The master returns to prime time

A big win (and a rare one) for Ten last night as it successfully revived MasterChef Australia (MCA) which grabbed a very solid 1.56 million national viewers.

It might be the close confinement of millions of people but I reckon its the revamped hosts and different look. The old trio of judges were tired and too familiar to viewers.

Nine finished third last night as it ran dead in a post-Easter daze. Seven’s House Rules (867,000) was well-beaten by MCA. The opportunity was there to grab more viewers, but Seven couldn’t take it. A year ago MCA averaged 905,000 for its returning ep, but that was up against LegoMasters on Nine, the end of My Kitchen Rules and the first ep of a new House Rules. A less-competitive night helped Ten embed MCA very quickly. 

Seven News from 6pm pulled another 2 million-plus viewers. It’s benefited more than Nine News (1.55 million from 6pm to 6.30pm) has from the pandemic, along with the ABC (1.40 million last night)

Network channel share:

1. Ten (26.8%)
2. Seven (25.2%)
3. Nine (23.5%)
4. ABC (17.2%)
5. SBS (7.2%)

Network main channels:

1. Ten (20.7%)
2. Seven (16.7%)
3. Nine (15.4%)
4. ABC (12.9%)
5. SBS ONE (3.8%)

Top 5 digital channels: 

1. 10 Bold (3.8%)
2. 7TWO (3.7%)
3. 7mate (3.4%)
4. Gem (2.9%)
5. GO (2.6%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 2.006 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.950 million
3. Masterchef Australia (Te4) — 1.562 million
4. Nine/NBN News — 1.550 million
5. Nine/NBN News 6.30 — 1.473 million
6. 7pm ABC News — 1.404 million
7. A Current Affair (Nine) — 1.142 million
8. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 1.135 million
9. 7.30 (ABC) — 1.122 million
10. Home and Away (Seven) — 1.085 million

Top metro programs:

1. Seven News — 1.299 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.268 million
3. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 1.228 million
4. Nine News — 1.177 million
5. Nine News 6.30 — 1.101 million

Losers: Nine, by design

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 1.299 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.268 million
3. Nine News — 1.177 million
4. Nine News 6.30 — 1.101 million
5. 7pm ABC News — 954,000
6. A Current Affair (Nine) – 830,000
7. 7.30 (ABC) — 770,000
8. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 662,000
9. Australian Story (ABC)  — 622,000
10. ACA 7.30 (Nine) — 548,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) — 510,000/283,000
2. Today (Nine) — 322,000/208,000
3. The Morning Show (Seven) — 389,000
4. News Breakfast (ABC, ABC News) — 314,000
5. Mornings (Nine) — 256,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 116,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. The Bolt Report (Sky News) — 73,000
2. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 68,000
3. Credlin (Sky News) — 64,000
4. Outlander (Fox One) — 61,000
5. Spectre (Movie Hits) — 51,000