MAFS: 1.3 million nationally, end of story. That meant it was Nine’s night, helped by ACA — 962,000 — the hour of News (6 to 7pm) 1.1 million and an “encore” (TV speak for repeat) of Under Investigation — which was really a repeat of a program about the origin of the coronavirus.

It’s bit rich when a hyped true crime type investigation program runs a repeat of an old foreign story that is not crime related. It’s not that every network and their canine haven’t pawed over COVID’s origins. The repeat averaged 727,000.

Seven ran a special called Declassified: The Royal Scandals — so gripping that only 408,000 national viewers tuned in from 7.30 to 8.30pm.

Even worse was Hughesy, We Have A Problem on Ten at 9pm. The problem was a lack of viewers: 293,000 nationally and no solution (like more laughs). It’s warming the slot of Have You Been Paying Attention? and not doing it very well.

Sunrise ticked over with Nat Barr joining David Koch in the hosting slot for her first time at the start of a week and a new life as full-time co-host of the top rating daytime program Monday to Friday — 439,000. Seamless.

Today is still weak (297,000) and the ABC’s News Breakfast is gradually slipping: 268,000.

So it was Nine’s night from a very distant Seven, Ten and the ABC in total people, and Nine, Seven, the ABC and Ten in the main channels. A week ago it was all Megs and Harry for Ten — last night was a void in comparison.

Breakfast: Sunrise, 439,000 nationally and 248,000 metro; Today, 297,000 and 199,000; News Breakfast, 268,000 and 178,000.

Regional top five: Seven News, 594,000; Seven News 6.30, 565,000; Home and Away, 371,000; 7pm ABC News, 331,000; MAFS, 322,000.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (33.2%)
  2. Seven (22.9%)
  3. Ten (18.6)
  4. ABC (17.9%)
  5. SBS (7.4%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (25.5%)
  2. Seven (15.0%)
  3. ABC (13.2%)
  4. Ten (11.2%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.6%)

Top 5 digital channels:

  1. 10 Bold (4.2%)
  2. 7TWO (3.7%)
  3. 10 Peach (2.6%)
  4. 7mate (2.5%)
  5. ABC Kids/Comedy/Plus (2.4%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.573 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.543 million
  3. MAFS (Nine) — 1.301 million
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 1.111 million
  5. Nine News — 1.097 million
  6. 7pm ABC News — 1.008 million
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) —962,000
  8. Home and Away (Seven) — 945,000
  9. 7.30 (ABC) — 878,000
  10. Australian Story (ABC) — 808,000


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

Losers: Seven, Ten

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News 6.30 — 978,000
  2. Seven News — 973,000
  3. Nine News — 860,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 848,000
  5. ACA (Nine) — 689,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 678,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 617,000
  8. Australian Story (ABC) — 577,000
  9. The Project (Ten) — 454,000
  10. Four Corners (ABC) — 453,000

Morning (national) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 439,000/248,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 297,000/199,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC) —268,000/178,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 225,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 153,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 55,000