So how did Treasurer Joe Hockey’s first budget broadcast rate? Very well indeed — and I just loved Sarah Ferguson’s effort in interviewing him on 7.30 last night. No wonder he looked grey and washed out on Sky News. Her best so far. The hour on ABC1 certainly out-rated Masterchef Australia on Ten (which is continues to decline) and House Rules on Seven. It ran second to The Voice (of a completely different kind) on Nine. Perhaps Ten should have gone all political last night? Nine won the night in metro and regional markets, the ABC was third overall (but Ten just beat it in the main channels in the metros). But in the regions it was the ABC a clear third and Ten a distant fourth.

Joe’s half-hour of warbling averaged 1.636 national million / 1.113 million metro / 520,000 regional viewers and the reaction program including the Sarah Ferguson interview averaged  1.641 million national / 1.130 million metro / 511,000 regional viewers. That’s the combined figures for the simulcasts of the speech and reaction on ABC1 and News 24. The ABC was far ahead of anything on the commercial networks. ABC News 24’s share jumped to 3.2% in metro markets and in the regions. This is highly ironic given the budget cuts imposed on the ABC last night, and to come in future years. After his mauling by Ms Ferguson last night, Joe will go and lop another $20 million or so off the ABC next year. The Paul Murray Live program on Sky News averaged 70,000 with its discussion concentrated on the budget. The Treasurer’s speech averaged 58,000 on Sky News.

MasterChef on Ten fell to fell under a million viewers nationally last night with 945,000 national / 701,000 metro / 244,000 regional viewers. The core audience is deserting the program. House Rules was solid the night after a house reveal with 1.649 million national / 1.029 million metro / 620,000 regional viewers. The Voice lifted from its low on Monday night to average million 2.455 million national / 1.722 million metro / 732,000 regional viewers.

And the ABC’s budget cuts will thankfully not include the second series of It’s A Date, which started shooting in Melbourne this week. It goes to air later in 2014. The cast is even better than series  with the likes of Lachy Hulme, Rhys Darby, Tasma Walton, Rove McManus, Shaun Micallef, Deborah Mailman, Kat Stewart, Phil Lloyd, Craig McLachlan, Vince Colosimo, Sam Simmons, Jimeoin, Susie Porter, Joel Creasey and Magda Szubanski.  And some of the series one favourites in Lisa McCune, Lawrence Mooney, Dan Wyllie, Ronnie Chieng, Celia Pacquola, Jess Harris and Emily Taheny.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (33.5%)
  2. Seven (26.4%)
  3. ABC (18.8%)
  4. Ten (17.1%)
  5. SBS (4.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (26.7%)
  2. Seven (18.8%)
  3. Ten (12.5%)
  4. ABC1  (12.2%)
  5. SBS ONE (3.4%)

Top digital channels: 

  1. 7mate (4.4%)
  2. GO (4.0%)
  3. 7mate, News 24 (3.2%)
  4. Gem 2.7%
  5. Eleven (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. The Voice (Nine) — 2.455 million
  2. Nine News — 1.769 million
  3. Seven News — 1.687 million
  4. House Rules (Seven) - 1.649 million
  5. The Budget Special (ABC1) — 1.641 million
  6. The Treasurer’s Speech (ABC1) — 1.636 million
  7. Joanna Lumley Meets Prince William (ABC1) — 1.491 million
  8. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.435 million
  9. ABC News — 1.309 million
  10. Resurrection (Seven) — 1.283 million

Top metro programs:

  1. The Voice (Nine) — 1.723 million
  2. Nine News — 1.207 million
  3. Seven News — 1.170 million
  4. 7.30/ The Budget Reaction — (ABC1) — 1.130 million
  5. The Treasurer’s Speech (ABC1) — 1.113 million
  6. Nine News 6.30 — 1.091 million
  7. Seven News / Today Tonight — 1.042 million
  8. House Rules (Seven) — 1.029 million
  9. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.024 million

Losers: Many younger viewers in the budget.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.207 million
  2. Seven News — 1.170 million
  3. Nine News 6.30 — 1.091 million
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight — 1.042 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) – 1.024 million
  6. The Budget Special (ABC1) — 967,000
  7. The Treasurer’s Speech (ABC1) — 947,000
  8. ABC News – 912,000
  9. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 640,000
  10. Ten Eyewitness News — 630,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 366,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 316,000
  3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 143,000
  4. News Breakfast (ABC 1  75,000 + 46,000 on News 24) — 121,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) — 119,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 42,000
  7. Wake Up (Ten) — 30,000

Top pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8  (2.5%)
  2. TVHITS!  (2.3%)
  3. Sky News (2.2%)
  4. LifeStyle  (2.1%)
  5. A&E, Disney (1.7%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. AFL: 360  (Fox Footy) – 82,000
  2. AFL: On The Couch (Fox Footy) – 81,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox 8) – 77,000
  4. The Great British Bake-Off (LifeStyle) – 71,000,000
  5. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) – 70,000

*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.