A Me Too week slips from grasp

Week 47, the penultimate week of ratings, was a week in which Mary settled with SBS, Ray pitched for his own show (again), TEN announced its 2008 slate at the same time as its old Nunawading studios were earmarked for sale,Foxtel announced a second season of Satisfaction, McLeod’s Daughters was axed, SBS announced a local Top Gear, Rove re-signed with TEN after accidentally leaking it on his own website, and Today Tonight topped viewer complaints. And it was a week in which networks constantly amended their starting time for the election coverage in a frantic bid to jump ahead of the competition.

The neck and neck week was also shaping up as winnable for the Nine Network too, but its extended Friday night Current Affair special so bombed with viewers that any hope of that vanished faster than a loss in Bennelong.

As a result, Seven again won the week with 28.9% to Nine’s 26.5. TEN had 20.8. Seven won Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, over Nine’s on Sunday and Wednesday. The ABC had a rare, spectacular win on Saturday night with its Australia Decides election coverage. Seven won in all cities.

City Homicide‘s finale was the week’s top show with 1.76m viewers. The building figures contrast with Sea Patrol‘s dwindling fortunes. Homicide ends the year as our new favourite local drama. Next were Surf Patrol, Border Security, Dancing with the Stars, Better Homes and Gardens, All Saints, Seven News, Home and Away, Ghost Whisperer, and Today Tonight. With mounting cynicism National Bingo Night is heading south fast, only 1 more ep remains. Together with a poor movie, Seven came third on Sunday night. The payoff was its big Friday win.

Nine’s best was the stalwart CSI on Sunday evening with 1.44m viewers. Sunday’s News and 60 Minutes followed, then Missing Persons Unit, Farmer Wants a Wife, CSI: NY and 20 to 1. It was a week of mixed fortunes for A Current Affair toppling from the dizzying heights of 1.4m on Monday to just 603,000 on Friday -viewers clearly disinterested in more grand-standing politicians. Co-host Ray Martin also didn’t do so well with Who Killed Harold Holt on 934,000 -was this really the week to be saying “I think I need my own show?” On a more positive note, Antiques Roadshow had a rare win over Deal or No Deal on Thursday.

TEN’s best performers were House, Australian Idol, Rove and a repeat of Thank God You’re Here -the show TEN has yet to re-sign for 2008. With three nights under the 20% barometer little else in the schedule is worth talking about aside from Neighbours beating ACA on Friday.

The Chaser Decides was the ABC’s biggest hit. Politics hit a chord with the ABC audience, who shot it to glory on Saturday night over the noisy commercials. Other top shows were Spicks and Specks, Australia Decides, The Brief, ABC News, and Captain Cook.

SBS was strongest on Monday.

Ratings Week 47.