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2007: Ratings Report


In a nutshell, 2007 was great for Seven, the ABC and Foxtel, bad for Nine and TEN and a case of same same for SBS.

All the networks are putting their own spin on the statistics hoping to bamboozle journos with the figures that elevate their triumphs.

Here are the figures that matter. Ratings shares are national primetime, based on 6pm – 12am in metro cities Weeks 7 – 48, excluding 2 weeks for Easter.

2007
Seven: 29.0%
Nine: 26.9%
TEN: 21.9%
ABC: 16.7%
SBS: 5.5%

SEVEN: 29.0%
2007 really was Seven heaven. It is Seven’s first win in 29 years, excluding Olympics. It won 38 of 40 ratings weeks, lifting its share from 27.8% in 2006. Seven won two key demographics, 18-49 and 25-54, plus the almighty Total People. It won 157 nights. Seven wins in morning, primetime and overall. Its top rating regular shows for the year were Kath & Kim, The Force, Border Security, Dancing with the Stars, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Medical Emergency, It Takes Two, City Homicide, Seven News (Sunday) and Grey’s Anatomy. Seven’s top rating sporting event in the survey year was the Melbourne Cup. Seven wins primetime News. Today Tonight finished ahead of A Current Affair. Sunrise defeated Today, while The Morning Show finished ahead of Kerri-Anne and David and Kim.

NINE: 26.9%
‘Who killed Channel Nine?’ asked Gerald Stone, and this year he was right. Nine only won 2 of 40 ratings weeks. Its share dropped from 29.1% and it failed to finish first in any demographic except 55+ in primetime. With a disappointing war chest of programmes, the fact that Nine won 104 nights is something of a backhanded compliment. Its top rating regular shows for 2007 were Sea Patrol, National Nine News (Sunday), 60 Minutes, CSI, RPA, Missing Persons Unit. Nine’s top rating sporting event in the survey year was the NRL Grand Final. Nine performed best across the PBL owned East Coast stations, where it only lost 12 nights to Seven. Not having purchased the Perth and Adelaide affiliates will continue to bite in 08.

TEN: 21.9%
“Record highs in 18-49” boasts TEN. It would want to be an improvement, it’s the first year TEN has targeted the demographic over its previous favourite 16-39. What it neglects to mention is it lost that demographic to Seven and its overall network share dropped from 22.3%. TEN didn’t win any ratings weeks in 2007. The good news is it again won the 16-39 demographic regardless. TEN was also first in daytime viewing and won 15 nights. Its top rating regular shows were Thank God You’re Here, House and Australian Idol. TEN’s top sports event in the survey year was the AFL Grand Final.

ABC: 16.7%
They say they never care about ratings, but the ABC was happy to crow about their wins, and in 2007 they were aplenty thanks to comedy and light entertainment. The ABC’s share went up from 15.4%. It won 1 night, Election Night. No prizes for guessing their top rating regular shows were The Chaser’s War on Everything, Spicks and Specks, Summer Heights High, Midsomer Murders, New Tricks, The Chaser Decides 2007 and Australian Story.

SBS: 5.5%
SBS cares more about the overall year than the survey year, but holding ground can never be taken for granted. Top shows for SBS this year were Top Gear, Mythbusters, Inspector Rex, Long Way Round, South Park, Pizza, Rockwiz.

FOXTEL
Foxtel also cares not for the survey year, seeing the year as a full 52 weeks. It is historically coy in revealing any figures but has enjoyed a significant lift this year, in percentage terms around 15%. Sport dominated its programming with High School Musical 2 and The King performing well.

Photo: Media Spy

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