A night dominated — well, by nothing, really. Four Corners story on the Liberal Party and the way it allows Tony Abbott and his conservatives to flourish did moderately well — 935,000 national viewers was OK, but not a standout. But the program has been the only current affairs show to examine this important trend in depth, along with 7.30. Nine and Seven have abdicated any responsibility for political coverage and current affairs.

It was a night when viewers shifted in their tens of thousands to the offerings on the digital channels whose combined audience share totalled 30%. The ABC ended second in total people and second in the main channels thanks to Australian Story with 1.16 million national viewers, the 7pm news with 1.19 million and 7.30 with 1.02 million. Seven won the night.

Today’s woes continued yesterday morning sans Lisa Wilkinson — 305,000 in the metros for Sunrise to 263,000 for Today. Nationally — Sunrise 525,000, Today, 393,000 — no contest, as it has been for quite a while. In the regions, another Seven benefit — Seven News on top with 543,000, then Seven News/TT with 472,000, Home and Away was third with 455,000, Instant Hotel was fourth with 402,000, then The Chase Australia’s 5.30pm part with 367,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (30.2%)
  2. ABC (22.6%)
  3. Nine (22.0%)
  4. Ten (18.8%)
  5. SBS (6.4%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (191%)
  2. ABC (16.0%)
  3. Nine (15.2%)
  4. Ten (12.4%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.5%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. ABC 2 (4.8%)
  2. 7TWO (4.6%)
  3. 7mate (4.5%)
  4. ONE (3.3%)
  5. GO (3.2%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News  — 1.505 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.434 million
  3. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.205 million
  4. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.199 million
  5. Nine/NBN News — 1.194 million
  6. Australian Story (ABC) — 1.161 million
  7. 7pm ABC News — 1.104 million
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.092 million
  9. Instant Hotel (Seven) — 1.055 million
  10. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.026 million

Losers: Nine and Ten (except for Have You Been Paying Attention)

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News/Today Tonight — 967,000
  2. Seven News — 962,000
  3. Nine News — 924,000
  4. Nine News (6.30pm) — 915,000
  5. Australian Story (ABC) — 797,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) – 765,000
  7. 7pm ABC News – 765,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 700,000
  9. Four Corners (ABC) — 665,000
  10. Media Watch (ABC)  — 555,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 525,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 393,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC, 162,000 + 96,000 on News 24) — 258,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 232,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 148,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 116,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Outlander (showcase) — 72,000
  2. The Walking Dead (Fx) — 69,000
  3. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 64,000
  4. Gone (Universal) — 62,000
  5. The Walking Dead (Fx) — 60,000