Nine’s dominant night thanks to debutante Arrow and The Big Bang Theory, and weak programming by Seven. Arrow has a surprisingly strong debut — 2.040 million viewers across the country, 1.318 million in metro markets and a very strong 722,000 in regional areas. That made the program the most watched across the country last night (third in metro markets, first in the regions). The fresh episode of The Big Bang Theory was second nationally and number 1 in the metros with 1.953 million national/ 1.369 million metro and 584,000 regional viewers.

Seven’s programming from 7.30pm (Highway Patrol and The Force) were blitzed by The Big Bang Theory fresh and repeat episodes, and Arrow whacked Criminal Minds from 8.30pm by nearly a million viewers nationally.

Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell on ABC1 (950,000 national/ 697,000 metro/ 253,000 regional) was the standout for me. The conservative blogger character is Bolt-like, the ALP spokesperson was an air-headed thought bubble. Wonderful satire. Ten was weak, ABC1 was OK, but like Ten, had a collection of dud on the night (See Losers).

Wentworth, the remake of the golden oldie Prisoner, debuted on Foxtel last night and was simulcast on three channels SoHo (90,000), Arena (73,600), 111 Hits (39,800) and their + 2 channels. It totalled 202,000 viewers.

Programming Note: Seven is bringing Sunday Night back for a one-off special episode on Sunday night at 6.30pm (up against The Voice), with the program devoted to an interview with the former ABBA singer Agnetha Faltskog. (She’s the blonde).

Network channel share:

  1. Nine  (31.3%)
  2. Seven (29.6%)
  3.  ABC (16.9%)
  4. Ten (16.5%)
  5. SBS (5.7%)

Network main channels

  1. Nine (24.4%)
  2. Seven (21.1%)
  3. ABC1 (12.3%)
  4. Ten (11.5%)
  5. SBS ONE (4.7%)

Top five digital channels: 

  1. 7TWO (4.6%)
  2. 7mate (3.6%)
  3. Gem (3.5%)
  4. GO (3.4%)
  5. Eleven (3.2%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Arrow  (Nine) – 2.040 million
  2. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) — 1.953 million
  3. Seven News — 1.933 million
  4. Nine News – 1.873 million
  5. The Big Bang Theory Rpt (Nine) — 1.705 million
  6. The Force (Seven) — 1.576 million
  7. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.418 million
  8. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.409 million
  9. Highway patrol (Seven) — 1.388 million
  10. ABC1 News — 1.370 million

Top metro programs:

  1. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) — 1.369 million
  2. Nine News  — 1.330 million
  3. Arrow (Nine) — 1.318 million
  4. Seven News — 1.283 million
  5. The Big Bang Theory repeat (Nine) — 1.163 million
  6. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.111 million
  7. A Current Affair (Nine) – 1.030 million
  8. The Force (Seven) — 1.028 million

Losers:  A big cast that included Tractor Monkeys on ABC1 (591,000 national/ 419,000 metro/ 172,000 regional). The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knifefighting on ABC1 at 9.30 (425,000 national/ 300,000 metro/ 125,000 regional)  — just weak. The Good Wife on Ten (475,000 national/ 341,000 metro/ 134,000 regional), Criminal Minds on Seven at 8.30pm (1.089 million national/ 731,000 metro/ 358,000 regional) — usually 300,000 or more better than this. Mr and Mrs Murder on Ten at 8.30pm (638,000 national/ 469,000 metro/ 169,000 regional). Another poor result for a series that had promise and is now a headache for Ten.Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News – 1.330 million
  2. Seven News – 1.283 million
  3. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.111 million
  4. A Current Affair (Nine) – 1.030 million
  5. ABC1 News — 944,000
  6. 7.30 (ABC1) — 746,000
  7. Ten News – 720,000
  8. The Project (Ten) — 610,000
  9. SBS ONE News — 201,000
  10. Ten Late News — 179,000

Morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 372,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 345,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC1) – 56,000 + 35,000 on News 24

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8 – 3.1%
  2. LifeStyle – 3.0%
  3. TV 1 — 2.6%
  4. UKTV, Sky News – 1.9%.
  5. A&E – 1.8%

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Wentworth (SoHo, Arena, 111 Hits) – 202,000
  2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 103,000
  3. Family Guy (Fox 8) – 86,000
  4. Location, Location, Location (LifeStyle) – 81,000
  5. Seinfeld  (TV1) – 73,000

Tonight: The Checkout on ABC1 is the highlight. The Footy Shows on Nine are the lowlights (?), or is it Top Gear (?). Seven has Mrs Brown’s Boys (which has the virtue of being amusing). Ten has Law and Order SVU after menus from Jamie Oliver. SBS has its foodie night.

*Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. The data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of OzTAM. (All shares on the basis of combined overnight 6pm to midnight all people.) Plus network reports.