Summer ratings: Seven’s domination continues. The Seven Network won the first week of summer ratings, but not one program could manage more than 1.4 million viewers nationally as Australians tuned out. Seven won with a share of 27.0% from Nine with 24.0%, Ten and the ABC tied for third on 21.0% and SBS on 7.0%. Both the ABC and SBS lifted their shares, as is normal during summer, with the ABC’s 7pm News the big improver over the week. Surf Patrol (1.343 million), Borderline (1.314 million) and Seven’s Sunday night news (1.307 million) were the top three programs, as Seven won five nights and Nine won two. Seven won Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Nine won Melbourne. Foxtel and its myriad channels finished the week in second place (after Seven) in zone one prime time (6pm to 10.30pm) and was in fact the most watched TV outlet on Saturday. But Foxtel still won’t release a breakdown of its viewing audience by channel. It prefers to aggregate the audience “across the platform”, which includes Optus and Austar. Foxtel insists on comparing itself with Free To Air TV, but then won’t provide a proper basis for that comparison. — Glenn Dyer

Last night’s TV ratings
The Winners: Seven News was tops with 1.237 million, just ahead of Nine News with 1.208 million. Seven’s movie, Surviving Christmas (how apt) was next with 1.10 million, followed by the 7pm ABC News (1.037 million), Seven’s Wild Vets (1.031 million), Nine’s repeat of What’s Good For You (999,000), Extreme Makeover (985,000), Nine’s Waking The Dead (956,000) and the Schools Spectacular on the ABC at 7.30pm averaged a solid 921,000.

The Losers: It’s summer but 735,000 was still too many for Ten’s Don’t Forget The Lyrics. Ghost Whisperer, not a flop with 914,000 for Seven at 7.30pm, but it seems stale. The Countdown Spectacular at 9pm on the ABC, 554,000. The schools thing rocked, Countdown sagged. First Tuesday Book Club at 6pm, 291,000. Why not repeats of The Einstein Factor?

News & CA: Seven News won nationally thanks to Perth and Brisbane. Seven lost very heavily in Melbourne, 308,000 to Nine’s 468,000. Seven also won easily in Sydney but lost Adelaide. The 7pm ABC was second in Melbourne and third among the news’ broadcasts in Sydney. Ten News averaged a solid 858,000 after the golf (which had just 372,000). SBS News, 197,000. In the morning Insiders averaged 202,000; Inside Business, 174,000; Offsiders 133,000, for their last programs of the year. Weekend Sunrise was again the leader with 437,000.

The Stats: Seven won with 28.4% from Nine with 27.4%, Ten with 18.7% , the ABC with 17.8% and SBS with 7.7%. Seven won Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, while Nine was very solid in Melbourne and won Adelaide. In regional areas though a much clearer result with Prime/7Qld finishing with 31.8%, WIN/NBN with 24.3% for Nine, Southern Cross (Ten) with 19.2%, the ABC with 16.8% and SBS with 7.9%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: Well, a who cares night. Tonight a touch more fun with Seven’s 7.30pm to 8.30pm hour brought to us by NZ producers with Borderline and Coast Watch. Tonight: the final Enough Rope for the year at 9.35pm and a fresh Mythbusters on SBS at 7.30pm.

Source: OzTAM, TV Network reports