Craig Goodwin about to score Australia's only goal
Craig Goodwin about to score Australia's only goal against Argentina (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images/Sipa USA)

There were 1.27 million people watching Australia lose its round of 16 game in the World Cup to Argentina from 6am to nearly 8am AEDT, and another 860,000 stayed around to watch the post-match chat on SBS. It easily outpointed the final day’s play in the first cricket Test between Australia and the Windies from Perth — 602,000 for the truncated second session that ended with the Australian win, and 484,000 for the opening session. 

The second Test starts on Thursday in Adelaide and will be a day-night game that will run deep into prime time, much to Seven’s delight. But then, because of the time difference, the Perth Test ran deep into prime time on the east coast and the final session averaged just over 600,000 — OK but not stunning.

Insiders ended a big year with 516,000 national viewers. Media Watch tonight, 8.35pm.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (30.3%)
  2. Seven (25.8%)
  3. ABC(18.8%)
  4. Ten (15.5%)
  5. SBS (13.4%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (20.8%)
  2. Seven (17.5%)
  3. ABC ONE (14.8%)
  4. Ten (9.2%)
  5. SBS (5.2%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (3.9%)
  2. Gem (3.7%)
  3. 10 Peach (2.7%)
  4. 7mate (2.5%)
  5. GO (2.4%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. World Cup: Argentina v Australia: game (SBS) — 1.272 million
  2. Seven News — 1.241 million
  3. Nine News — 917,000
  4. World Cup: Argentina v Australia: post-match (SBS) — 860,000
  5. 7pm ABC News — 855,00
  6. Death in Paradise — repeat (ABC) — 720,000
  7. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 611,000
  8. Cricket: First Test, Australia v Windies, day 5, session 2 (Seven) — 602,000
  9. Snackmasters, launch (Nine) — 550,000
  10. Insiders (ABC, ABC News) — 516,000

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

Regional top 5: Seven News, 414,000; World Cup, Argentina v Australia, 308,000; 7pm ABC News, 280,000; Death in Paradise repeat, 250,000; Nine News, 248,000.

Losers: soccer, then cricket won the day and the weekend.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 827,000
  2. Nine News — 668,000
  3. 7pm ABC News — 576,000
  4. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 413,000
  5. Nine News Late — 249,000
  6. Sunday Project, 7pm (Ten) — 248,000
  7. Ten News First — 217,000
  8. The Project, 6.30pm — 184,000
  9. SBS World News — 144,000

Morning (national) TV:

  1. Insiders (ABC, ABC News) — 516,000
  2. Weekend Sunrise (Seven) – 351,000
  3. Summer Landline (ABC) — 235,000
  4. Weekend Today (Nine) — 221,000
  5. Offsiders (ABC) — 209,000

Top 5 pay TV programs:

  1. Cricket: First Test, Australia v Windies, day 5 (Fox Cricket) — 169,000
  2. Supercars: Adelaide, race 34 (Fox Sport 506) — 165,000
  3. Cricket: First Test, Australia v Windies, day 5 (Fox Cricket) — 162,000
  4. The Big Break (Fox Cricket) — 149,000
  5. Supercars: Adelaide, podium race 34 (Fox Sport 506) — 143,000