Thank god for the return of footy

Another Thursday night in winter — all desert and nothing sweet at all, apart from what turned out to be two solid footy games: AFL on Seven (691,000 national viewers, plus 215,000 on Foxtel) where St Kilda beat Carlton, and the NRL on Nine where Melbourne beat Easts (643,000 viewers, plus 266,000 on Foxtel). The common denominator, no crowds except for the audience-tapes at both games.

Seven won the night thanks to the usual big margin that the 6pm news had over Nine — 390,000. Like the night before, that margin was enough to give Seven a win over Nine, with Ten third and the ABC fourth in total people. In the main channels the ABC was third ahead of Ten with Seven winning the night.

In breakfast it was Sunrise with 489,000 national and 291,000 metro, Today 316,000/211,000, and ABC News Breakfast 308,000/207,000.

In the regions: Seven News, 627,000, Seven News 6.30, 594,000, The Chase Australia 5.30pm, 410,000, Home and Away, 389,000, 7pm ABC News, 364,000.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (32.0%)
2. Nine (26.6%)
3. Ten (17.5%)
4. ABC (15.9%)
5. SBS (8.0%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (21.8%)
2. Nine (18.7%)
3. ABC (10.4%)
4. Ten (9.7%)
5. SBS ONE (4.5%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 10 Bold (4.9%)
2. 7mate (4.3%)
3. 7TWO (4.2%)
4. ABC Kids/Comedy (3.1%)
5. 10 Peach (2.9%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News —1.737 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.656 million
3. Nine/NBN News — 1.365 million
4. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.265 million
5. 7pm ABC News— 1.128 million
6. ACA (Nine) — 1.050 million
7. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) —  1.042 million
8. Home and Away (Seven) — 980,000
9. 7.30 (ABC) — 811,000
10. Hot Seat (Nine) — 791,000

Top metro programs:

1. Seven News — 1.111 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.063 million
3. Nine News – 1.060 million

Losers: Everyone bar AFL or NRL hardcores.

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 1.111 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.063 million
3. Nine News – 1.060 million
4. Nine News 6.30 —958,000
5. 7pm ABC News — 763,000
6. A Current Affair (Nine) — 727,000
7. 7.30 (ABC)— 542,000
8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 467,000
9. Ten News First — 401,000
10. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 320,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) — 489,000/291,000
2. Today (Nine) — 316,000/211,000
3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 308,000/207,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 235,000
5. Today Extra (Nine) — 164,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 78,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. NRL: Melbourne v Easts  (Fox League) — 266,000
2. AFL Carlton v St Kilda (Fox Footy) — 215,000
3. The Late Show With Matty Johns (Fox League) — 133,000
4. AFL: Post Game  (Fox Footy) — 100,000
5. Aussie Gold Hunters (Discovery) — 89,000