The Who We Are update: to January 31

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This week of the blog is now a heritage item -- worth studying but no longer current. For the latest discussion on Australia's popular culture, go here.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Sunday February 1
On Pay TV last week, the most watched shows were the final of America's Next Top Model (239,000); The Simpsons (211,000); Family Guy (207,000); American Idol Auditions (173,000) and Two and a Half Men (169,000). One of the great mysteries of Australian popular culture: Why would people waste viewing opportunities for which they have paid on a show which is readily available (some would say excessively available) on free-to-air TV?

What Australia watched, week ending January 31
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 9 NIGHT SESSION Seven 2,316,000 761,000 838,000 345,000 186,000 186,000
2 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 7 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,654,000 473,000 561,000 303,000 152,000 164,000
3 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,646,000 430,000 453,000 390,000 164,000 209,000
4 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,641,000 405,000 525,000 309,000 180,000 221,000
5 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 11 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,587,000 452,000 615,000 236,000 137,000 146,000
6 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,503,000 387,000 453,000 295,000 165,000 204,000
7 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,407,000 336,000 415,000 266,000 173,000 217,000
8 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 10 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,326,000 405,000 496,000 190,000 121,000 115,000
9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,243,000 365,000 344,000 232,000 136,000 166,000
10 NINE NEWS Nine 1,240,000 332,000 423,000 241,000 150,000 94,000
11 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 12 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,223,000 361,000 414,000 212,000 123,000 113,000
12 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,221,000 319,000 458,000 219,000 149,000 75,000
13 ONE DAY CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA GAME 4 SESSION 2 Nine 1,142,000 393,000 347,000 167,000 127,000 108,000
14 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,131,000 266,000 290,000 284,000 128,000 164,000

15 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 13 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,109,000 321,000 445,000 159,000 99,000 86,000
16 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 8 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,105,000 337,000 380,000 178,000 110,000 100,000
17 ONE DAY CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA - GAME 5 SESSION 2 Nine 1,104,000 326,000 323,000 207,000 117,000 130,000
18 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CAUGHT ON TAPE Seven 1,089,000 303,000 434,000 149,000 107,000 96,000
19 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,078,000 253,000 332,000 202,000 133,000 159,000
20 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 1,075,000 288,000 331,000 216,000 111,000 128,000
21 ONE DAY CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA GAME 4 SESSION 1 Nine 1,072,000 334,000 322,000 185,000 125,000 105,000
22 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,066,000 295,000 356,000 215,000 127,000 74,000
23 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,027,000 280,000 317,000 185,000 114,000 132,000
24 TENNIS: 2008 AUST OPEN - WOMEN'S FINAL PREVIEW Seven 1,026,000 236,000 309,000 227,000 136,000 118,000
25 10 TO ONE -RPT Nine 999,000 323,000 271,000 193,000 98,000 113,000

