Low ratings as TV slips into summer mode

Australian TV started moving into summer mode last night (after Sunday night’s comparatively weak end to The Block) but before we leave for summer a ratings win reminder for the Seven network from its WS Cox Plate horse race broadcast on Saturday. Winx’s record fourth win in a row was watched by 715,000 people, up 13.5% from 630,000 from her third win in 2017. 

More people watched this on Saturday than last night’s offering from Ten for its rotten Blind Date which could only manage 469,000 national viewers. Family Food Fight on Nine could only manage 560,000, Wanted on Seven got 653,000 for episode one and 527,000 for episode two.

The ABC benefited — its main channel finished second behind Seven. The most interesting rating last night was for Australian Story — 1.14 million for what was a reheated story on water management on a farm in NSW — top 10 in the metros with 769,000 and top three in the regions with 376,000 viewers.

In regional markets Seven’s 6pm News led with 522,000, then Seven News/Today Tonight with 520,000, followed by Australian Story with 376,000. Home and Away with 374,000, and 7.30 with 336,000.

Network channel share:

1. Seven (28.8%)
2. Nine (25.3%)
3. ABC (20.7%)
4. Ten (17.7%)
5. SBS (7.5%)

Network main channels:

1. Seven (20.0%)
2. ABC (16.7%)
3. Nine (16.4%)
4. Ten (12.4%)
5. SBS ONE (5.2%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. GO (4.3%)
2. 7TWO (3.7%)
3. ONE (3.6%)
4. 7mate (3.3%)
5. Gem (2.6%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 1.500 million
2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 1.493 million
3. Nine/NBN News — 1.179 million
4. Nine/NBN News — 1.158 million
5. Australian Story, 7pm ABC News (ABC), A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.145 million
6. Four Corners (ABC) — 1.142 million
7. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.037million
8. 7.30 (ABC)— 1.035 million

Top metro programs: None with a million or more viewers — National figures more representative

Losers: Bride and Prejudice, Blind Date, Family Food Fight

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 979,000
2. Seven News/Today Tonight — 973,000
3. Nine News 6.30 — 891,000
4. Nine News — 878,000
5. Australian Story (ABC) — 769,000
6. A Current Affair (Nine) —757,000
7. Four Corners (ABC) — 721,000
8. 7pm ABC News —716,000
9. 7.30 (ABC) — 698,000
10. Media Watch (ABC) — 632,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) – 4o0,000
2. Today (Nine) – 340,000
3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 236,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 192,000
5. Mornings (Nine) — 134,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 72,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. F1: Mexican GP (Fox Sports) — 88,000
2. Mr INBETWEEN (showcase) — 79,000
3. The Bolt Report (Sky News) — 61,000
4. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 54,000
5. The Simpsons (Fox8) – 48,000