Lots of colour, light and movement in the Big Bang, sorry, the Big Bash game last night between the two Sydney teams. In fact it was more thrilling than the three days of the recent Australia v West Indies test, and just as meaningless. Summer entertainment that doesn’t tax the brain and keeps the TV looking all bright and tinsely. The Big Bash ensured Ten started what will be a long run of winning nights last night in Total People and Main Channel in the metros and main channel in the regionals (Seven finished in front in Total People in the regionals). Nine will win Christmas Eve with its usual Carols by Candlelight broadcast from Melbourne.

The Big Bash failed to get a million or more viewers in the metros and finished behind the news broadcasts of Nine and Seven. Nationally it grabbed the top two spots. The first session had 1.206 million viewers and the second had 1.192 million. It was stronger in regional markets, finishing first and second there against fifth and sixth in the metros.

And it’s a very Merry Christmas and holiday season to all Crikey readers, casual and otherwise. 2016 should be very interesting. Will the Turnbull government do the right thing (by TV bosses/owners) and change the rules before a federal poll, or wait until after the election? If the Turnbull government waits, you know that it is confident of winning the poll (and so are its media supporters).

Ten and its Murdoch clan handlers want a change in the laws, even though change produces losses. The one thing we viewers know we can expect in the new year is more repeats because with 168 hours to full for every channel every week (bar ABC kids), repeats of repeats have to happen. Already Pie in the Sky is being repeated on 7TWO for the second time this year, as has Rosemary and Thyme – Lewis has had the runaround several times, likewise Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Miss Marple, The Big Bang Theory (Nine and Seven), Mash (the series has just started another round of repeats on ONE, Inspector Lynley, New Tricks (just as it ends tomorrow night), no doubt Inspectors Morse and Frost will be returned to haunt a night for Seven. Heart Beat is on Gem after exhausting us on 7TWO. Luther, Silent Witness, the list goes on and on. Why, it’s just like watching Pay TV, and we don’t have to pay for that doubtful pleasure twice – with a monthly fee and having to watch ads.

 

Network channel share:

  1. Ten (28.8%)
  2. Nine (24.8%)
  3. Seven (23.4%)
  4. ABC (16.0%)
  5. SBS (7.0%)

Network main channels:

  1. Ten (21.8%)
  2. Nine (16.4%)
  3. Seven (14.4%)
  4. ABC (10.2%)
  5. SBS ONE (3.9%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO 5.2%)
  2. GO (4.1%)
  3. ONE, 7mate (3.7%)
  4. Eleven (3.3%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Big Bash: Session 1 (Ten) — 1.206 million
  2. Big Bash: Session 2 (Ten) —  1.192 million
  3. Nine News — 1.117 million
  4. Seven News —  1.170 million
  5. 7pm ABC News — 987,000
  6. Nine News (6.30) — 873,000
  7. Seven News/Today Tonight —  853,000
  8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 834,000
  9. Better Homes and Gardens – Countdown To Christmas (Seven) — 827,000
  10. 7.30 (ABC) —  823,000

 

Losers: Ah… zzzzz, we there yet… snorgle,,, zzzz, is it 2016?Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 88,000
  2. Nine News (6.30pm) — 873,000
  3. Nine News — 837,000
  4. Seven News/ Today Tonight — 833,000
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) – 719,000
  6. ABC News – 692,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 561,000
  8. Ten Eyewitness News — 442,000
  9. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 440,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 344,000

Morning TV:

  1. Today (Nine) – 331,000
  2. Sunrise (Seven) – 328,000
  3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 144,000
  4. News Breakfast (ABC 1,  97,000 + 45,000 on News 24) — 142,000
  5. Mornings – Summer (Nine) — 113,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 57,000

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8  (2.8%)
  2. TVHITS  (2.4%)
  3. LifeStyle  (2.0)
  4. Disney Jr (1.9%)
  5. Foxtel Movies Premiere (1.7%)

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 77,000
  2. Grand Designs Australia (LifeStyle) — 66,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 61,000
  4. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 593,000
  5. Paw Patrol (Nick Jr) — 49,000

*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.