The Block breaks a million, but fails to break ground

Nine’s The Block cracked a million last night with 1.05 million. Break out the bodega and celebrate. Last night was the first judgement night — guest bedrooms. Whoopee.

Last week’s debut of The Voice got 1.91 million on the closing night of the Tokyo games, and 1.67 million the following night (a better guide). Last night had 1.80 million as two highly promoted contestants appeared. Game and second set to Seven. Homicide with Ron Iddles averaged 922,000 and made sure Seven easily won the night and set up a winning week.

The ABC debuted the much-hyped The Newsreader — 819,000, OK. I remember working at Nine on January 28, 1986, a terrible day when the Challenger blew up. That part The Newsreader handled well. 

In breakfast, Insiders had 746,000; Weekend Sunrise, 513,000; Landline, 482,000; Weekend Today, 373,000.

Regional top five: Seven News, 658,000; The Voice, 582,000; Nine News, 448,000; 7pm ABC News, 392,000, Homicide With Ron Iddles, 346,000.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (32.0%)
2. Nine (20.7%)
3. Ten (17.9%)
4. ABC (15.9%)
5. SBS (6.7%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (26.3%)
2. Nine (20.7%)
3. Ten (13.12%)
4. ABC (12.2%)
5. SBS ONE (3.8%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 7mate (2.8%) 
2. 10 Bold, GO (2.4%)
3. 7TWO, ABC News (1.9%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News  — 1.92 million
2. The Voice (Seven) — 1.80 million
3. Nine News — 1.62 million
4. 7pm ABC News — 1.12 million
5. The Block (Nine) — 1.05 million
6. Homicide With Ron Iddles (Seven) — 922,000
7. Joanna Lumley’s Britain (ABC) — 919,000
8. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 894,000
9. The Newsreader (ABC) — 819,000
10. Australian Survivor (Ten) — 813,000

Top metro programs: 

1. Seven News — 1.26 million
2. The Voice (Seven) — 1.22 million
3. Nine News — 1.17 million

Losers: An OK night but The Block was just not good enough.

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 1.26 million
2. Nine News — 1.17 million
3. 7pm ABC News — 735,000
4. 60 Minutes (Nine) — 643,000
5. Sunday Project 7pm (Ten) — 447,000
6. Nine Late News — 384,000
7. The Sunday Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 342,000
8. Ten News First — 334,000
9. SBS World News — 187,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Insiders (ABC, ABC News) — 746,000
2. Weekend Sunrise (Seven) — 513,000
3. Landline (ABC) — 482,000
4. Weekend Today (Nine) — 373,000
5. Sports Sunday (Nine) — 2725,000
6. Offsiders (ABC) — 209,000

Top 5 pay TV programs:

1. NRL: Cronula vs Newscastle (Fox League) — 229,000
2. NRL: Sunday Ticket (Fox League) — 160,000
3. NRL: Auckland vs Canterbury (Fox League) — 154,000
4. AFL: Fremantle vs. West Coast (Fox Footy) — 149,000
5. AFL: Melbourne vs Adelaide (Fox Footy) — 138,000