Lego Masters might be all over but Nine still looks like a winner

Nine’s night with Lego Masters’ finale (1.26 million) and the winner’s announcement (1.39 million) dominated post-7.30pm viewing. A Current Affair averaged 1.1 million from 7pm and got a late boost from a turn-on for Lego Masters and the program running just past 7.30.

Big Brother with 860,000 beat Have You Been Paying Attention? (840,000) and MasterChef Australia (751,000). Seven was second, Ten was third and the ABC fourth.

But the big news in media and entertainment is not only the huge Warner Media Discovery spin-off and merger worth a reported US$150 billion — including US$55 billion in debt that unite HBO, CNN, Turner with all those Discovery channels and programs like Outback Opal Hunters, Shark Hunt and Aussie Gold Hunters — but reports that Amazon is in talks to buy MGM for US$10 billion. That would give Amazon control of hundreds of movies (172 Oscars) including the James Bond films and Gone With the Wind.

Both deals are all about streaming video. Warner (HBO Max) and Discovery will have about 79 million subscribers. Amazon has tens of millions in its Prime service (which includes Prime Video). If Amazon buys MGM, how long before Apple swoops on a rival like ViacomCBS? Netflix hasn’t bought anything and is the global leader.

Disney paid the best part of US$58 billion for assets from Murdoch’s Fox, and most are surplus to requirements as Disney throws its future in with streaming through Disney+, ESPN+ and other smaller services. Netflix is still a pure streamer and has in the past month signed up the rights for dozens of Australian movies from around 1979: Don’s Party, for example, Animal Kingdom, Breaker Morant. Over time these deals will make it more expensive and difficult for Australian commercial TV networks to get their hands on good American-made programs.

Breakfast: Sunrise, 455,000 nationally and 263,000 metro; Today, 319,000 and214,000; ABC News Breakfast, 265,000 and 158,000.

Regional top five: Seven News, 602,000; Seven News, 6.30, 583,000, Home and Away, 376,000; The Chase Australia 5.30pm, 367,000; Lego Masters (winner announced), 366,000.

Network channel share:

1. Nine (29.5%)
2. Seven (26.5%)
3. Ten (21.1%)
4. ABC (15.9%)
5. SBS (6.9%)

Network main channels:

1. Nine (22.8%)
2. Seven (18.7%)
3. Ten (13.6%)
4. ABC (12.2%)
5. SBS ONE (4.2%)

Top five digital channels:

1. 10 Bold (4.6%)
2. 7TWO (3.5%)
3. 7mate (2.9%)
4. 10 Peach (2.4%)
5. ABC Kids/Comedy, Gem (2.1%)

Top 10 national programs:

1. Seven News — 1.650 million
2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.603 million
3. Lego Masters (winner announced) (Nine) — 1.359 million
4. Nine News 6.30 — 1.274 million
5. Nine News — 1.273 million
6. Lego Masters (Nine) — 1.260 million
7. A Current Affair (Nine) —1.104 million
8. 7pm ABC News — 997,000
9. Home and Away (Seven) — 974,000
10. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 906,000

Top metro programs:

1. Seven News — 1.048 million
2. Nine News — 1.030 million
3. Seven News 6.30 — 1.020 million

No losers: Lego Masters finale and winner announcement dominated post-7.30pm viewing.

Metro news and current affairs:

1. Seven News — 1.048 million
2. Nine News — 1.030 million
3. Seven News 6.30 — 1.020 million
4. Nine News 6.30 — 987,000
5. ACA (Nine) —807,000
6. 7pm ABC News — 663,000
7. Australian Story (ABC) — 576,000
8. 7.30 (ABC) — 546,000
9. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 496,000
10. Four Corners (ABC) — 464,000

Morning (National) TV:

1. Sunrise (Seven) — 455,000/263,000
2. Today (Nine) — 319,000/214,000
3. News Breakfast (ABC) — 265,000/158,000
4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 221,000
5. Today Extra (Nine) — 158,000
6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 50,000

Top five pay TV programs:

1. Mare of Easttown (Fox Showcase) — 94,000
2. AFL: 360 (Fox Footy) — 71,000
3. NRL: 360 (Fox League) — 69,000
4. AFL: On The Couch (Fox Footy ) — 67,000
5. Credlin (Sky News) — 62,000