SBS is all very Channel 4. Another stunning example of the Mandy Rice Davies defence from SBS Managing Director Shaun Brown in the Sydney Morning Herald today had him defending his regime at the broadcaster, but avoiding mentioning the petite newsreader who’s not in the chair next to Stan. As Ms Davies said more than 45 years ago when someone denied “knowing” her during the Profumo affair in Britain, “he would say that wouldn’t he”, a comment that aptly sums up Mr Brown’s staunch defence of our second public broadcaster, or should that be our quasi public broadcaster. His “column” on the SMH opinion page echoed the effort in an interview in the Australian‘s Media pages last Thursday where the paper at least had the guts to ask him about “Runaway” Mary Kostakidis. The SMH column also read like a dress rehearsal for Brown’s appearance at the National Press Club in Canberra tomorrow. In it there was not a mention of Ms Kostakidis’ absence from World News Australia, or mention of the problems at the program, or her rumoured criticisms of the changes at SBS. But there was a rejection of Paul Sheahan’s argument in Monday’s SMH opinion pages that we don’t need SBS. It’s all very Channel 4 (from the UK), and not very original: it’s an agenda, not for making SBS relevant, but for achieving a goal established by the board (which has been appointed by the Howard Government). And much of SBS isn’t very watchable: the most watched programs are Top Gear (from the BBC), Mythbusters (American made by an Australian company but airs first on cable TV), and repeats of Inspector Rex from Austria. — Glenn Dyer

Gerald Stone, letter writer. It’s interesting that SBS chose deputy chairman, Gerald Stone to reply via a letter to the SMH today, rather than chairman, Carla Zampatti, who again confirms stories around Sydney society (OK, the Eastern Suburbs) that she doesn’t have an opinion on anything, other than herself and her company. It’s a surprise the SMH didn’t point out that Mr Stone was deputy chairman of SBS at the bottom of his letter. It is no minor point:

Paul Sheehan (“SBS, an indulgence we don’t need”, August 27) is perfectly justified in asking whether SBS deserves taxpayers’ support if it merely sticks to the kind of programming it pioneered in the 1980s, catering to a relatively small clique of viewers with exotic tastes. However, he ignores the network’s groundbreaking efforts in fostering racial reconciliation. Locally made dramas such as The Circuit and Remote Area Nurse have brought new understanding of the complex and often heart-wrenching issues facing Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Next year SBS will release a major historical series on indigenous Australians, while still presenting its widely acclaimed Living Black current affairs show. I can assure Paul Sheehan that kind of TV fare – allowing white Australians to know far more about the sensitivities of the people who preceded them – is nowhere to be found on the internet. It can’t simply be downloaded, along with foreign news, sport and entertainment. That’s why SBS, in its 21st-century manifestation, remains highly relevant to Australian society and well worth the price.  Gerald Stone, McMahons Point” — Glenn Dyer

Last night’s TV ratings
The Winners: A very interesting night: Seven scored success with its new local cop drama, City Homicide, Ten’s new US program Californication did OK with all its naughty bits, the Foxtel produced Graham Kennedy biopic, The King bombed on the grown up world of Free To Air TV on Nine, and A Current Affair showed why Australia is still paranoid. A dozen shows with a million or more viewers. Border Security was tops with 1.932 million people and The Force at 8pm followed up with 1.816 million (Did the audience think they were battling Equine Influenza?). City Homicide debuted in 3rd slot with 1.648 million, a strong start. A Current Affair with a Bert Newton interview averaged 1.530 million (It was supposed to be a promo for The King later in the night. It was a promo for Bert). The second semi of Idol was 5th with 1.515 million, Home And Away was 6th with 1.479 million at 7pm, Seven news was next with 1.461 million and Nine News was next with 1.362 million. Temptation was 9th with 1.255 million at 7pm for Nine, Today Tonight was on 1.221 million (down around 200,000 on its usual Monday nights), the 7pm ABC News was 11th with 1.103 million and Ten’s Law And Order SVU after Idol at 8.45pm averaged 1 million people exactly. Californication on Ten started with 981,000 and good numbers in the target 18 to 49 group of viewers.It was a bit ho hum to anyone older. Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope was knocked down by City Homicide’s two hours, The King and Californication. It averaged 710,000.

