Leaders’ debate brings in the viewers (just don’t ask Sky)

The final leaders debate has been won and run. It rated 882,000 on the ABC channels from 7.30pm, with 178,000 for the analysis on ABC News that followed the debate. The debate audience figure was very close to that for the first debate on Seven last Monday (881,000). Both were 10 times the average of 86,000 who watched the second debate on Sky News and the 85,000 average who watched last night.

Sky News’ importance for politicians is because it is supplied free to parliament and is in every parliamentary office. They think it’s vital (and don’t want to upset News Corp), while the Australian public don’t.

The debate had more viewers than Nine’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation (856,000) and narrowly topped MasterChef on Ten (880,000). Only Seven’s House Rules topped it with 975,000. It was Seven’s night from Nine, the ABC and Ten. In regional markets it was Seven’s 6pm News with 597,00 from Seven News/Today Tonight with 557,000, The Chase Australia 5.30pm with 397,000, House Rules with 389,000 and Home and Away with 384,000.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (27.8%)
2. Nine (27.6%)
3. ABC (19.3%)
4. Ten (18.8%)
5. SBS (6.5%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (19.6%%)
2. Nine (19.0%)
3. ABC (13.5%)
4. Ten (11.8%)
5. SBS ONE (4.4%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 10 Bold (4.7%)
2. GO (4.2%)
3. 7mate (2.9%)
4. ABC News (2.6%)
5. ABC Kids/Comedy (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News— 1.617 million
2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.534 million
3. Nine/NBN News 6.30  — 1.260 million
4. Nine/NBN News — 1.255 million
5. 7pm ABC News — 1.071 million
6. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.068 million
7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.067 million
8. House Rules (Seven) — 975,000
9. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 966,000
10. Leaders Debate (ABC) — 882,000

Top metro programs:

1. Seven News — 1.020 million

Losers: Nine/NBN’s news weak again in the regions.

Top Metro News and Current Affairs

1. Seven News — 1.020 million
2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 977,000
3. Nine News  — 946,000
4. Nine News 6.30 — 937,000
5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 768,000
6. 7pm ABC News —717,000
7. Leaders Debate (ABC) — 600,000
8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 457,000
9. 10 News First — 393,000
10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 278,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) — 471,000 (Metros: 279,000)
2. Today (Nine) —278,000 (Metros: 191,000)
3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 249,000 
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 222,000
5. Today Extra (Nine) — 134,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 83,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. Selling House Australia  (LifeStyle) — 142,000
2. Leaders Debate (Sky News)  —88,000
3. Leaders Debate (Sky News) —81,000
4. The Bolt Report  (Sky News) — 77,000
5. Paul Murray Our Town (Sky News) — 60,000