Another night where an early bed was an option — except for the joy of watching Wonders of Life on ABC1 at 8.30 pm (850,000 national/ 589,000 metro/ 261,000 regional viewers). Highly intelligent, entertaining viewing. I now know why I can’t see some mornings. After a late night my eyes resemble those of a mantis shrimp! The Tour de France on SBS ONE was far too late, so it was the morning highlights on SBS this morning and then again tonight at 6pm.

Tonight has better offerings for viewers tonight — well, those AFL fans of the Collywobbles and the Blues, or those NRL fans of the The Storm or the Broncos (a sort of intra-Queensland State of Origin warm-up game). Of course there’s the Tour de France tonight and tomorrow night and Sunday night — and the weekend brings the high passes of the Pyrenees. Great! Earlier tomorrow night we get the final great colonial battle of 2013 between the Wobblies and those chaps from the British Lions. Rugger up, chaps and ruck and maul! No rain and a dry pitch. And of course, there’s Wimbledon tennis tomorrow night (women’s final) and Sunday night (men’s final after the semis tonight). Here’s hoping it’s a 2-zip weekend for the for our former colonial masters — a loss in the thugby and a loss if Andy Murray makes the men’s final. 

The Block did the job for Nine last night (average of the two programs the program proper and the Unlocked part. 1.613 million national/ 1.148 million metro/ 465,000 regional). Seven ran dead, and The Mole  died a little bit more last night (987,000 national/ 650,000 metro/ 237,000 regional).  The program averaged 1.314 million nationally for its Tuesday night debut, so the loss had been substantial — around 327,000.  Nine also had a big win in regional markets. 

All up it was a weak night from Seven. The hour-long episode of Home and Away (1.396 million national/ 932,000 metro/ 464,000 regional) from 7pm to lead into The Mole at 8pm didn’t work, as 409,000 Seven viewers abandoned the network and The Mole. That’s telling because the show is partly aimed at the Home and Away demographic.

Ten wants the public’s help in naming its new morning show (Crikey yesterday) to be hosted by Ita Buttrose and Joe Hildebrand. Here’s a starter: Mother and Son!

Network channel share:

  1. Nine (31.8%)
  2. Seven (25.5%)
  3. Ten (18.1%)
  4. ABC (17.1%)
  5. SBS (7.5%)

Network main channels:

  1. Nine (24.0%)
  2. Seven (19.3%)
  3. Ten (13.7%)
  4. ABC1 (12.6%)
  5. SBS ONE (6.4%)

Top digital channels: 

  1. GO (4.9%)
  2. 7TWO (3.7%)
  3. Gem, ABC 2 (2.9%)
  4. Eleven (2.7%)
  5. 7mate (2.6%) 

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.887 million
  2. Nine News — 1.849 million
  3. The Block (Nine) — 1.806 million
  4. The Block Unlocked (Nine) — 1.419 million
  5. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.396 million
  6. ABC1 News– 1.345 million
  7.  A Current Affair, The Footy Shows (Nine) — 1.317 million
  8. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.305 million
  9. Hot Seat (Nine) — 1.130 million
  10. 7.30 (ABC1) — 1.100 million

Top metro programs:

  1. Nine News — 1.285 million
  2. Seven News — 1.248 million
  3. The Block (Nine) — 1.237 million
  4. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.124 million
  5. The Block Unlocked (Nine) — 1.058 million
  6. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.030 million 

Losers: Dynamo The Magician Impossible on Seven (852,000 national/ 526,000 metro/ 326,000 regional viewers). MasterChef Masterclass (760,000national/ 567,000 metro/ 193,000 regional viewers). 

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Nine News — 1.285 million
  2. Seven News — 1.248 million
  3. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.124 million
  4. Today Tonight (Seven) — 1.030 million
  5. ABC1 News — 909,000
  6. 7.30 (ABC1) — 727,000
  7. Ten News — 653,000
  8. The Project (Ten) — 504,000
  9. Q&A (ABC1, 361,000, News 24, 45,000) — 406,000
  10. Ten Late News — 247,000 

Metro morning TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) – 383,000
  2. Today (Nine) – 358,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC1) – 56,000 + 34,000 on News 24 

Top five pay TV channels:

  1. Fox 8 – 3.0%
  2. TV1 – 2.3%
  3. LifeStyle – 2.0%
  4. UKTV – 1.8%.
  5. Fox Classics – 1.7%

Top five pay TV programs:

  1. River Cottage Australia (LifeStyle) – 126,000
  2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) – 100,000
  3. The Simpsons (Fox 8) – 88,000
  4. Family Guy (Fox 8) – 71,000
  5. Futurama (Fox 8) – 68,000

*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.