National TV ratings week ending 4 April 2009

7Apr09

Source: David Dale, Sun Herald blogs

What metaphor should we use for Channel Seven’s previously successful programming schedule: a line of dominoes or a house of cards? Either way, the removal of one show almost brought the structure down. Without Packed to the Rafters, Seven was on the brink of turning into number two. It was only the prayers of The Vicar of Dibley that saved Seven on Saturday night.

Seven won the week with 27.7 per cent of the prime time audience. Nine was winning until Saturday, but ended up with 27.4 per cent (and the highest share of viewers aged 18-49). That’s because its programming structure is just as fragile, built almost entirely upon Underbelly 2.

Only Ten had any reason to be cracking the champagne this week. Thanks to NCIS, Bondi Rescue, The Biggest Loser and SYTYCDA, it won with viewers aged 16-39 and managed 23.3 per cent of the total audience (with the ABC on a healthy 16.9 and SBS on a sickly 4.7).

What Australia watched, week ending April 4, 2009

1 UNDERBELLY: A TALE OF TWO CITIES Nine 2,128,000

2 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE Nine 1,599,000

3 BORDER SECURITY Seven 1,559,000

4 NCIS Ten 1,552,000

5 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,537,000

6 CUSTOMS Nine 1,506,000

7 BONDI RESCUE Ten 1,504,000

8 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,489,000

9 RSPCA ANIMAL RESCUE Seven 1,438,000

10 THE BIGGEST LOSER (AUS) – THE WEIGH-IN Ten 1,420,000

11 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,404,000

12 SEVEN NEWS – SAT Seven 1,398,000

13 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,395,000

14 SEVEN NEWS – SUN Seven 1,383,000

15 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE -REUNION Nine 1,382,000

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