COPS L.A.C.s viewers
Nine's new cop drama is shedding viewers, while the Delhi Games gathers belated momentum, and digital channels prove energetic.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
It’s a headline that was rife for the taking, but last night it came true, as just 645,000 viewers tuned in to watch the police of Seaview Local Command.
And that was without Rush as viewing competition. Usually, both are fighting for the same crime-driven viewers.
It should be pointed out that Melbourne, picking up where The Footy Show left off, aired two COPS L.A.C. episodes. Admittedly, coding the episodes separately would have given the show a slightly better average, but even Sydney could only gather 210,000.
The show has been slipping on a weekly basis, having premiered with 1.16m viewers. Last week it was 712,000. Ominously, Nine has even been dropping some late night replays of the show from its schedule.
TEN’s Commonwealth Games coverage is finally heading in the right direction, if still only a shot at Bronze glory. Between 9pm and 11pm it had an average audience of 1.13m on its two channels, with 875,000 for the early session.
ONE pulled a 7.9% share for the night, its best-ever share since launch, defeating all other digital channels. But GO! is also reaping the benefits of slim Thursday choices. It pulled out an impressive 7.4% on the back of reruns of Top Gear, The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. Did viewers think they were watching Nine?
Seven’s Amazing Race in a new slot of 7:30pm pulled 795,000. Penguin Island was 536,000 for ABC1.
Thanks to GO!, Nine won the night in network share -just- as the Commonwealth Games gave TEN some belatedly encouraging signs.
Maybe they can ask te Delhi organisers to schedule some more swimming please?
Updated: A Nine source advises some errors at OzTAM averaged COPS to 3 hours in Melbourne, rather than 2.
31 Responses
I still don’t understand why everyone is bagging out Cops. I really like it! And don’t tell me the cast can’t act – if the cast ‘can’t act’ then why have cast members had such successful careers in the Australian film industry?? The only acting I find slightly corny at times is some of the victims acting such as when some guy found out his mate or brother or whoever had died. That was kind of funny cos it was slightly over the top. But generally the acting is quite good! It’s annoying cos I’m the only one in my family who likes it, so I have to tape it and watch it when no one’s around.
I think DC meant ‘supporters’, but the sentiment is true. When word came out that Nine were making COPS LAC, a resounding ‘why?’ rang out across the country. Indeed, the drama department at Nine could not be less in touch.
Swing the axe. Its bad writing and bad acting. Even Kate Ritchie can’t save this show.
I am one of the biggest pioneers for Aussie drama and am always getting behind them and supporting them against their critics on forums like these and always anxiously check the ratings in hope that they are all doing well but for some reason it pleases me so much to see COPS LAC bombing in the ratings….I think that reason is that the show nevr should have being made, never even should have got out of the development stage…the actual idea never even should have being contemplated. Who on earth in Nine’s drama department thought it would be a great idea to commision another cop drama after already making Rescue which was far from a breakout hit, The Strip which bombed horribly and when Rush was already on and not exactly setting the world on fire in the ratings. I just cant even fathom why they dirched the idea of Young Doctors remake for this when All Saints got the axe and there was no other medical drama on TV?!?!?
PTTR was ratings its ass off and hey didnt think…hmm maybe lets try something different, it seems noone is interested in cop shows anymore.?
Its sad for all invovled but the sooner they axe this rubbish and get something new and different on the better there drama department will be…actually they should just fire everyone in nines dram department and rehire others as punishment for letting this be made!
Hmm. If you’re really one of the biggest pioneers for Aussie drama did you make Bellbird, Homicide, Number 96 or something else?
Bad casting. Bad acting. Bad storylines. I just caught the latest episode online to see how bad it was. The detective actually ate pizza in the middle of a homicide investigation, with his gloves on. WTF?
The headline was so bad that it was good that is was terrible! David, hide your head! 🙂
Best headline ever!
The product placement on last night’s ep had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Pizza and fizzy drink, anyone? This show is the pits!
Nine need to rethink their drama strategy. Micheal Healy has commissioned 3 identikit dramas in RSO, SP and LAC. They need a range of dramas. It’s not that hard is it? Don’t they get pitches from everywhere?
@ Beau repaire … maybe Gary Sweet isn’t either!
I watched last night … some of it seems to be stuck in the past.
The acting (by all ) is really bad.
the storylines are so-so … it’s just so bad.
Even Martin Dingle-Wall’s goo looks don’t make up for the rubbish that he speaks!
It’s just bad … no other way to put it.
Cops L A C is better than rush……
Looking forward to being justified for calling this a disaster before they’d even started filming… Bring on the axe!
Lowest common denominator drivel worked when there was only 3 commercial FTA channels.
The people who approve this rubbish need to realise the FTA landscape has changed enormously.
Yes Kate Richie as cop, just not believable. No offence to her, she was great as a gangers wife in Underbelly. Whoever cast her just didn’t do their homework .
Made the mistake of watching Homicide last night then Cops. The acting on cops was like watching a poor episode of home and away, the storyline was even worse & very corny. Ritchie may be a great soup star but she is no prime-time actress. In contrast the Homicide episode was excellant acting (great to see some oldtime aussie stars) and the storyline was very interesting
After having watched 20 minutes of LAC last night I’m not surprised. Atrocious!
Cops is dead in the water, those numbers are a huge disappointment for such an expensive show when it comes to the cast.
BTW was there a double ep in Melbourne to catch up with the rest of the non AFL states?
Craig I already noted that.
so did anyone bother watching GEM’s dartboard-strategy Thursday? I actually did see the opening minutes of Bewitched but was persuaded to change the channel to Supersizers on SBS.
As I said elsewhere … the name of the show alone is very offputting … and there is nothing about the show that interests me … and i don’t buy “Sally from Home and Away” as a cop. Yet another predictable cop show, we are drowing in them!
I agree withPD: Come up with something Different!!!!!! And justify that reduculously high pay packet!
The public speaks. Now the network must decide. Do yourselves a a good deed 9. Drop it, and use the money for Underbelly set in the 1920’s. Now that would be Bold!! As viewers we can only hope we’re heard.
Maybe Kate Ritchie isn’t the draw they tell us she is?
Cops LAC = The Strip revisited. Actually, it makes The Strip look like a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. Terrible show that is justifiably sinking without a trace. Awful scripts and wooden acting do not make rivetting TV. Surely, Nine won’t be stupid enough to renew it.
Commonwealth Games appears to be gathering momentum in the ratings as those numbers for last night are not bad at all. Those numbers don’t take into account those who are watching the dedicated coverage on Fox Sports, so the viewership of the Games is higher than reflected in the official ratings. I am really enjoying the coverage.
Cops Lacs viewers all right. I daresay it is on its way out.
I find it interesting that you mention that it could only gather 210,000 viewers in Sydney. This is quite good for an Aussie drama in Sydney. City Homicide could only attract 201,000 viewers & Offspring an abysmal 172,0000 viewers this week. Only PTTR with 459,000 viewers is above it
I always stick with Go on a Thursday night!!
Lol at the use of “L.A.C’s viewers” – and also Lol at the lack of viewers. The dismal failure that is Cops L.A.C. never ceases to delight me. Maybe that’s cruel, but hopefully it prompts the network to try something … different.
Like Underbelly in the 1920’s – now that I would watch!