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SBS birthday present: under siege from digitals

Thirty years to the day of its television launch, SBS is now competing with digital channels. In Week 43 of Ratings it barely beat GO! Meanwhile Seven took another week.

On its 30th anniversary SBS is under siege from digital channels.

Thirty years to the day of its television launch, SBS is now competing with digital channels that offer a handful of new release material propped up largely by rerun American imports, many of which are recycled throughout the day like a Pay TV channel.

This week SBS1 pulled a 4.8% share -just 0.1% ahead of GO!.

But while it struggles to adequately compete in a multichannel environment, SBS is dogged by the fact it has no additional government funding for SBS2, let alone any prospect for SBS3. Sports simulcasts notwithstanding, it is now the only broadcaster to offer its main channel content in HD.

But in Week 43 it was Seven that again took the lead, in a close race all week with Nine.

Network:
Seven: 30.2
Nine: 29.6
TEN: 18.5
ABC: 16.1
SBS: 5.6

Primary Channels:
Seven: 24.1
Nine: 23.1
TEN: 17.7
ABC1: 13.8
SBS1: 4.8

Digital Channels:
GO!: 4.7
7TWO: 3.4
7mate: 2.7
GEM: 1.8
ABC2: 1.2
ONE: 0.9
SBS2: 0.8
ABC News 24: 0.6
ABC3: 0.5

Nine won the key demographics 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54.

Seven was victorious on all nights except Monday, which fell to Nine. ABC thumped TEN on Saturday night.

Seven won in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth while Nine was first in Melbourne and Brisbane.

#1 show of the week was again Packed to the Rafters at just under 1.8m viewers.

There are now just 5 weeks remaining in the 2010 survey year.

