Beckham does nothing for Ten. The David Beckham circus did little to help Ten last night, despite publicity from the network, the Murdoch tabloids in Sydney, Foxtel and even ABC 702 in Sydney which ran promotions and broadcast the LA Galaxy vs Sydney FC exhibition match live. The game averaged 1.084 million, less than Ten would normally get with a repeat of NCIS at 8.30pm, though it did better over the two hours than Numb3rs usually does from 9.30pm. The Beckham interview at 7.30pm did very poorly up against the grand final of Dancing With The Stars grand final. It only averaged 698,000, around 300,000 or more less than the 1 million to 1.1 million the Simpsons repeats have averaged in the 7.30 to 8.30pm timeslot this year. So on balance, a below par performance from Ten. Seven won the night, Nine was second and Ten filled its usual third spot with basically an unchanged share from recent Tuesday nights. — Glenn Dyer

Thank God Your Here in the UK. Working Dog, the Melbourne-based producers of Ten’s hit Thank God You’re Here, have done a deal with ITV, Britain’s main commercial broadcaster, to take the program to the UK. News of the deal started filtering through this morning when it was reported that well known UK comedian, Paul Merton, had been signed to host. The program will be similar to the Australian version but Merton will do a stand up comedy routine as part of each program. Thank God appeared on NBC for around six eps earlier this year and did OK, but not well enough to convince the US network to make it part of this season’s schedule. — Glenn Dyer

Ungracious Carter does herself no favours. Former McLeod’s Daughter‘s star, Bridie Carter, may have won Dancing With The Stars last night but she hasn’t distinguished herself with a very ungracious attack on the program that made her a star:

Carter, best known for playing Tess McLeod on the Nine Network drama McLeod’s Daughters, said she “wasn’t at all surprised” by the recent axing of the outback drama series which catapulted her to national fame.

Despite her status as one of McLeod’s longest serving members, Carter trod all over cast and crew on the eve of the series demise, saying she won’t even watch it.

I would look at it and think “Who are these people in my loungeroom?”, Carter, who was last night crowned winner of DWTS seventh series, said.

“I don’t want to mar McLeod’s, but not everything was as it appears. I find it strange that not one of the original cast members is left.”

Industry sources say Carter’s comments had been noted. Without McLeod’s she would have been nobody, is how one network executive described the situation. — Glenn Dyer

Last night’s TV ratings
The Winners: The final of Dancing With The Stars was first with 1.680 million, then Home And Away with 1.363 million and Seven News with 1.355 million. Today Tonight was next with 1.288 million, followed by Nine News (1.199 million), A Current Affair (1.192 million), 20 to 1 (1.116 million), the 7pm ABC News (1.108 million) and the La Galaxy-Sydney FC exhibition game (1.084 million). Deal or No Deal (775,000) was back in front of Antiques Roadshow (636,000). The Grey’s Anatomy repeat on Seven after Dancing, 597,000. Grumpy Old Men on the ABC at 8pm, 726,000.

The Losers: Nine in Sydney: it was third as the Beckham interview and exhibition match rated solidly. The match between LA Galaxy and Sydney FC averaged 432,000 in Sydney, the second highest audience in the market after Dancing With The Stars (498,000), and Nine was squeezed as a result. But the Beckham stuff didn’t really rate anywhere else.

News & CA: Seven News won nationally but lost Melbourne. Today Tonight won nationally but lost Melbourne and Brisbane. Seven News and Today Tonight were both very solid in Sydney. The 7.30 Report averaged 902,000 with Kevin Rudd’s first extended interview as PM. Lateline averaged a strong 350,000 and Lateline Business was also strong as a result with 173,000. Ten News averaged 822,000; the Late News/Sports Tonight, 376,000. Nightline, 293,000. SBS News, 159,000 at 6.30pm; 88,000 at 9.30pm. 7am Sunrise, 457,000; 7am Today up to 286,000.

The Stats: Seven won with 34.0% (32.0%), from Nine with 26.2% (27.2%), Ten with 21.6% (21.7%), the ABC with 15.0% (14.7%), and SBS with 3.2% (4.4%). Seven won all five metro markets and Ten was second in Sydney. Seven leads the last week of ratings 30.6% to 26.0% and the programming of High School Musical 2 at 6.30pm on Saturday evening will ensure Seven wins the week. In regional areas a win for Prime/7Qld with 34.1% from WIN/NBN for Nine with 27.1%, Southern Cross (Ten) with 20.2%, the ABC with 14.9% and SBS with 3.6%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: The final of Dancing With The Stars was around 700,000 down on last year’s peak, another small but significant sign that some of the network’s big performers have lost some puff late in the year. Border Security on Monday nights is no longer a two million plus program, nor is Medical Emergency, while The Force needs a solid lead in. The likes of Grey’s Anatomy lost ground this year and newish prorgams — Heroes, Bionic Woman and Prison Break — have all faded too. But Criminal Minds is solid, while City Homicide went from strength to strength. Kath and Kim started well, faded and then stormed home in its brief run this year so there is some joy there. Ten’s sortie into event TV with Becks interview was probably a success, but it all depends where you were sitting — it didn’t do as well as Ten would’ve hoped. Tonight it’s the second Chaser election special on the ABC at 9pm, plus The Librarians and the final New Inventors for the year. Newstopia on SBS and Cane starts on Ten starts at 8.30pm with a two hour ep. It’s a summer series which could be OK.

Source: OzTAM, TV Network reports