At least the Ten Network kept some faith with viewers and broadcast I’m A Celebrity … last night. It averaged 1.196 million national viewers, 823,000 in the metros and a solid 373,000 in the regions. It was the most watched non-news program nationally last night. But Seven still won total people and the main channels in the metros and the regions. Home and Away being extended to 9pm from 7pm was lazy, but efficient programming by Seven. It averaged 1.174 million nationally, a weak 712,000 in the metros and a very solid 462,000 in the regions. And that was the reason why (with the help of the 6-7pm news hour) Seven won the night.

Seven rested MKR and Nine Married At First Sight (and gave viewers a break from formats that are becoming too familiar). Although ratings do not start until Sunday February 12, the networks are in full competition mode and having won the week on Sunday night with Roger Federer’s win over Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open men’s tennis title, Seven was never going to waste valuable programming on a Thursday night (because of AFL and NRL games will be broadcast on Thursday nights this year). 

Tonight Seven starts broadcasting the first proper AFL competition for women — it is on the main channel in AFL states and 7mate in NSW and Sydney and Queensland and Brisbane (NRL markets).

Nine News was again weak last night and lost to Seven News and TT by 1.455 million to 1.122 million, or more than 330,000 viewers. The 5.30pm part of The Chase Australia on Seven beat the 5.30pm part of the revamped Hot Seat on Nine by 857,000 to 649,000 — that’s a margin of 208,000, which is pretty convincing.

In the regionals, Seven News was tops with 516,000 followed by Home and Away with 462,000, Seven News/Today Tonight was third with 427,000, then came I’m A Celebrity with 373,000 and fifth was the 5.30pm but of The Chase Australia with 353,000 people.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (26.7%)
  2. Nine (26.0%)
  3. Ten (21.9%)
  4. ABC (18.1%)
  5. SBS (7.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (18.3%)
  2. Nine (17.6%)
  3. Ten (16.5%)
  4. ABC (12.4%)
  5. SBS ONE (5.1%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. GO (3.7%)
  2. 7TWO (3.6%)
  3. ABC 2 (2.9%)
  4. Gem, One, Eleven (2.7%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News  — 1.455 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.314 million
  3. I’m A Celebrity (Ten) — 1.196 million
  4. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.174 million
  5. Nine News — 1.122 million
  6. 7pm ABC News — 1.044 million
  7. ACA (Nine) — 973,000
  8. RBT (Nine) — 893,000
  9. 7.30 (ABC) — 883,000
  10. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 857,000

Top metro programs: None with a million or more viewers.

Losers: Seven and Nine viewers and the ABC for that matter.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 939,000
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 887,000
  3. Nine News — 835,000
  4. Nine News  (6.30pm) — 806,000
  5. 7pm ABC News — 720,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) — 682,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 776,000
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 550,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 455,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 361,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 551,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 456,000,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  166,000 + 94,000 on News 24) — 260,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 205,00
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 164,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 145,000

(Note: Studio 10 had 148,000 viewers on Wednesday, not 48,000.)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Grand Designs: House Of The Year (LifeStyle) — 52,000
  2. Paul Murray Live Sky News) — 49,000
  3. Grand Designs Australia (LifeStyle) — 48,000
  4. Family Guy (Fox8) — 47,000
  5. Top 20 Funniest (Fox8) — 43,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. 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.