seven news TV ratings
(Image: Seven News)

The top six programs nationally last night were news and current affairs programs — in other words, a typical summer night’s ratings outcome. When the most watched non-news program is the 5.30pm part of The Chase Australia with 911,000 viewers you know the night was diabolically dull.

Q&A finished 2019 with 444,000 nationally — about average for this time of year. Next year new host and new look.

In regional markets it was Seven’s 6pm News with 538,000, then Seven News 6.30 with 490,000, The Chase Australia 5.30pm with 358,000, the 7pm ABC News with 297,000, and Better Homes and Gardens with 292,000.

Network channel share:

Nine (27.5%)
Seven (27.4%)
ABC (19.3%)
Ten (16.7%)
SBS (9.1%)

Network main channels:

Nine (18.6%)
Seven (18.1%)
ABC (14.3%)
Ten (9.4%)
SBS ONE (5.4%)

Top 5 digital channels:

10 Bold (4.5%)
Gem (4.1%)
7TWO (3.3%)
7mate (3.0%)
GO, 10 Peach (2.8%)

Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.52 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.44 million
  3. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.13 million
  4. Nine News — 1.12 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.03 million
  6. 7pm ABC News — 946,000
  7. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 872,000
  8. 7.30 (ABC) — 872,000
  9. Australian Story (ABC) — 825,000
  10. RBT – repeat (Nine) — 745,000

Top metro programs: None with a million or more viewers

Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News —982,000
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 959,000
  3. Nine News — 867,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 864,000
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 759,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 651,000
  7. 7.30 (ABC) — 593,000
  8. Australian Story (ABC) — 561,000
  9. Media Watch (ABC) — 426,000
  10. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 409,000

Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise: National: 444,000, Metro: 263,000
  2. Today: National: 297,000, Metro: 199,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 245,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 224,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) —132,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 78,000

Top 5 pay TV programs:

  1. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) —61,000
  2. The Bolt Report (Sky News) —60,000
  3. Kenny On The Media (Sky News) —56,000
  4. Credlin (Sky News) —45,000
  5. The Simpsons (Fox8) — 40,000