Audiences reject TV favourites for virus coverage

Yesterday saw a substantial COVID-19 driven surge in the viewing of news programs across the day and into last night as Australians as wanted more information. 

MAFS (1.38 million) was left behind by Seven’s hour of news from 6-7pm which averaged 1.63 million people nationally. That was 100,000 higher than a week earlier. Nine News rose as well to average 1.38 million, up around 140,000 and the highest audience figures for the hour this year.

The 7pm ABC News averaged 1.24 million, up nearly 200,000 from a week ago, 7.30 averaged 1.24 million, up more than 200,000 as well. ACA was all but unwanted by viewers, its audience was up just 53,000. Nine did an hour news special on the virus which averaged 833,000. Seven did likewise, but it only averaged 522,000.

In Breakfast, Seven’s Sunrise saw its audience soar to 533,000, up 100,000 on a week ago, and Nine’s Today jumped as well to 360,000 (its best for more than a year). ABC News Breakfast had its highest ever non-election result — 348,000 national viewers, up 103,000 viewers from a week earlier.

Audiences for Seven’s The Morning Show and Nine’s Today Extra also rose strongly. While Nine won the night, the ABC was a clear second in the main channels ahead of Seven and behind Nine.

Network channel share:

1. Nine (29.2%)
2. Seven (23.2%)
3. ABC (22.1%)
4. Ten (19.4%)
5. SBS (6.0%)

Network main channels:

1. Nine (22.4%)
2. ABC (16.8%)
3. Seven (16.0%)
4. Ten (13.6%)
5. SBS ONE (3.5%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 10 Bold (3.4%)
2. 7TWO (3.2%)
3. ABC News, 7mate (2.6%)
4. GO (2.5%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News— 1.681 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.579 million 
3. MAFS (Nine) — 1.388 million
4. Nine/NBN News   — 1.378 million
5. Nine News 6.30 — 1.371 million
6. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.247 million
7. 7pm ABC News — 1.241 million
8. ACA (Nine) — 1.162 million
9. Australian Story (ABC) — 1.015 million
10. Home and Away (Seven) — 942,000

Top metro programs: 

1. Seven News — 1.096 million
2. Nine News – 1.066 million
3. Nine News 6.30 — 1.067 million
4. MAFS — 1.046 million
5. Seven News 6.30 — 1.007 million

Losers: Seven and Ten 
Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News   — 1.096 million
2. Nine News  6.30  — 1.067 million
3. Nine News  —1.066 million
4. Seven News 6.30 —1.007 million
5. 7.30 (ABC) — 888,000
6. ABC News — 856,000
7. ACA (Nine) —848,000
8. Australian Story (ABC) — 713,000
9. Nine Covid Special — 632,000
10. The 7pm Project (Ten) — 582,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise: National: 533,000, Metro: 315,000 
2. Today: National: 360,000, Metro: 236,000 
3. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) —348,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) —282,000
5. Today Extra (Nine) —198,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 85,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. The Bolt Report (Sky News) — 70,000
2. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 62,000
3. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) — 54,000
4. Outlander (Fox One) — 54,000
5. Credlin (Sky News) — 52,000