Top 100
Rnk Description Stn Network Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Packed To The Rafters Seven 1,794,000 556,000 528,000 286,000 212,000 212,000
2 Two And A Half Men -Mon Ep1 Nine 1,471,000 382,000 525,000 259,000 135,000 170,000
3 Seven News – Sun Seven 1,392,000 329,000 438,000 329,000 112,000 184,000
4 Junior Masterchef Australia Sun Ten 1,390,000 398,000 462,000 221,000 141,000 168,000
5 The Force – Behind The Line-Wed Seven 1,319,000 360,000 408,000 248,000 141,000 162,000
6 Undercover Boss Australia Ten 1,314,000 347,000 456,000 244,000 120,000 148,000
7 Two And A Half Men -Mon Ep2 Nine 1,312,000 325,000 453,000 254,000 125,000 156,000
8 New Tricks ABC1 1,294,000 357,000 401,000 235,000 135,000 166,000
9 Seven News Seven 1,280,000 295,000 372,000 269,000 149,000 195,000
10 Seven News – Sat Seven 1,248,000 330,000 369,000 285,000 109,000 155,000
11 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line-Wed Seven 1,241,000 356,000 376,000 233,000 134,000 142,000
12 Top Gear Australia Nine 1,224,000 348,000 354,000 285,000 108,000 129,000
13 The Block Nine 1,197,000 357,000 394,000 218,000 110,000 119,000
14 Today Tonight Seven 1,193,000 290,000 329,000 251,000 147,000 176,000
15 The Big Bang Theory -Ep1 Nine 1,179,000 354,000 377,000 206,000 101,000 141,000
16 Sherlock Nine 1,166,000 294,000 437,000 184,000 106,000 145,000
17 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,159,000 310,000 337,000 238,000 139,000 135,000
18 Iron Chef Australia Seven 1,129,000 376,000 307,000 173,000 130,000 144,000
19 Junior Masterchef Australia Mon Ten 1,125,000 298,000 400,000 190,000 101,000 136,000
20 Bones Seven 1,118,000 354,000 327,000 180,000 135,000 123,000
21 Nine News Nine 1,118,000 297,000 352,000 245,000 118,000 106,000
22 Nine News Sunday Nine 1,110,000 251,000 410,000 198,000 140,000 110,000
23 The Big Bang Theory -Ep2 Nine 1,098,000 315,000 373,000 169,000 102,000 139,000
24 The X Factor-Sun Seven 1,096,000 311,000 344,000 185,000 133,000 122,000
25 NCIS Ten 1,090,000 303,000 287,000 222,000 117,000 161,000
26 A Current Affair Nine 1,078,000 298,000 351,000 220,000 99,000 111,000
27 ABC News-Sa ABC1 1,061,000 267,000 337,000 194,000 119,000 144,000
28 The X Factor-Mon Seven 1,054,000 332,000 283,000 180,000 140,000 119,000
29 Sunday Night Seven 1,042,000 256,000 314,000 216,000 115,000 141,000
30 Modern Family Sun Ten 1,037,000 296,000 322,000 169,000 94,000 158,000
31 City Homicide Seven 1,035,000 261,000 353,000 192,000 110,000 119,000
32 Glee Wed Ten 1,035,000 273,000 339,000 223,000 92,000 107,000
33 60 Minutes Nine 1,035,000 257,000 306,000 237,000 100,000 134,000
34 Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation Tues Ten 1,008,000 286,000 333,000 165,000 104,000 120,000
35 Farewell The Bill ABC1 983,000 271,000 294,000 184,000 112,000 122,000
36 Home And Away Seven 980,000 286,000 265,000 184,000 121,000 125,000
37 Nine News Saturday Nine 972,000 244,000 316,000 190,000 127,000 95,000
38 Beauty And The Geek Australia Seven 969,000 336,000 276,000 128,000 110,000 118,000
39 ABC News ABC1 962,000 259,000 305,000 157,000 117,000 125,000
40 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine 950,000 278,000 304,000 168,000 105,000 95,000
41 ABC News-Su ABC1 920,000 242,000 281,000 171,000 104,000 123,000
42 Keeping Up With The Joneses Ten 901,000 219,000 264,000 206,000 88,000 124,000
43 Two And A Half Men -Rpt Nine 896,000 243,000 296,000 176,000 79,000 102,000
44 The Amazing Race-17 Seven 892,000 306,000 240,000 150,000 93,000 104,000
45 Hey Hey It’s Saturday Nine 878,000 252,000 332,000 136,000 97,000 61,000
46 Top Gear Nine 876,000 240,000 290,000 181,000 74,000 92,000
47 Last Chance To See ABC1 875,000 221,000 314,000 130,000 103,000 107,000
