Surreal AFL opener is a winner in the ratings

The return of the AFL to a near-silent MCG last night saw Seven score a rare win for the night. The broadcast secured a solid 1.02 million nationally on Seven and 339,000 on Foxtel (1.36 million in total). The NRL, however, was thrashed — 575,000 on Nine and 226,000 on Foxtel, for a total of 801,000.

Elsewhere, COVID-19 ensured that news and current affairs programs continued to do well. In breakfast, the audiences were again up on a week ago, and while Today did well with 344,000, ABC News Breakfast again had a banner morning, topping Today with 351,000 viewers. Seven’s Sunrise was well in front though with 526,000 national viewers. The evening news from all networks saw increases — some up to 300,000.

The ABC’s hit kids’ show Bluey racked up another big figure (501,000 at 8am and another 304,000 for the evening repeat) as tots watched with mums and dads working from home.

Network channel share

1. Seven  (32.9%)
2. Nine    (24.1%)
3. Ten      (19.0%)
4. ABC   (15.9%)
5. SBS    (8.1%)

Network main channels

1. Seven (24.9%)
2. Nine (16.8%)
3. Ten (13.0%)
4. ABC (10.3%)
5. SBS ONE (4.8%)

Top five digital channels

1. Gem (3.6%)
2. 7TWO (3.4%)
3. 7mate,10 Peach (3.3%)
4. ABC News (2.8%)

Top 10 national programs

1. Seven News  — 1.684 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.496 million *
3. Nine/NBN News   — 1.315 million
4. Nine/NBN News 6.30  — 1.311 million
5. 7pm ABC News —1.203 million
6. AFL (Seven) — 1.024 million
7. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.016 million
8. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) —878,000
9. Gogglebox Australia (Ten) — 850,000
10. ACA (Nine) — 793,000*

* Pre-empted in some markets by AFL or NRL

Metro news and current affairs

1. Seven News  — 1.102 million
2. Nine News  — 994,000
3. Nine News 6.30 — 968,000
4. Seven News 6.30 — 944,000 *
5. 7pm ABC News —852,000
6. 7.30 (ABC) —708,000
7. ACA (Nine) — 579,000 *
8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 483,000
9. Ten News First — 449,000
10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 355,000

* Pre-empted in some markets by AFL or NRL

Morning (national) TV

1. Sunrise: National: 526,000, Metro: 300,000 
2. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 351,000
3. Today: National: 344,000 Metro: 234,000 
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 275,000
5. Today Extra (Nine) — 180,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) —78,000

Top five pay TV programs

1. AFL: Richmond v Carlton (Fox Footy) — 339,000
2. NRL: Canterbury vs North Qld (Fox League) —226,000
3. AFL  Post Game Show (Fox Footy) — 141,000
4. AFL: Pre-Game Show (Fox Footy) — 107,000
5. NRL: The Late Show With Matty Johns (Fox League) — 101,000