(Image: Ten)

The Masked Singer’s return versus Australian Ninja Warrior’s exit — fun v boredom. Of course the dull Ninjas won handsomely against the silly masks but from a codger’s point of view, there was more fun (again) in the masks on Ten than in the earnest, sweaty Nevilles on Nine which really should be called, I’m a Nobody with a Body, Get Me Out Of Here.

The winner on Ninja averaged 1.64 million, the lead up grunting and groaning, 1.45 million — average for the lot, 1.54 million and not to be sneezed at. 

The Masked Singer’s return averaged 1.18 million for the reveal and 999,000 for the performances. Much better figures for Ten than for the Bachs in Purgatory on Sunday night.

Far more fun and entertainment (and better ratings) in the masks than in all the cynical glamour of the lonely hearts and the gym-built hard bodies in the Ninjas.

Nine’s night from a weak Seven (Farmer Wants a Wife was squeezed by Ninjas and the masks and could only manage 1.118 million). Ten moved back to third in front of the ABC.

Tonight it’s Ten and the masks again — Nine and Seven go back to snoozing because they have nothing.

In breakfast Sunrise, 515,000/280,000 metro viewers, ABC News Breakfast, 333,000 and 216,000, Today, 329,000 and 216,000.

In regional markets Seven News, 663,000; Seven News 6.30, 615,000; Ninja Warrior winner, 439,000; Farmer Wants A Wife, 422,000; The Chase Australia 5.30pm, 404,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (31.4%)
  2. Seven (25.9%)
  3. Ten (19.3%)
  4. ABC (16.4%)
  5. SBS (7.0%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (26.4%)
  2. Seven (16.9%)
  3. Ten (14.0%)
  4. ABC (12.7%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.4%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7mate (4.8%)
  2. 10 Bold (3.4%)
  3. 7TWO (3.0%)
  4. Gem (2.1%)
  5. 10 Peach (1.9%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.88 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.73 million
  3. Australian Ninja Warrior — Winner (Nine) — 1.64 million
  4. Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine) — 1.45 million
  5. Nine/NBN News — 1.44 million
  6. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.40 million
  7. 7pm ABC News, A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.15 million
  8. The Masked Singer Reveal (Ten) — 1.18 million
  9. Farmer Wants A Wife (Seven) — 1.12 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.22 million
  2. Australian Ninja Winner (Nine) — 1.20 million
  3. Seven News 6.30 — 1.12 million
  4. Nine/NBN News — 1.09 million
  5. Australian Ninja Warrior grand final (Nine) — 1.06 million
  6. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.05 million

Losers: A lot for everybody, but if pushed, Seven.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.22 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.12 million
  3. Nine/NBN News — 1.09 million
  4. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.05 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 819,000
  6. 7pm ABC News – 770,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 646,000
  8. Australian Story (ABC) — 623,000
  9. Four Corners (ABC) — 549,000
  10. Media Watch (ABC) — 517,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 515,000/280,000
  2. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 333,000/216,000
  3. Today (Nine) – 329,000/216,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 282,000 
  5. Today Extra (Nine) – 168,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 81,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. AFL: St Kilda v Geelong (Fox Footy) — 229,000
  2. AFL: Fremantle v Hawthorn (Fox Footy) — 163,000
  3. The Bolt Report (Sky News) – 68,000
  4. Alan Jones, Paul Murray Live (Sky News) – 63,000