48 Poirot: Lord Edgware Dies ABC1 874,000 248,000 286,000 135,000 107,000 97,000
49 Australian Story ABC1 869,000 263,000 255,000 181,000 87,000 83,000
50 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Nine 867,000 244,000 302,000 157,000 87,000 76,000
51 Offspring Ten 831,000 176,000 314,000 140,000 84,000 117,000
52 Junior Masterchef Australia – Masterclass Ten 830,000 232,000 253,000 140,000 89,000 116,000
53 Getaway Nine 826,000 246,000 282,000 132,000 84,000 82,000
54 Bondi Vet Ten 822,000 228,000 234,000 172,000 85,000 103,000
55 Hot Pursuit Nine 804,000 200,000 303,000 124,000 80,000 97,000
56 M-The Bourne Ultimatum Seven 802,000 215,000 327,000 119,000 76,000 64,000
57 Parenthood Seven 790,000 261,000 250,000 95,000 90,000 94,000
58 RPA Nine 779,000 220,000 253,000 102,000 117,000 88,000
59 The Good Wife Wed Ten 779,000 243,000 201,000 152,000 86,000 97,000
60 ABC News Up-Date ABC1 776,000 221,000 243,000 131,000 85,000 95,000
61 Rush Ten 772,000 169,000 274,000 150,000 100,000 80,000
62 Send In The Dogs Nine 764,000 196,000 274,000 134,000 80,000 80,000
63 Modern Family Sun Rpt Ten 739,000 204,000 238,000 128,000 67,000 102,000
64 Luther ABC1 736,000 199,000 247,000 103,000 102,000 86,000
65 RBT Nine 732,000 218,000 228,000 146,000 73,000 68,000
66 Ten News At Five Ten 729,000 188,000 216,000 137,000 78,000 110,000
67 Highway Patrol-Wed Seven 723,000 199,000 286,000 112,000 69,000 57,000
68 The 7pm Project Ten 714,000 196,000 219,000 147,000 75,000 78,000
69 NCIS Fri Rpt Ten 713,000 182,000 205,000 139,000 95,000 91,000
70 Media Watch ABC1 705,000 212,000 214,000 150,000 79,000 50,000
71 Qi ABC1 703,000 190,000 268,000 102,000 70,000 73,000
72 Four Corners ABC1 701,000 188,000 207,000 162,000 81,000 63,000
73 7.30 Report ABC1 698,000 199,000 191,000 146,000 85,000 77,000
74 Castle (R) Seven 692,000 186,000 233,000 107,000 97,000 69,000
75 Rush Ep 2 Ten 688,000 133,000 260,000 124,000 96,000 75,000
76 Get Smart Nine 680,000 201,000 238,000 109,000 52,000 81,000
77 Ten News At Five Sun Ten 678,000 179,000 238,000 109,000 59,000 94,000
78 Gardening Australia ABC1 670,000 175,000 216,000 118,000 79,000 82,000
79 Good News Week Ten 659,000 183,000 212,000 116,000 78,000 69,000
80 NCIS: Los Angeles Rpt Ten 645,000 187,000 184,000 98,000 89,000 87,000
81 Q & A ABC1 635,000 213,000 186,000 121,000 70,000 45,000
82 The Event Seven 633,000 210,000 167,000 93,000 82,000 80,000
83 Collectors ABC1 624,000 184,000 180,000 92,000 87,000 80,000
84 Stateline ABC1 617,000 203,000 157,000 83,000 92,000 82,000
85 Survivor: Nicaragua Nine 605,000 187,000 196,000 79,000 70,000 73,000
86 House Wed Ten 605,000 169,000 182,000 100,000 83,000 70,000
87 Hot Seat Nine 577,000 147,000 168,000 143,000 67,000 52,000
88 The It Crowd ABC1 577,000 168,000 199,000 76,000 65,000 68,000
89 Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who! Ten 574,000 184,000 169,000 94,000 51,000 76,000
90 Foreign Correspondent ABC1 567,000 163,000 139,000 117,000 72,000 77,000
91 Seven Ages Of Britain ABC1 558,000 178,000 181,000 75,000 67,000 57,000
92 The Librarians ABC1 541,000 145,000 175,000 87,000 72,000 63,000
93 Neighbours Ten 540,000 145,000 188,000 94,000 54,000 59,000
94 M-The Day Of The Triffids Seven 537,000 173,000 135,000 100,000 72,000 56,000
95 Law And Order: SVU Fri Rpt Ten 537,000 137,000 167,000 99,000 78,000 56,000
96 How I Met Your Mother (R) Seven 532,000 186,000 147,000 66,000 62,000 71,000
97 Embarrassing Bodies Nine 531,000 129,000 216,000 60,000 67,000 60,000
98 Deal Or No Deal Seven 524,000 130,000 169,000 87,000 68,000 69,000
99 M-Mr. Bean’s Holiday Seven 516,000 143,000 173,000 135,000 *** 65,000
100 Five Daughters ABC1 514,000 128,000 174,000 65,000 72,000 75,000

