John Russell documentary proves a rare gem in Australian TV

Bride and Prejudice – The Forbidden Weddings on Seven last night had 854,000 nationally, down from 902,000 the night before. Family Food Fight on Nine — 500,000, down more than 10% from 560,000 the night before. Ambulance Australia on Ten lifted its audience to 899,000 from 648,000 the week before. 

Tucked away on ABC last night was a joy — Australia’s Lost Impressionist, a doco on the almost unknown Australian painter John Russell who knew and influenced many of the world’s best known impressionists, including Van Gogh and Matisse. 342,000 nationally was not a big number, but it was more than enough to beat the first repeat of Kath and Kim on Nine with 302,000, and NCIS Los Angeles on Ten with 328,000. 

In regional areas it was Seven’s 6pm News on top with 510,000 then Seven News/Today Tonight with 478,000, The Good Doctor on 395,000, Home and Away on 338,000 and the 5.30pm Chase Australia with 319,000. Seven’s night in total people, main channels and the demos.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (30.4%)
2. Nine (26.6%)
3. Ten (18.3%)
4. ABC (16.4%)
5. SBS (8.3%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (21.2%)
2. Nine (16.3%)
3. Ten (13.2%)
4. ABC (11.6%)
5. SBS ONE (5.8%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. GEM (5.1%)
2. 7mate (4.2%)
3. GO (3.4%)
4. Eleven (3.3%)
5. 7TWO (3.0%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 1.405 million
2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.326 million
3.  Nine/NBN News — 1.111 million
4.  Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.077 million
5. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.022 million
6. The Good Doctor (Seven) — 968,000
7. 7pm ABC News — 968,000
8. A Current Affair (Nine) — 942,000
9. Ambulance Australia (Ten) — 899,000
10. Bride and Prejudice – The Forbidden Weddings (Seven) — 942,000

Top metro programs:

Losers: Family Food Fight, Today, and anyone who watched Bride and Prejudice.

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 895,000
2. Nine News — 851,000
3. Seven News/Today Tonight — 848,000
4. Nine News 6.30 — 817,000
5. A Current Affair (Nine) – 659,000
6. 7pm ABC News – 654,000
7. 7.30 (ABC) — 537,000
8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 446,000
9. Ten Eyewitness News — 339,000
10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 278,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) – 427,000
2. Today (Nine) – 333,000
3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 246,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 187,000
5. Mornings (Nine) — 136,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 75,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. FFA Cup Grand Final (Fox Sports) — 78,000
2. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 61,000
3. Jones & Co (Sky News) — 60,000
4. The Bolt Report (Sky News) — 57,000
5. FFA Cup Grand Final Post Game (Fox Sports) — 52,000