Not the best of nights for TV viewing. The Checkout on ABC1 again stood out (and would on any night of the week), as a thorough-minded consumer program. It is the sort of program none of the commercial networks would dare do because of the commercial dangers involved. The explanation of the milk price wars segment was by far the best so far in either TV or print. The Checkout had 1.134 million national/ 752,000 metro/ 382,000 regional. Deserved more. The Orbit on ABC1 at 8.30pm — 919,000 national/ 616,000 metro/ 299,000 regional, was more interesting than last week, but still very northern hemisphere centric.

Seven returned Mrs Brown’s Boys to the screen in double fresh episodes and a repeat — the first episode averaged a solid 1.730 million national/ 1.038 million metro/ 692,000 regional viewers. The second fresh episode averaged 1.544 million national/ 920,000 metro, 624,000 regional viewers. These figures for Mrs Brown’s Boys, Seven News and Border Security International (1.435 million national/ 927,000 metro/508,000 regional) provided Seven (Prime/7Qld) with enough oomph to win big in regional markets. The footy shows on Nine averaged 1.127 million nationally/726,000 metro/401,000 regional.

But the good news for Nine was another hiding its 6pm news and A Current Affair handed out to Seven News and Today Tonight in Melbourne. The news won 453,000 to 278,000 and ACA won by 385,000 to 253,000). Both were big wins by over 170,000 for the News. Seven’s 6 to 7pm woes are continuing in Melbourne.

The weekend: Tonight: Silent Witness returns to ABC1 tonight; there’s plenty of AFL and NRL. Super Rugby and A League soccer tonight on Nine, Seven and Foxtel, plus golf on Ten in the morning (and Foxtel). Seven has Better Homes and Gardens in non-AFL markets. Ten has American Idol is anyone if still interested. Saturday: horse racing on Seven including Black Caviar at 5.10pm. AFL, NRL on Seven and Foxtel. Super Rugby on Foxtel as well. Last Tango In Halifax and Inspector Gently on ABC1. Sunday: the morning chats and Landline. NRL and AFL on Nine, Seven and Foxtel (and Super Rugby and A League as well). US Masters as well and on Ten and on Monday morning. The Voice on Nine and 60 Minutes. Seven has My Kitchen Rules and Downton Abbey, plus debuts Mrs Biggs at 9.30pm. Ten has The Biggest Loser and Elementary. ABC1 has Dr Who, Call The Midwife and Miranda.

Network channel shares:

  1. Seven (29.8%)
  2. Nine (28.1%)
  3. Ten (18.2%)
  4. ABC (18.2%)
  5. SBS1 (7.0%)

Main channels:

  1. Seven (22.7%)
  2. Nine (21.9%)
  3. ABC1 (13.6%)
  4. Ten (12.4%)
  5. SBS One (6.0?%)

Top five digital channels:

  1. 7TWO (4.6%)
  2. GO (3.7%)
  3. ABC2, Eleven (2.9%)
  4. 7mate, Gem (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News  – 1.808 million
  2. Seven News — 1.734 million
  3. Mrs Brown’s Boys episode one (Seven) — 1.730 million
  4. Mrs Brown’s Boys episode two (Seven) — 1.544 million
  5. Border Security International (Seven) — 1.435 million
  6. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.432 million
  7. ABC1 News — 1.381 million
  8. Top Gear (Nine) — 1.374 million
  9. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.244 million
  10. 7.30 (ABC1) — 1.236 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News (6pm) — 1.225 million
  2. Seven News (6pm) — 1.181 million
  3. Mrs Brown’s Boys (Seven) — 1.038 million
  4. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.033 million

Losers: A weak night overall, but no real losers, apart from anyone who watched both Footy Shows on Nine. One is too much at times.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News (6pm) — 1.225 million
  2. Seven News (6pm) — 1.181 million
  3. A Current Affair (Nine) – 1.031 million
  4. Today Tonight (Seven) — 981,000
  5. ABC News (7pm) – 931,000
  6. 7.30 (ABC1) — 834,000
  7. Ten News (5pm) — 641,000
  8. The Project (Ten) — 573,000
  9. Ten Late News — 228,000
  10. Lateline (ABC1) — 209,000

Metro morning TV:

  1. Today (Nine) – 378,000
  2. Sunrise (Seven ) – 352,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC1) – 62,000 + 27,000 on News 24

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8 – 3.4%
  2. LifeStyle — 2.9
  3. TV1 – 2.1
  4. UKTV – 1.7%.
  5. Discovery, Nickelodeon – 1.6%

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Grand Designs (LifeStyle) – 119,000
  2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) — 100,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 89,000
  4. Family Guy (Fox 8) – 86,000
  5. The Gold Rush (Discovery) – 83,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. The data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of OzTAM. (All shares on the basis of combined overnight 6pm to midnight all people.) and network reports.