Pay TV Top 100
TV Item Description (Grouped) Channel 5 City Metro
1 Live: Rugby League: Four Nations Fox Sports 3 78,000
2 Live: Cricket: Odi Ind V Aus Game 2 Fox Sports 1 66,000
3 Live: Football: EPL Tottenham V Everton Fox Sports 1 62,000
4 Live: Cricket: Odi Ind V Aus Pre Game Fox Sports 1 62,000
5 Marple: A Pocket Full Of Rye 13th Street 49,000
6 Live: Football: A-League Bris V Melb V Fox Sports 1 48,000
7 Grand Designs Australia Lifestyle Channel 44,000
8 Poirot: Mrs Mcginty’s Dead 13th Street 44,000
9 Live: Football: A-League G Coast V Adel Fox Sports 1 44,000
10 Porridge Comedy Channel 43,000
11 Raceday Saturday Sky Racing 41,000
12 Battle Of Britain Fox Classics 41,000
13 Mary Mackillop: Australia’s First Saint Sky News 40,000
14 Open All Hours Comedy Channel 40,000
15 G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra Showtime Premiere 39,000
16 Live: Football: A-League Well V Melb H Fox Sports 1 38,000
17 Midsomer Murders UKTV 35,000
18 Live: Cricket: National One Day Cup Fox Sports 1 35,000
19 Roary The Racing Car Nick Jr. 35,000
20 The Simpsons Fox8 35,000
21 Dcom: Camp Rock 2: Dance Jam Disney Channel 34,000
22 Live: Cricket: National One Day Cup Fox Sports 2 34,000
23 American Dad Fox8 32,000
24 Live: Football: EPL Everton V Liverpool Fox Sports 1 32,000
25 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Showtime Premiere 32,000
26 Kenny Showtime Comedy 32,000
27 Live: Football: A-League Mel H V G Coast Fox Sports 1 31,000
28 Blackadder Comedy Channel 31,000
29 River Cottage Everyday Lifestyle Channel 31,000
30 Law & Order: Svu TV1 30,000
31 Country House Revisited Lifestyle Channel 30,000
32 Family Guy Fox8 29,000
33 Law & Order: Criminal Intent TV1 29,000
34 Futurama Fox8 28,000
35 NCIS TV1 28,000
36 The First 48 Crime & Investigation 28,000
37 Tna Impact Fox8 28,000
38 Breakheart Pass Fox Classics 28,000
39 Jonas L.A. Disney Channel 28,000
40 True Blood S3 Ep10 Showcase 28,000
41 Live: Football: A-League Adel V Well Fox Sports 2 27,000
42 Ice Road Truckers Fox8 27,000
43 Live: Tennis: Atp 1000: China Final Fox Sports 2 27,000
44 Live: Cricket: Odi Ind V Aus Pre Game Fox Sports 3 27,000
45 The Golden Girls Fox Classics 27,000
46 World’s Wildest Vacation Videos Fox8 26,000
47 Ali G Indahouse Showtime Comedy 26,000
48 Born To Kill? Crime & Investigation 26,000
49 16 Wishes Disney Channel 26,000
50 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Fox Classics 26,000
51 Live: Football: EPL Chelsea V Wolves Fox Sports 1 26,000
52 Good Luck Charlie Disney Channel 26,000
53 Lost Treasure Of The Copper Scroll History Channel 26,000
54 Out Of Control 13th Street 25,000
55 Glee Fox8 25,000
56 120% Cartoon Network Cartoon Network 24,000
57 Wwe Raw Fox8 24,000
58 Platoon TV1 24,000
59 Total Drama Island Cartoon Network 24,000
60 Property Ladder Lifestyle Channel 24,000
61 Live: Football: A-League Bris V C Coast Fox Sports 2 24,000
62 Project Runway Arena 24,000
63 Hannah Montana Forever Disney Channel 24,000
64 Football: EPL Highlights Fox Sports 1 24,000
65 My Life In Ruins Showtime Premiere 23,000
66 The Big Bang Theory Comedy Channel 23,000
67 Scooby-Doo And The Monster Of Mexico Cartoon Network 23,000
68 Heartbeat UKTV 23,000
69 Cricket: Test Ind V Aus 2nd Test Review Fox Sports 3 23,000
70 The Fairies Nick Jr. 23,000
71 Eyes Wide Shut: Tom Cruise Starpics 1 23,000
72 Legend Of The Seeker Fox8 23,000
73 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Showtime Comedy 23,000
74 Matthew Hayden’s Home Ground Lifestyle Channel 22,000
75 Sex Decoy: Love Stings Crime & Investigation 22,000
76 Star Trek Showtime Premiere 22,000
77 Absolutely Fabulous Comedy Channel 22,000
78 Murdoch Mysteries 13th Street 22,000
79 Live: Football: EPL Blackpool V Man City Fox Sports 1 22,000
80 Relocation, Relocation Revisits Lifestyle Channel 22,000
81 As The Bell Rings Disney Channel 22,000
82 Life 13th Street 22,000
83 Ghost Hunters Fox8 21,000
84 Night At The Museum 2 Showtime Premiere 21,000
85 Blackadder Comedy Channel+2 21,000
86 Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone Cartoon Network 21,000
87 Cars, Cops And Criminals Crime & Investigation 21,000
88 King Of The Hill Fox8 21,000
89 Harry And His Bucket Full Of Dinosaurs Nick Jr. 21,000
90 Wwe Smackdown Fox8 21,000
91 Stephen Fry In America Bio. 21,000
92 ABC World News Sky News 21,000
93 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries UKTV 21,000
94 Chuck Fox8 20,000
95 Yo Gabba Gabba! Nick Jr. 20,000
96 Murder 101: College Can Be Murder 13th Street 20,000
97 Victorious Nickelodeon 20,000
98 Crime Stories Discovery Channel 20,000
99 Bonanza Fox Classics 20,000
100 Queen And Country Bio. 20,000

