The halo effect of Seven’s solid Melbourne Cup coverage didn’t last long into metro prime time (about 7pm after helping boost the figures for the 6pm to 7pm news hour) and although the network was a narrow winner in total people and the main channels, Nine snared the demos with The Block. Ten was weak, again. In fact, it was so weak it was beaten by the ABC with one of its weaker line-ups of the week.

In the regionals, Seven was an easy winner in total people, but the winning margin in the main channels over Nine was much smaller, and Ten topped the ABC in total people, but not in the main channels were the weak ABC lined nudged its way in front.

Seven’s cup audience was down a fraction from last year (perhaps Seven could turn it all into a sitcom called All in The Family as the winning jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, is the brother-in-law of last year’s ground-breaking winner, Michelle Payne). The race averaged 2.8 million nationally (1.99 million in the metros, 815,000 in the regions). The 2015 race had 2.93 million nationally, with 2.07 million in the metros and 863,000 in the regions). That of course is a considerable understatement because it doesn’t cover pubs, clubs, etc. The pre-race publicity didn’t have the buzz of a year ago (it felt flatter). The after-race buzz this year was also much flatter after 2015’s history making.

In the regions the most watched programs were: the Cup — 815,000, the Cup presentation, 663,000, Seven News, 594,000, the Cup mounting yard, 545,000. Seven News/Today Tonight, 498,000

And somehow First Dates on Seven returned and was funnier and more WTF than the first series. It averaged 1.20 million nationally — 778,000 in the metros and 405,000 in the regions. The first episode of the first series on February 3 this year averaged 1.25 million (874,000 in the metros and 371,000 in the regions). This series had been made for early 2017 but was brought forward to the end of this rating year because Seven had a hole and the weak X Factor needed help. First Dates is funny and worth a look.

And sadness with the ABC’s News Breakfast weather person Vanessa O’Hanlon revealing that she is leaving. She was in the original NB team of Michael Rowland, Virginia Trioli, Paul Kennedy and Del Irani.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (92.9%)
  2. Nine (29.2%)
  3. ABC (17.2%)
  4. Ten (16.4%)
  5. SBS (7.2%)

Network main channels:

  1. Seven (20.0%)
  2. Nine (19.8%)
  3. Ten (12.5%)
  4. ABC (11.0%)
  5. SBS ONE (5.4%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. Gem (4.2%)
  2. 7mate (4.1%)
  3. GO (3.9%)
  4. 7TWO (3.6%)
  5. ABC 2 (2.9%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. The Melbourne Cup: Race (Seven) — 2.801 million
  2. The Melbourne Cup: Presentation (Seven) — 2.374 million
  3. The Melbourne Cup: Mounting Yard (Seven) — 1.950 million
  4. Seven News  — 1.950 million
  5. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.667 million
  6. The Block (Nine) — 1.431 million
  7. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.241 million
  8. Nine News — 1.204 million
  9. First Dates (Seven) — 1.204 million
  10. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 1.181 million

Top metro programs:

  1. The Melbourne Cup: Race (Seven) — 1.986 million
  2. The Melbourne Cup: Presentation (Seven) — 1.690 million
  3. The Melbourne Cup: Mounting Yard (Seven) — 1.409 million
  4. Seven News — 1.221 million
  5. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.169 million

Losers: Ten, a weak night.

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News — 1.221 million
  2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.169 million
  3. Nine News — 857,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 855,000
  5. 7pm ABC News — 825,000
  6. A Current Affair (Nine) — 780,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 706,000
  8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 559,000
  9. Ten Eyewitness News — 468,000
  10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 358,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 322,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 255,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC,  94,000 + 45,000 on News 24) — 139,000
  4. Today Extra (Nine) — 121,000
  5. Studio 10 (Ten) — 82,000

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. The Great Australian Bake-Off (LifeStyle Food) – 97,000
  2. Australia’s Next Top Model (Fox8) — 95,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 59,000
  4. Mrs Brown’s Boys (UKTV) – 57,000
  5. Paul Murray Live, Jones and Co (Sky News) — 52,000

*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.