The clear division of the Australian TV audience into two markets with very different viewing habits was underlined last night. In the metros, Nine won fairly easily from Seven, Nine and the ABC. But in regional markets Seven was an even clearer winner as regional viewers went right off Masterchef Australia, unlike their metro counterparts who made it the most watched non-news program last night with 1.046 million viewers out of 1.398 million nationally.

Ten’s underlying weakness though showed up in the metro main channels where ABC’s strong Monday night line up of news and current affairs programs beat Ten’s main channel 15.8% to 15.4%. That is not a good look. The performance in regional markets amplified that weakness and ABC won with a share of 14.2% to just 10.2% for Ten’s main channel.

In the regions, House Rules (which finished 11th nationally with 1.151 million), out-rated (with 466,000 viewers) Reno Rumble (with 360,000) and Masterchef (with 352,000). The most watched program in the regions was Home and Away with 513,000 viewers. Australian Story had more viewers in the regions than did Masterchef Australia from 8pm. Reno Rumble easily accounted for House Rules in the metros with the former’s house reveal night. Both are bleeding each other to a slow death, but Masterchef Australia isn’t benefiting all that much, as it should. But it has its nose in front and Nine and Seven are doing their best (especially Nine) to give Ten a new lease on life.

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (27.8%)
  2. Seven (25.5%)
  3. Ten (20.7%)
  4. ABC (19.9%)
  5. SBS (6.1%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (20.2%)
  2. Seven (17.3%)
  3. ABC (15.8%)
  4. Ten (15.4%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.8%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.5%)
  2. GO (3.8%)
  3. Gem (3.7%)
  4. 7mate (3.6%)
  5. ABC 2 (3.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.647 million
  2. Seven News —  1.423 million
  3. Masterchef Australia (Ten) —  1.398 million
  4. Home and Away (Seven) –  1.338 million
  5. ABC News —  1.253 million
  6. Australian Story (ABC) —  1.240 million
  7. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) —  1.227 million
  8. Reno Rumble (Nine) — 1.207 million
  9. A Current Affair (Nine) —  1.189 million
  10. Four Corners (ABC) —  1.178 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News —  1.164 million
  2. Seven News —  1.116 million
  3. Nine News 6.30 —  1.067 million
  4. Seven News/ Today Tonight —  1.097 million
  5. Masterchef Australia (Ten) —  1.046 million

Losers: House Rules, Reno Rumble and especially Masterchef Australia (and Ten) in regional markets.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.164 million
  2. Seven News — 1.116 million
  3. Nine News 6.30 — 1.067 million
  4. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.097 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 984,000
  6. 7pm ABC 1 News  — 880,000
  7. Australian Story (ABC 1) — 814,000
  8. Four Corners (ABC 1) — 786,000
  9. Media Watch (ABC 1) — 733,000
  10. 7.30 (ABC 1) — 732,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 325,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 286,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  93,000 + 42,000 on News 24) — 135,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 130,000
  5. Mornings (Nine) — 121,000
  6. Studio 1o (Ten) — 69,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox Sports 1 (4.0%)
  2. showcase (2.7%)
  3. Fox 8, LifeStyle  (2.1%)
  4. TVHITS (1.9%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. NRL: Souths v St George (Fox Sports 1) — 321,000
  2. Game of Thrones (showcase) — 229,000
  3. Game of Thrones (showcase) —189,000
  4. Monday Night With Matty Johns (Fox Sports 1) —165,000
  5. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) — 110,000

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2015. 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.