Ninjas flip all over 60 Minutes investigation

Thanks to its new best mates (former Fairfax papers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age) Nine’s 60 Minutes ventured back into real investigative journalism, looking at Crown Resorts’ China links. One million tuned in nationally to watch. It was certainly more meaningful TV than the first final of Australian Ninja Warrior (1.60 million nationally) which wraps up tonight.

It was Nine’s night thanks to the two programs. The rating for 60 Minutes was about what Four Corners would have got had the investigation been a co-pro between the ABC and the Nine papers — a potential triumph for Four Corners; a disappointing number for Nine.

Seven started Australia’s Got Talent at 1.27 million — OK, but it is so familiar. Bored viewers can also explain the weak performance of Ten last night, where Australian Survivor only got 709,000 nationally. In regional markets it was Seven News with 546,000, Australia’s Got Talent with 458,000, Australian Ninja Warrior with 454,000, the Nine/NBN News with 376,000 and the 7pm ABC News with 339,000.

Network channel share:

1. Nine (33.7%)
2. Seven (29.2%)
3. ABC (16.9%)
4. Ten (14.1%)
5. SBS (5.7%)

Network main channels:

1. Nine (25.1%)
2. Seven (21.8%)
3. ABC (12.4%)
4. Ten (9.6%)
5. SBS ONE (3.4%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. GO (4.0%)
2. 7mate (3.7%)
3. ABC Kids/Comedy (2.7%)
4. Gem (2.5%)
5. 10 Peach (2.4%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 1.651 million
2. Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine) — 1.605 million
3. Nine/NBN News — 1.351 million
4. Australia’s Got Talent (Seven) — 1.272 million
5. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 1.003 million
6. 7pm ABC News — 976,000
7. Sunday Night (Seven) — 780,000
8. Midsomer Murders (ABC) — 756,000
9. The Planets (ABC) — 752,000
10. Australian Survivor (Ten) — 709,000

Top metro programs:

1. Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine) — 1.150 million
2. Seven News — 1.106 million

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 1.106 million
2. Nine News — 976,000
3. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 738,00
4. 7pm ABC News — 637,000
5. Sunday Night (Seven) — 486,000
6. The Sunday Project 7pm (Ten) — 361,000
7. 10 News First — 220,000
8. The Sunday Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 205,000
9. SBS World News — 127,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Insiders (ABC, ABC News) — 506,000
2. Weekend Sunrise (Seven) — 401,000
3. Landline (ABC) —357,000
4. Weekend Today (Nine) —261,000
5. Offsiders (ABC, ABC News) — 222,000
6. Sports Sunday (Nine) — 218,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. NRL: Penrith v Canberra (Fox League) —218,000
2. AFL: Gold Coast v Essendon (Fox Footy) — 186,000
3. AFL: Bounce (Fox Footy) — 148,000
4. AFL: Sydney v Geelong (Fox Footy) — 143,000
5. NRL: Canterbury v Easts (Fox League) —142,000