Thank God for 1.74m viewers
In its first outing on Seven, Thank God You're Here took a cool 1.74m viewers.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
The first episode of Thank God You’re Here on Seven was the #1 show for Wednesday. It managed an impressive 1.74m viewers, beating RPA / What’s Good for You (1.22m, 1.20m), and MasterChef Australia, The Simpsons (994,000 / 1.09m).
All eyes were on Seven to see how the show would fare with viewers after a switch from Network TEN.
Seven took the night easily with a 29.9% share over Nine’s 25.6% and TEN’s 21.2%.
On the network switch, Working Dog’s Michael Hirsh told The Age, “We thought long and hard about a move as such, but ultimately it’s not such a big deal.”
Working Dog was, he says, under no obligation to TEN. “There was a perception we were linked to Channel TEN, (but) we have never received a cent as part of an obligation or a development deal.” The company even paid for the Thank God You’re Here pilot from its own funds, not TEN’s.
Working Dog insists it did not, as the headlines suggested, sign with Seven because of money, though sources say the final offer from Seven was formidable.
“It’s not a factor. If money was what it was all about, we would not have taken the year off, it’s as simple as that. We would have just worked it like a factory,” Hirsh says.
Meanwhile MasterChef Australia has slipped from its premiere of 1.42m to 994,000 in just two nights, suggesting the network might have been wiser to by-pass its Idol-like auditions and jump straight into the challenges and personalities that will drive the show.
Viewers will get a proper taste of how the series will run from next week, presuming they come back for more.
30 Responses
Only 200,000 less than on TEN…not too bad I guess. And Masterchef numbers are the same as what Biggest Loser was doing on weeknights…I think TEN should be very happy.
I Love TGYH and can’t wait for next weeks show. OH, and yes I’m one of those over 50 viewers………but not a new one to TGYH, Just because we are older doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy good comedy……Geesze !!
I don’t care which TV channel shows TGYH and am puzzled by all the whingers regarding its demise from Ch 10. Who cares, its just good Aussie TV,
Hahaha!, Take that Ch10!!
I thought the episode was fine, with no major changes. I did like the criketer advertising sketch as well. Looking forward to when they get Josh Lawson on as I always thought he was their strongest performer. What annoyed me greatly though was how long the show ran overtime, which is pretty much a constant problem at 7. I’m not sure but I think it’s Home and Away which sends the entire 7 schedule 10 minutes late. Would be extremly annoying for anyone who wants to go straight from TGYH to Spicks and Specks on ABC.
well i agree that the numbers definitely had the potential to be higher. but those figures and demo’s do not make the promotion and money a waste. and unlike other shows TGYH is very likely to pick up as the season goes on. last season started with the same 1.7 and rose and stayed above 2mil by ep5.
as far as the rumoured $1mil per ep goes, i don’t think it’s that big of a deal. i think if 9 and ten kept bidding 7 would of easily paid more money. 7 did not renew their 2 $1mil per hour shows of 2008 (gladiators and the outdoor room) and i think TGYH is a wonderful way of directing that money.
and even if the show doesn’t pay itself off, the network made an indulging risk that looked good for returns and it still has bigger lasting benefits like bringing new people to the network.