The Winners: Seven News was tops with 1.402 million. It was downhill from then for the Network for the rest of the night. Rove Presents: Hamish and Andy’s American Caravan of Courage on Ten at 7.30pm averaged 1.307 million and Today Tonight was next with 1.297. 4th was Nine’s 20 to 1 episode at 8.30pm with 1.198 million and Home and Away averaged 1.160 million (and won the 7pm slot). Rush at 8.30pm averaged 1.136 million for Ten and 7th was the 7pm repeat of Two and a Half Men with 1.126 million. Ten’s second episode of Rush at 9.30pm averaged 1.107 million. Nine’s Getaway at 7.30pm averaged 1.088 million and A Current Affair was 9th with 1.080 million. The 7pm ABC News averaged 1.041 million in 11th, just in front of Nine News, which was on a weak 1.032 million. The Footy Shows averaged 940,000. The Pedigree Dog doco at 8.30pm on the ABC, 826,000. Q&A on the ABC at 9.30pm, 488,000.

The Losers: Seven from 7.30pm: Gary Unmarried, 753,000: Gary Unfunny might be better. The Amazing Race, still going, 841,000. How I Met Your Mother in Sydney and Brisbane at 8pm, 381,000. Double Take at 10pm, 441,000. TV Burp at 9.30pm, 596,000.

News & CA: Seven News again won nationally and in every market as did Today Tonight, which was sharper last night with the Cold Chisel set up reunion story. It’s all part of promotion for Seven’s telecast of the controversial V8 super car race in Sydney later in the year. The 7pm ABC News had more viewers in Sydney than Nine News, and in Melbourne. The 7pm ABC News also had more viewers in Sydney than ACA which remains weak in the market. The 7.30 Report averaged 790,000. Lateline, 312,000, Lateline Business, 157,000. SBS News at 6.30pm, 205,000, the 9.30pm edition, 162,000. 7am Sunrise, 364,000, 7am Today, 301,000.

The Stats: Nine won with a share of 29.8% (33.1% last week ) from Ten with 25.4% (21.0%), Seven with 23.1% (24.4%), the ABC on 16.9% (16.8%) and SBS on an unchanged 4.7%. Nine won all five metro markets. Seven leads the week 28.4% to 27.7% for Nine. In regional areas a win for WIN/NBN with 28.6%, Southern Cross (Ten) was second with 23.7% and Prime/7Qld was on 23.2%. the ABC was on 18.1% and SBS, 6.3%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: Ten had a good night, winning the major demos, 16 to 39, 18 to 49s and 25 to 54s.

Hamish and Andy’s US sojourn paid off for Ten, especially in Melbourne where it averaged a very tasty 500,000. Easily the biggest audience anywhere last night.

Q&A was again just OK. It all depends on the guests. They were OK, but a couple of very earnest members of the panel slowed things down. But it wasn’t the NRL Footy Show, thankfully.

Digitally: A dead heat; Nine’s Go averaged 1.40% and its main channel, 28.40%, Ten’s ONE averaged 1.40% and the main channel, 24.10% and ABC 2 averaged 1.40% and the main channel 15.50%. SBS Two averaged 0.40% and SBS One, 4.40. Seven was on 23.10%.

TONIGHT: NRL finals start with one game tonight, from Melbourne which will mean a low start for Nine to its broadcasts. Seven has the Brisbane playing the Doggies tonight in the AFL: a big win for Seven. The ABC has George Gently for all of those who don’t like sport. Better Homes And Gardens at 7.30pm on Seven should have a broader appeal than the AFL, or the NRL. Ten has that golden oldie, The Full Monty at 8.30 pm and The 7pm Project.

SATURDAY: AFL, NRL on Ten and Nine. Nothing on Seven. SBS has the 4th one day cricket game between Australia and England.

SUNDAY: NRL and AFL. Sunday Night resumes on Seven at 6.30pm, Border Security and The Force return from 7.30pm. A movie at 8.30pm, it’s like we are back in the 1990s or earlier. The ABC has Midsomer Murders and Stephen Fry to chose from. Nine has 60 Minutes and Rescue Special Ops. Ten has Rove. Dateline on SBS at 8.30pm.

Source: OzTAM, TV Networks reports