The Winners: Packed to the Rafters averaged 1.701 million viewers at 8.30pm for Seven. Next was RSPCA Animal Rescue at 7.30pm with 1.352 million, with Ten’s NCIS 3rd with 1.347 million (a bit lower than some previous weeks this year). Seven News was 4th with 1.337 million and Today Tonight was next with 1.322 million viewers. Last Chance Surgery at 8pm on Seven averaged 1.278 million. Two and a half Men averaged 1.188 million for the 7pm repeat in 7th and 8th was 20 to 1 at 7.30pm on Nine with 1.127 million, with Home and Away next at 7pm with 1.064 million. A Current Affair was 10th with 1.053 million, All Saints was next with 1.053 million at 9.30pm with Seven and the fresh of The Simpsons on Ten at 8pm averaged 1.008 million. The really fresh episode of The Simpsons at 8pm averaged 925,000.

The Losers: Nine and its viewers at 9.30pm with Ladette to Lady: 693,000 for the first episode of the second Australian series (which has suffered big budget cuts). It is a painful program. Why was it made again? Curb Your Enthusiasm (promoted as the Seinfeld reunion by Nine) — 755,000 viewers at 9pm.

News & CA: Nine News surprised by finishing out of the million viewer list with 997,000 last night. A weak figure for what is normally a good night. Seven News again won nationally and in every market. But in Sydney Nine News was within 5000 of Seven, 283,000 to 288,000. Both lowish figures. Nine News was weak elsewhere. A Current Affair won Melbourne by 1000 viewers, 339,000 to 338,000. But ACA averaged just 274,000 viewers in Sydney. Ten News 771,000, the late News/Sports Tonight, 479,000. The 7pm ABC News averaged 919,000, The 7.30 Report, 778,000. Lateline, 192,000, Lateline Business, 96,000. SBS News at 6.30pm for SBS, 166,000, Insight at 7.30pm, 205,000, the 9.30pm News, 140,000. 7am Sunrise, 371,000, 7am Today, 322,000.

The Stats: Seven won with a share in All People 6pm to midnight of 31.5% (33.3% a week ago), from Nine with a combined share of 25.5% (24.4%), Ten with a combined share of 24.4% (25.2%), the ABC with 14.4% (12.6%) and SBS with 4.1% (4.6%). Seven won all five metro markets. Seven leads the week 28.2% to 27.6% (combined) from Nine. Ten is on 22.4%.

Digitally: Nine’s GO won with 2.60% (leaving Nine’s main channel on 23.0%). Ten’s ONE averaged 1.00% (Ten’s main channel was on 23.40%). ABC 2 averaged 1.30%, (ABC 1, 13.20%), SBS TWO, 0.30%, SBS ONE, 4.000%.

In regional markets a win to Prime/7Qld with 35.2%, from WIN/NBN on 22.7%, Southern Cross (Ten) on 21.7%), the ABC on 14.5% and SBS on 5.9%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: Packed to the Rafters might have dipped under 1.8 million viewers last night, but not too many would have been shocked, surprised or urged to write to a tabloid newspaper about the storyline unless they were overly sensitive. Many women who leave the work force when pregnant would have understood the program last night, many men and women trying to reconcile would have understood as well, as would older viewers. Plus couples about to be married.

Foreign Correspondent again gave us a side of a country that we would have normally expected to see on Four Corners, 60 Minutes et al. 710,000 appreciated the report on the grubby hypocrisy of Japan’s criminals and the legal system which doesn’t class possession of kiddie p-rn an offence.

TONIGHT: Spicks and Specks at 8.30pm, Hungry Beast at 9pm and the new John Safran program at 9.30pm. All are worth a visit: whether you persist with them is your decision. Seven has City Homicide at 8.30pm. Ten has the celebs on MasterChef, at 7.30pm. Nine has a where are they now episode of RPA at 8.30pm.

Source: OzTAM, TV Networks reports