ABC causes Sunday upset
Older viewers are ruling Sunday nights, with wins for Midsomer Murders and Dancing. So what's happened to Idol?
- Published by David Knox
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The ABC’s Midsomer Murders slammed its competition once again, snaring a huge 1.48m viewers -up from last week’s 1.26m. Together with Stephen Fry in America (1.21m), it helped lift the broadcaster to nearly a 23% share and pushed TEN to fourth for the night.
Seven held with Dancing with the Stars (1.35m) over Domestic Blitz / 60 Minutes (1.24m / 1.11m) and Australian Idol (992,00). The result was particularly harsh for TEN slipping underneath the 1m mark. Despite a peak of 1.33m it only won the 16-39 demographic. Losing 18-49 so early in its season will surely smart. If the show stays low expect extra goading from Dicko to new judge Jay Dee Springbett. Roll on Top 12 live performances.
The news wasn’t good for either Rescue: Special Ops (906,000) or Rove (784,000). Bones averaged 1.08m across two episodes, with 1.31 for the first ep.
GO! again took good numbers for Sunday with Wipeout! tops at 224,000 and The Big Bang Theory at 177,000. On ONE Formula One managed 147,000.
The wins for Midsomer Murders and Dancing indicate older viewers are ruling Sunday nights. So where have all the younger viewers gone?
33 Responses
KFed, Hughesy was on Rove every week.
Brent, if a viewer records a show to watch it later or even uses Foxtel to IQ it and then watches it on delay, then it is not included in the Oztam ratings this year. From 2010 recorded shows will be included…although I’m not sure how they will include them.
It will be interesting to see the shows that are recorded because I would imagine it is mostly the younger audience who records and watches at their convenience.
Recorded programs aren’t counted yet. This will apparently change next year or maybe later this year but I think it depends on how it’s recorded. If you’re recording on an old vcr it’s certainly not being counted. As for church attendance that is at the most 10% of the population and a very small portion of that would be younger people and a very small percentage would be Sunday night.
A Good Question about where the younger viewers are on a Sunday Night.Most of Us are working or are at a Church service and go out afterwards with friends.
Well I am 18 and I love Midsomer Murders.
People always use the excuse that young people are out thats why they arent watching shows that are on. That may partially be the case, but generally i’d say its other medium’s and means of entertainment that would be distracting them from the dull selection on teev. And you cant really say that young people are out on a sunday – i can understand Friday and Saturday in numbers that would make a difference to the ratings, but not a sunday.
We watched GO! last night. Only one of two nights worth watching anything on free tv, and both of those nights we watch GO! Otherwise its DVD’s.
The younger viewers have downloaded something, as there is nothing to watch Sundays. Where was I? I was watching Psych Season 4 episode, while chatting on MSN. I know for sure I wont be seeing Psych on TEN anymore, and TV1 wont have that season until 2012.
Why would I want to watch nobodies dancing, people getting free backyards, or product placement idol? Let alone more unfunny Rove starting later than advertised, a double repeat of Bones in prime time Sunday, or some knock-off of Rush?
It’s time to go…Australian Idol.
I watch both Dancing With The Stars, and Midsommer Murders, and I love both of them.
Guess how old I am. I’m Twenty One.
@snickers What you say may be true (In your opinion), but don’t generalise please, it’s insulting.
i’m an idol fan also but have to say again after watching last nights show it was definitely a struggle to watch… i can’t believe the judges put these very average singers through and now four of them will go through to the 12 making this year officially the dullest crop so far (except for Scott the tradie !!).. oh and that new judge is simply just too painful to hear him critique.. all he does is just mumble something and then handballs the rest to the others to help him out ..and this is the best management could do to replace kyle ?
I didn’t realise Rove had dipped so low (again).
@Kai Judith Lucy, like Dave Hughes before her, only appears every second week. She was sick yesterday. I wonder if she’ll be on next week to make up for it?
Just take a look at last Sunday’s TV schedule – dull and boring.
Where are the younger viewers? Erm, just a guess, but on the Internet?
Doesn’t say much for what is on the other channels because “MM” is realy bad this series
Idol might have had it’s day ?
I’m an Idol fan and even I gave up on it halfway through last night. I watched the first item on 60 Minutes and then switched to Stephen Fry, who was terrific.
The New Adventures of Old Christine was great! So glad I’ve finally caught it and hopefully GO! will leave their programming the hell alone so I can tune in weekly. GG & Moonlight are now part of my Thursday nights too.
I watch Stephen Fry on ABC1, followed but some Big Bang on GO! and then ended the night with live F1 on ONE HD.
ABC has seen a huge resurgence on Sunday, just a few weeks ago they struggled to get a 14% share.
Year to date it is interesting to note Seven are winning Sunday nights. Quite a turn around from their regular 10% losses to Nine on Sundays just last year.
Why does “Rove” still exist? The success of a good variety show relies on the strength of a good host. A smart, funny, witty host. Rove isn’t comedy. He is not funny. The show is slick, they get the best international guests, the have great VT packages, slick graphics, hot music acts and it’s all let down when John McManus opens his mouth.
Watch Conan, Leno or Letterman, when they have a dud line-up with C-grade stars the show still works on the strength of the host. I defy anyone to say Rove McManus is funny, the show can be at times. The guests can often share an amusing anecdote but why does John McManus feel he’s good enough to steer the ship? Is he a “competent host and TV Presenter?” Absolutely! Is he funny? Is he funny enough to have his own show? The figures speak for themselves.
5th Grader doesn’t rate. 7pm…. well let’s not even shoot those barrel dwelling fish.
What part doesn’t he get?
Be funny first, learn the basics of comedy and then try again. Otherwise, please, go away.
I think most young ones are out with friends on Sunday nights. I know I am, and the only way I get to watch is by recording and watching later.
@ Craig – I’m pretty sure recordings are included in the ratings because the show is still being broadcast into your household, i.e. the channel is still ‘on’.
If the Idol judges can’t be serious and tell contestants how poor they are then i simply wont be watching in the future.
What happened to Judith Lucy on Rove? I thought she was supposed to be a regular, but she only appeared on one episode.
Sunday night is the most boring night of the week! I don’t even bother watching anything on TV. I will usually watch a DVD or a downloaded show. At the moment watching Breaking Bad, absolutely awesome show.
It’s so annoying the boring crap they have on TV when there are so many good shows out there, the problem is they all go to Showcase channel on Foxtel, because TV networks wouldn’t know a good show if it bit them on the arse!
Only good show on TV at the moment is United States of Tara and Dexter which i watched last year at the same time it was on in America. I am not going to wait a whole year for ch 10 to decide to put it on. That is why the ratings are so low everyone who would be interested in it has already seen it!
Also looking forward to Skin and Entourage tonight.
I had to work so recorded Idol and boy is it great to watch it with the ability to fast forward through all the junk and just get down to the nitty gritty – performances and judges comments. The host’s bickering, the cross promotion, the in-show advertorials, the contestants’ sob stories – all of it is just useless filler.
Maybe others are doing the same. After all, recorded programmes aren’t counted in ratings are they?
Wipeout and 60 minutes are my current sunday night combo