ASTRA Week 43

Week 43

22 Responses

  1. You could say Ten is under siege as well as it really only has 2 channels at the moment until January.

    Will SBS be able to survive when every other network has more channels and more revenue from them?

  2. I don’t want to ever see ABC and SBS merge.

    @ Joe – Yes they do have plans for sbs3 and 4 which are somewhere on their website, but without additional money they can’t do another 2 channels .

    Having said that , ABC is running its news channel without additional funding so not sure how that works.

    Considering when South Park is on SBS now it is on late at 10pm maybe a new home for it could be on sbs 2 ? if it is do with ratings. I haven’t seen all seasons and don’t want to go and buy a DVD. I know SBS has the rights to all seasons and was disappointed when GO! only got 4 seasons worth.

  3. Did Sherlock get both episodes counted as one? Because one was 1.097 million and the other was 1.245 million. And they list it as 1.166 million and 16th. I’m wondering why. Especially because not all shows had this done to them eg. Two and a Half Men. I find that a bit ridiculous. I’m glad they were in the Top 20 if so. I loved yesterday’s episode and look forward to more.

  4. Nothin’ like some good ol’ SBS bashing to start the week (again).

    Lots of people say SBS has ‘lost its way,’ but nobody can point out where they aren’t meeting their charter obligations. Since SBS has ‘lost its way,’ it’s established SBS Two, increased its foreign language output over total hours, & set up extra digital radio channels.

    Also, since when were the few people with rating meters allowed to become the yardstick for public broadcasting? If that’s the case, why shouldn’t all public broadcasters close down?

    This is a non-story. Happy birthday, SBS!

  5. SBS does have some good programmes, and excellent movies, but trying to find out about them is really difficult. I use IMDB to check out the movies, but generally their other shows are difficult to get information about so it’s hard to decide to watch it

  6. @Dale
    Good ideas. I reckon SBS’ current English programming could easily be worked into the ABC1 and ABC2 schedules, without the need for a new ABC3. Foreign news would definitely need to have a new home. The only hard task left is sport. I can’t imagine ABC1 would air UEFA coverage or Le Tour de France live and in high definition. Perhaps a sports breakway would be needed to simulcast live sport from ABC International?

  7. It’s a little off topic, sorry, but can you tell me how Grand Designs Australia rated? I’m interested to know how the cable channels are rating in the new landscape.

  8. @ Smacca
    SBS1 and SBS2 english language content becomes ABC2
    ABC2 becomes ABC3
    ABC3 becomes ABC5
    ABC News24 moves to SD
    SBS1 and SBS2 foriegn language content becomes ABC6
    SBSHD becomes ABCHD

    Ch 20 – ABC HD
    Ch 21 – ABC1
    Ch 22 – ABC2
    Ch 23 – ABC3
    Ch 24 – ABC News24
    Ch 25 – ABC5 Kids
    Ch 26 – ABC International

  9. Hmm seems Hey Hey It’s Saturday has slipped down the doldrums now – much like SBS these days.

    The only shows I watch on SBS now are Skins and Shameless – both brilliant programs.

    SBS has definately moved far away from what it used to be and has lost a lot of its core audience – it sure isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago….

  10. SBS falling under the umbrella of the ABC would benefit both channels. Some of the British programming on SBS is quite awesome (Supersizers Go… is the best thing on TV on Thursdays). Hell, South Park has a perfect spot on ABCs Wednesday nights. If SBS moved all of its current affairs and english-speaking shows to the ABC it could focus more energy on importing foreign dramas and soap operas. Furthermore, ABC would be able to attain more interesting programming into its schedule.

    SBS is not a bad channel, it has lost its way. They should really be lobbying for more government money because SBS2 has potential.

  11. Pietro is right. SBS’s HD channel is not actually HD at all, with the exception of a very rare occasion like… well, sport.

    I doubt they even have HD playout for anything else, let alone HD sources.

    And as for funding…. well, they can suck it up. You want to be a commercial network, SBS? Act like one and stop begging.

  12. Look at the calibre of executive management (over priced public servants) who managed their retirement fund very well while turning a semi interesting channel into a Channel 4 wannabe where multicultural is english spoken non Australian content. The Squiz, ADbc hardly provide an insight into the world although they were decent shows in their genre. This networks needs less Nigels and more Ahmeds and Vans i.e.SBS shouldn’t be lead by people who think Balmain and Surry Hills are the cultural capitals of the world and Mosman the place to be seen. If keeping the industry abreast of your achievements in linkedin is your forte then do not apply for SBS management positions.

    Basically the organisation is rudderless (no real boss at the helm) and needs a passionate and hard working supporter of the original channel as it was and can be because as it is, it’s pitiful now (football excluded).

  13. I think its important to note that not everyone can get SBS. Even with digital. I can now thanks to foxtel, but before that it was always that channel that I wanted to watch, but couldn’t because our reception wasn’t good enough. Even with a digital SD box it was still a bit iffy, flickered a lot and froze and got jaggy coloured bits. Couldn’t get a new aerial because I’m a renter, and there were other things that were more important to be fixed.

    So I wonder if that might also be part of the problem with SBS not rating as well as other stations? People cant see it even if they want to?

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