By Glenn Dyer

It may be non-ratings, but Ten’s costly X-Factor
is in serious trouble. It bombed on Sunday night, with the audience
plunging to only 706,000 people, down more than 300,000 on a week
earlier. As a result of the poor performance – and a poor result for
repeats of Law and Order, Criminal Intent and NCIS,
Ten finished fourth behind the ABC in third place. Ten’s audience share
of only 17.3% was well behind the ABC’s high 20.4%. Nine won 29.5% to
Seven’s 28.5%. SBS was back on only 4.2%.

On Monday night Ten recovered as X-Factor
climbed back up to an average national audience of 866,000, still in
the area where the endangered species list is compiled. A repeat of Law and Order helped
lift Ten from Sunday night’s low and it finished with a share of 19.8%,
in front of the ABC on 18%. Nine again won 27.7% to 27.0% for Seven.

But the result was again skewed by the absence of Desperate Housewives
and the preponderance of repeats of other high rating shows by the
networks, except for the news, the current affairs programs and shows
like X-Factor. The absence of Lost, Desperate Housewives and only highlights of Dancing with the Stars
saw the Nine Network have its biggest win of the year last week, the
first of the fortnight of non-ratings for the Easter break.

Nine
won with 29.4% to Seven on 25.9%, ten with 21.2%, the ABC on a high
18.3% and SBS on 5.1%. After two nights of this week, Nine leads
narrowly. Nine News and A Current Affair did well last night beating Seven’s News and Today Tonight
nationally and in Sydney. That saw Nine win the night 27.7% to Seven’s
27.0%. But judging by the close finish Seven will win next Monday night
when Desperate Housewives returns.