The Winners: Seven News won the night with 1.185 million and Today Tonight was 2nd with 1.175 million. And that told the night’s story. Nothing else on could get the attention of viewers. The digital FTA networks had a good night, snaring near 10% of the prime time audience. Nine won because its programs at 7.30pm to 9.30pm were a bit more attractive to those viewers hanging on to their remotes.

The Losers: So, so many, even taking into account the fact that it’s the sleepy summer time. Ten’s repeats of Malcolm in the Middle at 6.30pm, 594,000. Above Suspicion, the 9.30pm movie on Nine, 577,000, not being mentioned for being a loser (it wasn’t a good movie) but for the public interest effort in beating the return of the appalling Californication on Ten at 10.05pm with 453,000. Australia’s Funniest Home Videos summer edition at 7pm on Nine, 691,000, beaten by the Seven repeat of How I Met Your Mother in the same slot with 717,00. There were more, but I must stop and take a deep breath otherwise…

News & CA: Seven News again won nationally and in every market as did Today Tonight. The winning margin for Seven News of 241,000 was very large, for no real reason except viewers didn’t like Nine last night. Likewise with ACA, it lost to TT by 349,000! The 7pm ABC News averaged 970,000 to 940,000 got Nine News. ACA averaged 826,000, beaten by The 7.30 Report with 875,000. That happens during summer, but it was nevertheless a notable event last night. Lateline, 198,000. Ten News, 752,000, the late News/Sports Tonight, 272,000. SBS News at 6.30pm, 158,000, 284,000 for the late edition. 7am Sunrise 323,000, 7am Today, 281,000.

The Stats: Nine won with a 6pm to midnight All People combined share of 29.3% from Seven with 27.4%, Ten with 20.6%, the ABC on 16.2% and SBS with 6.5%. Nine won everywhere but Perth. Seven leads the week 28.5% to 27.8%.

In regional areas a win with WIN/NBN with the main channel on 20.5%, from Prime/7Qld with 27.5%, Ten on 19.4%, ABC 1 on 13.6%, SBS ONE on 7.1%.

Digitally: A strong night: Nine’s GO won with 3.10%, (Nine on 26.20%), from 7TWO with 2.70% (Seven on 24.70%), ABC 2 with 2.00% (ABC 3 with 0.60%, ABC 1 was on 13.50%). Ten’s ONE with 1.10% (Ten on 19.50%), SBS TWO with 0.40% (6.10% for SBS ONE). All up a share of 9.90% for the six FTA digital channels. ABC 3 with 0.60% beat SBS TWO with 0.40%, a first for a kids channel in Australia.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: Nine won, but the big story was the flop of Nine News and A Current Affair, especially in Sydney. ACA has Leila McKinnon hosting, Today Tonight has Sam Armytage. Last night TT won easily as viewers abandoned ACA. TT won by nearly 350,000 nationally and nearly 100,000 in Sydney. It has been, much closer than that this year. TT even won in Melbourne, where ACA has been strong with Tracy Grimshaw in the chair. But it seems not in summer.

ACA wasn’t helped by the weak showing by Nine News: 40,000 behind Seven in Sydney, another win to the new host, Chris Bath over Peter Overton. The 7pm ABC News did better in Sydney than Nine, 290,000 to 259,000, with Seven News on 299,000. The 7pm ABC News beat Nine News nationally as well. But that (and this applies in Sydney as well and Melbourne, but not in Brisbane) is partly due to daylight saving, end of school, Christmas functions, shopping etc.

Nine News was also weaker in Melbourne where it has been strong this year (and was very strong on Sunday night).

TONIGHT: Dare I mention anything, apart from the various news broadcasts and The 7.30 Report? Zilch! Christmas shopping, or dine out, meet friends, read a book. Not even cricket to help us through the pain.

Source: OzTAM, TV Networks reports