AFL boosts Seven but Nine kicks ratings goal

The return of AFL to Seven has rarely been more necessary for Seven after 5 weeks of second place to Nine.

It was a strong season opener for the code at 739,000 metro viewers and pushed the network to within striking distance of snatching the week.

Ultimately Nine prevailed, with Married at First Sight locked down as the top 4 rankings of the week.

The Australian Grand Prix boosted 10’s Sunday but it again finished fourth behind ABC.

Network:
Nine: 31.8
Seven: 30.4
ABC: 17.0
10: 14.3
SBS: 6.6

Primary channel:
Nine: 23.5
Seven: 20.7
ABC: 12.0
10: 9.2
SBS: 4.3

Multichannels:
7mate: 3.9
9GO!: 3.7
7TWO: 3.3
10 BOLD: 3.2
ABC Kids Comedy: 2.5
9GEM: 2.3
9Life: 2.2
10 Peach: 2.0
ABC News / 7flix: 1.9
SBS VICELAND: 1.2
SBS Food: 0.9
7food: 0.6
ABC ME: 0.5
NITV: 0.2

Nine won 25-54 and 16-39 demos.

Nine led on Sunday – Wednesday. Seven topped Thursday – Saturday. ABC bettered 10 every night except Thursday.

Seven claimed victory in Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth. Nine led in Sydney & Brisbane.

Best brands last week were:

Nine: Married at First Sight (Sunday: 1.48m), Nine News (Sun: 1.03m), Travel Guides (782,000), A Current Affair (747,000).

Seven: Seven News (945,000), My Kitchen Rules (Tues: 746,000), Seven’s Thursday AFL (739,000) and Manhunt (593,000).

ABC: ABC News (Sun: 756,000), Hard Quiz (694,000), Vera (632,000) and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (583,000).

10: Australian Grand Prix (Race; 689,000), Gogglebox (580,000), Dancing with the Stars (Elimination: 568,000) and The Project (7pm: 412,000).

SBS: Australia in Colour (303,000), Great British Railway Journeys (202,000), Great Continental Railway Journeys (201,000) and Insight (195,000).