The Glenn Dyer breakdown: Seven’s night, but Ten was strong thanks to the telemovie on Julian Assange’s younger life. That saw Ten finish a strong third last night, with the ABC back in fourth. The Assange telemovie did very well in the demographics with top three finishes, as did Seven’s surprise, Anh Does Vietnam (Comedian Anh Do returned to Vietnam with a camera following him around). It was the most watched program in metro markets with more than 1.6 million.

The Assange telemovie averaged 1.336 million for two hours from 8.30pm. The set up half hour news documentary at 8pm averaged just 711,000. In other words, viewers found the fictionalised story of Assange’s younger life far more interesting than the real story of his adult life and where he is now. The Assange story was well told and shows there’s life in the faltering Ten. The Assange story could have been made by any of the networks. The Anh Do “travelogue” on Seven was more interesting in that it took an immigrant back to the country of their birth with humour rather than the drama of Go Back To Where You Came From on SBS ONE. Both are legitimate ways of telling a similar story.

Nine’s House Husbands faded noticeably under pressure at 8.30pm. The 961,000 metro viewers was OK (and easily beat Seven’s repeat of the Pay TV series, Killing Time). But it was a weak third behind Ten and ABC1. Weak storylines and dialogue are now taking their toll on House Husbands. The Daylight Saving change yesterday morning had a clear impact on some programs, especially the chats on the ABC, but not as much on those on Ten or Nine. The live eviction on Big Brother on Nine last night averaged a weak 941,000 from 6.30 to 7.30 pm in metro markets and nationally. It averaged just 54,000 in Perth and 87,000 in Adelaide and was again very ignored in regional markets.

Tonight: The usual news and current affairs on ABC1. The first of two parts of an Australian Story on Rod Laver will be a must watch at 8pm. Seven has The X Factor and starts the latest series of the US version of The Amazing Race at 9.30pm. Nine has Big Brother and a first new series episode of The Mentalist which will struggle. Ten a fresh New Girl at 7.30pm, a new series at 8pm called Ben and Kate and Can of Worms. Take a look at Black Mirror on SBS ONE at 9.30pm.

Last Week: Seven won All People, Nine did well in the demos thanks to the NRL Grand Final’s contribution last Sunday night. Seven also won the regional markets by a more convincing margin. Ten was fourth, the ABC third, again.

The Metro Winners:

  1. Anh Does Vietnam (Seven, 7.30pm) — 1.678 million.
  2. Sunday Night (Seven, 6.30pm) — 1.505 million.
  3. Seven News (6pm) — 1.419 million.
  4. Underground: The Julian Assange Story (Ten, 8.30pm) — 1.336 million.
  5. V8 Supercars: Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (Seven, 10.30-5pm) — 1.253 million.
  6. 60 Minutes (Nine, 7.30pm) — 1.251 million.
  7. Call The Midwife (ABC1, 8.30pm) — 1.057 million.
  8. V8 Supercars: Podium  (Seven, 5pm) — 1.051 million.
  9. Nine News (6pm)– 1.003 million.

The Losers: Nine’s Big Brother live eviction, 941,000 metro and national viewers. Just swamped by better, smarter programs. Killing Time on Seven at 8.30pm, 730,000 metro and national viewers. It’s already been on pay TV. The cheap option by Seven to fill a key slot didn’t pay off, but it didn’t hurt Seven over the full night. Strike Back on Seven at 9.30pm, 349,000. Very poor.

Metro News & CA: Seven News won everywhere bar Melbourne where the ending of the Bathurst coverage failed to help Seven to win the 6pm slot.

  1. Sunday Night (Seven, 6.30pm) — 1.505 million.
  2. Seven News (6pm) — 1.419 million.
  3. 60 Minutes (Nine, 7.30pm) — 1.251 million.
  4. Nine News (6pm) — 1.003 million.
  5. ABC1 News (7pm) — 849,000.
  6. Ten News (5pm) — 413,000.
  7. The Project (Ten, 6pm) — 353,000.
  8. Nine News (5pm) — 254,000
  9. World News Australia (SBS ONE, 6.30pm) — 203,000.

In the morning: Weekend Sunrise was pre-empted by the Car race coverage which started at 7 am yesterday.

  1. Weekend Today (Nine, 8am) — 308,000.
  2. Landline (ABC1, 12pm) — 195,000.
  3. The Bolt Report (Ten, 10am) — 157,000.
  4. Insiders (ABC1, 9am) — 157,000 + 57,000 on News 24.
  5. The Bolt Report encore (Ten, 4.30pm) — 110,000.
  6. Meet The Press (Ten, 10.30am) — 107,000.
  7. Offsiders (ABC1, 10.30am) — 91,000.
  8. Inside Business (ABC1, 10am) — 87,000.

*On News 24 simulcast

Metro FTA: Seven (3) won with a share of 30.2% from Nine (3) on 24.8%, Ten (3) was third with 23.3%, the ABC (4) ended with 18.5% and SBS (2) was on 3.2%. Main Channels: Seven won with a share of 23.2%, from Nine on 19.0%, Ten was on 18.0%, ABC 1, 15.4% and SBS ONE was on 2.9%.

Metro Digital: A three way tie with 7TWO, 7mate and Go all ending with 3.5% each. ONE was on 2.9%, Eleven was on 2.4%, Gem was on 2.3%, ABC 2, 1.6%, ABC 3, 0.8%, News 24, 0.7% and SBS TWO was on 0.3%. The 10 digital channels had an FTA share last night of a low 21.5%.

Metro including Pay TV: Seven (3) won with a share of 25.0% from Nine (3) on 20.6%, Ten (3) was third with 19.3%, the ABC (4) ended with 15.3% and SBS (2) was on 2.6%. the 15 FTA channels had a viewing share last night of 85.7%, with the 10 digital channels share totalling a low 16.7% and the five main channels share a high 69%. The 200 plus channels of Foxtel gave Pay TV a share of 14.3% last night.

Major Metro Markets: A clean sweep with Seven (overall and in the main channels) in all five metro markets. Ten was third everywhere bar Adelaide in the main channels were ABC1 slipped home. In Perth in the main channels Ten moved past Nine into second spot after Seven. In the digitals GO won Sydney and Adelaide, Seven Two won Melbourne and Brisbane and 7Mate and GO shared Perth.

(All shares on the basis of combined overnight 6pm to midnight All People)

Source: Oztam, TV Networks data