The Losers: Losers.Well, Nine peaked at 6.30 with ACA and then fell. Queen’s Castle let the show down with 796,000 at 7.30pm. Why was it shown? It cruelled the audience for The King (as it did for 1 vs 100 the previous two weeks). Thankfully last night was the final ep. The King averaged 835,000. That’s bombing, but Nine didn’t give it a chance. It was used as a bit of counter programming to City Homicide on Seven and Californication on Ten at 9.45pm. That failed. It deserved better. Nine should have got Bert Newton and talked him into introducing it and promoting it, even though in parts Kennedy was cruel to him. Nine has lost its TV programming skills, its nimbleness, low rat cunning and ability to think and make last minute changes. Bert is one of the last well known links to The King and should have been used.

News & CA: Seven News won nationally and everywhere bar Melbourne (Seven News in Melbourne might suffer from a bit of chequebook journalism involving allegedly stolen AFL players records from a hospital). Today Tonight was beaten by ACA with Bert. Ten News At Five averaged 931,000, the Late News/Sports Tonight 239,000. Nightline on Nine, 290,000. The 7.30 Report on the ABC, 752,000, Four Corners, 754,000, Media Watch, 644,000 (Which pinged News Ltd nicely for altering Wikipedia entries on the Wendy Deng profile by Eric Ellis. Strange how that wasn’t written up today in The Australian, isn’t it after they belted Media Watch last week). Lateline, 306,000, Lateline Business, 141,000. SBS World News Australia, 199,000 at 6.30pm, 229,000 at 9.30pm. 7am Sunrise 375,000, 7am Today, 253,000.

The Stats: Seven won with, 34.3% (27.9% a week earlier). That was 11.3 points, or 50% ahead of Nine’s share of 23.0% (22.7%). Ten was third with 22.6% (24.9%), the ABC fell to 14.8% (from 17.1%) and SBS was on 5.3% (7.3%). Seven won every market and had a 17 point lead in Perth. Nine finished third everywhere bar Melbourne where it was a strong second, thanks to ACA, the News and The King. Graham Kennedy lives, OK!). As a result Seven bounded past Nine to lead the week 29.1% to 25.5%. in regional areas a strong win to Prime/7Qld with 36.0%, from Southern Cross (Ten) with 22.4%, WIN/NBN with 21.9% for Nine, the ABC on 14.1% and SBS on 5.6%. Seven won last week on Sunday night, it won this week last night.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: City Homicide did well (although I am waiting, waiting, for Shane Bourne to say, Thank God You’re Here to another actor). It was crisp, good characterisation (although a few clunky bits, Aaron Petersen’s plaintive moan about his suit was too contrived). But it showed Nine and Ten (and the ABC and Foxtel) how to do popular drama. Only The Circuit on SBS looked better in its first ep. Sea Patrol on Nine is so far behind its not funny. The King bombed: but of course not in Melbourne where Kennedy is still an idol. But the Bert Newton interview on ACA last night showed who was more popular: 544,000 watched ACA last night compared to 319,000 for The King. 1.53 million vs. 835,000. The strength of Border Security at 7.30pm on Seven boosted The Force at 8pm which is like Bert Newton and Graham Kennedy. Bert was always second banana to Gra Gra (except last night), The Force does best behind Border Security, not leading off at 7.30pm or 8.30pm, as it has done in the past. It’s not compelling enough. Ten is happy with Californication, but why did I think Gerbils last night when I watched it? The role for David Duchovny seems to be a bit Richard Gere for my liking. He does need Agent Scully to help him through his destructive episodes. And finally, I saw a bit of Delta Goodrem on Andrew Denton and was impressed. She’s got the right attitude to life. And if you haven’t seen them, the final series of The Sopranos starts on Nine at 10.45pm. They are far better that Crime Investigation Australia, which will keep Nine in the hunt tonight. Seven to win with RSPCA Animal Rescue, Medical Emergency and All Saints.