The Winners: Seven News again at the top of the list with 1.647 million people. Today Tonight was second with 1.427 million and Getaway was 3rd with a solid 1.258 million people. MasterChef Australia dominated the 7pm slot for Ten in 4th spot with 1.237 million and A Current Affair was 5th with 1.231 million. Nine News averaged 1.230 million (both higher than they have been on Thursday nights). 20 to 1 averaged 1.223 million in 7th spot and Grey’s Anatomy averaged 1.173 million at 8.30pm for Seven. Seven’s 7.30pm program, Ghost Whisperer averaged 1.159 million and Ten’s episode of Law And Order CI averaged 1.125 million at 8.30 pm and 10th spot nationally. Home and Away averaged 1.115 million at 7pm for Seven, the AFL and NRL Footy Shows averaged 1.062 million from 9.30pm for Nine and 12th spot. Nine’s 7pm repeat of Two and a Half Men averaged 1.047 million. On SBS, Mad Men, 218,000. Inspector Rex in repeat, 335,000.

The Losers: Usual suspects, Private Practice: 861,000 at 9.30pm and Ten’s Medium, 892,000 at 9.30pm, both benefitted from 200,000 ABC viewers who like Q&A but didn’t hang around for the excellent doco on painter, Syd Nolan. Ten’s Rules of Engagement actually lifted to 980,000 for episode 1 at 7.30pm and 940,000 for episode 2. Strange that, it was still the same poor show.

News & CA: Seven News again won nationally and in every market as did Today Tonight. Seven News averaged 509,000 in Melbourne on a Thursday night! The 7pm ABC News averaged 955,000, The 7.30 Report averaged 829,000, Lateline, 215,000, Lateline Business, 144,000. Ten’s News averaged 955,000 as well. The late News/Sports Tonight averaged 421,000. SBS News at 6.30pm, 191,000, 193,000 for the 9.30pm edition. 7am Sunrise, down to 339,000, 7am Today just 13,000 behind, the closest margin for years. Today beat Sunrise in Sydney yesterday morning for a third time. Could history be made soon (Today beat Sunrise on Good Friday!).

The Stats: Nine won with a 6pm to midnight All People share of 29.8% (30.5%) from Seven on 27.2% (26.5%), Ten with 23.8% (21.1%), the ABC on 14.6% (17.0%) and SBS with 4.6% (4.9%). Seven won Sydney and drew Perth with Nine. Nine won Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. In regional areas a win for WIN/NBN with 31.1% from Prime/7Qld with 27.5%, Southern Cross (Ten) with 20.8%), the ABC with 15.4%, SBS with 5.2%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: As expected, Nine is in a position to win the week, because of the State of Origin Rugby League telecast Wednesday night. Nine won last night with the Footy Shows extending the audience. The absence of Q&A saw the ABC’s audience fall by around 200,000 from 9.30pm to 10.30pm. Ten flicked Worst Week at 8pm and doubled episodes of Rules of Engagement from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The NRL Footy Show was curiously flat after the excitement of the State of Origin game the night before.

TONIGHT: Sport in the same of AFL, NRL, and some cricket (Australia plays tomorrow night). Better Homes and Gardens on Seven, AFL on Seven in some markets, a movie in others. Nine has two NRL games. Ten has two Law and Orders and MasterChef Australia; the ABC has Silent Witness.

TOMORROW NIGHT: NRL, AFL on Foxtel, plus cricket (and on ABC Radio). Ten has AFL. The ABC’s new New Tricks is on at 7.30pm. Rugby Union on Seven at 7pm with Australia playing the first international of the year. Movies elsewhere.

SUNDAY: NRL and AFL on Nine and Seven. Cricket on Foxtel, plus AFL and NRL. Ten has Merlin, MasterChef Australia and Rove and could go close to winning. Seven has Sunday Night, Border Security, The Force, Bones and Castle. Nine has 60 Minutes, CSI and CSI New York. Home Made is said to be at 6.30pm. Watch and check. The ABC has Ballet Shoes at 8.30pm which may be worth a look.

MONDAY NIGHT: Check your guides for the usual suspects.

Source: OzTAM, TV Networks reports