Apart from First Dates (1.182 million nationally and the most popular non news program nationally and in the metros) it was a night to dream of summer holidays, Christmas, New Year – anything but what might have been in front of you. News and current affairs programs were seven of the top 10 most watched in themetros and the top three nationally.

Seven News won nationally, in the metros and in the regions and won Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. It lost Brisbane to Nine, thereby underlining Nine’s biggest problem heading into 2017: its loss of supremacy from 6 to 7 pm (and at 5.30pm with The Chase Australia streeting Eddie McGuire’s efforts at Hot Seat). The Chase thrashed Hot Seat by more than 400,000 nationally at 5.30pm and the 6 to 6.30pm News half hour saw Seven News win by more than 440,000: 1.661 million to 1.214 million.

Today beat Sunrise in metro breakfast: 321,000 to 310,000, but Sunrise was tops nationally, again.

The top five regional programs  were: Seven News with 587,000; Home and Away, 498,000; Seven News/Today Tonight, 475,000; The 5.30pm part of The Chase Australia was fourth with 437,000 and First Dates was fifth with 416,000.

With the weak but still on air Hard Quiz, Upper Middle Bogan and (gulp) Rosehaven, the ABC stands out with programs you might want to watch. Much better than a doco on NZ scenery, Scary Plane Landings (both on Nine), the Great News Events seen on TV (Seven), or the ARIAs on Ten. Find a diversion. — Click here to read Glenn Dyer’s full TV Ratings.