.059 million
  4. Nine News (6.30pm) — 1.009 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) – 923,000
  6. ABC News – 808,000
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 656,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 563,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 533,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 496,000

Morning TV:

  1. Today (Nine) – 344,000
  2. Sunrise (Seven) – 330,000
  3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 171,000
  4. Today Extra (Nine) — 160,000
  5. News Breakfast (ABC,  99,000 + 48,000 on News 24) — 147,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 86,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. TVHITS  (2.3%)
  2. Fox 8  (2.2%)
  3. LifeStyle  (2.1%)
  4. Sky News, UKTV (1.7%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 82,000
  2. AFL: On The Couch (Fox Footy) — 78,000
  3. Back Page (Fox Sports 1) — 63,000
  4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 63,000
  5. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 59,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2016. 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.