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,407,000 336,000 415,000 266,000 173,000 217,000
2 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,221,000 319,000 458,000 219,000 149,000 75,000
3 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 13 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,109,000 321,000 445,000 159,000 99,000 86,000
4 TENNIS: 2008 AUST OPEN - WOMEN'S FINAL PREVIEW Seven 1,026,000 236,000 309,000 227,000 136,000 118,000
5 THE ITALIAN JOB RPT Ten 993,000 293,000 307,000 201,000 84,000 108,000
6 TEN NEWS AT FIVE SAT Ten 962,000 237,000 249,000 139,000 157,000 179,000
7 ABC NEWS-SAT ABC1 896,000 282,000 295,000 128,000 94,000 97,000
8 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW SUMMER SERIES -RPT Nine 867,000 229,000 268,000 189,000 96,000 85,000
9 MR. DEEDS RPT Ten 827,000 201,000 240,000 195,000 96,000 96,000
10 THE BILL ABC1 731,000 177,000 215,000 127,000 90,000 123,000
13 MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS Nine 576,000 150,000 182,000 99,000 70,000 73,000
15 GARDENING AUSTRALIA ABC1 550,000 157,000 200,000 65,000 67,000 61,000
23 MYTHBUSTERS SBS 390,000 79,000 127,000 90,000 66,000 29,000
30 ROCKWIZ SBS 276,000 67,000 87,000 41,000 39,000 41,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,794,000 437,000 657,000 267,000 212,000 221,000
2 M-OPEN WATER Seven 1,545,000 466,000 578,000 213,000 147,000 140,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,473,000 350,000 477,000 296,000 173,000 176,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,299,000 369,000 396,000 283,000 145,000 107,000
5 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 12 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,223,000 361,000 414,000 212,000 123,000 113,000
6 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,147,000 294,000 346,000 217,000 140,000 150,000
7 ONE DAY CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA - GAME 5 SESSION 2 Nine 1,104,000 326,000 323,000 207,000 117,000 130,000
8 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CAUGHT ON TAPE Seven 1,089,000 303,000 434,000 149,000 107,000 96,000
9 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 1,002,000 231,000 406,000 147,000 116,000 103,000
10 LAW & ORDER FRI Ten 883,000 209,000 303,000 155,000 106,000 109,000
18 M-QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER Seven 594,000 181,000 268,000 68,000 47,000 30,000
20 TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION: CLOSURE ABC1 555,000 138,000 115,000 94,000 90,000 117,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,608,000 342,000 570,000 311,000 156,000 228,000
2 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 11 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,587,000 452,000 615,000 236,000 137,000 146,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,432,000 307,000 463,000 291,000 153,000 218,000
4 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,284,000 365,000 350,000 242,000 134,000 193,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,239,000 311,000 463,000 232,000 154,000 79,000
6 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 1,093,000 232,000 430,000 175,000 136,000 120,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,080,000 290,000 359,000 189,000 111,000 131,000
8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,068,000 266,000 406,000 197,000 117,000 82,000
9 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT RPT Ten 984,000 267,000 336,000 157,000 133,000 92,000
10 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 951,000 224,000 365,000 188,000 109,000 65,000
11 LAW AND ORDER: SVU RPT Ten 950,000 274,000 281,000 164,000 114,000 117,000
12 EMERGENCY Nine 912,000 230,000 293,000 196,000 90,000 103,000
13 COLD CASE -RPT Nine 870,000 255,000 227,000 168,000 95,000 124,000
14 THE WAITING ROOM Nine 861,000 242,000 253,000 168,000 78,000 120,000
31 SUNRISE Seven 406,000 129,000 87,000 91,000 40,000 58,000
32 IT'S ME OR THE DOG Ten 360,000 91,000 116,000 49,000 64,000 41,000
33 REX IN ROME SBS 343,000 105,000 102,000 47,000 34,000 54,000
34 TODAY Nine 317,000 100,000 96,000 61,000 23,000 36,000
40 CARLA CAMETTI PD SBS 267,000 97,000 65,000 36,000 23,000 46,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,575,000 406,000 481,000 296,000 181,000 210,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,543,000 440,000 409,000 294,000 189,000 213,000
3 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,370,000 451,000 355,000 239,000 142,000 184,000
4 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 10 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,326,000 405,000 496,000 190,000 121,000 115,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,179,000 275,000 408,000 235,000 165,000 95,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,087,000 287,000 335,000 179,000 127,000 159,000
7 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 1,072,000 287,000 331,000 216,000 110,000 127,000
8 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 1,042,000 259,000 333,000 160,000 160,000 130,000
9 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,022,000 292,000 307,000 219,000 133,000 73,000
16 HOUSE RPT Ten 798,000 246,000 207,000 161,000 79,000 106,000
21 E.R. Nine 685,000 179,000 237,000 123,000 67,000 80,000
26 LONG WAY DOWN SBS 468,000 114,000 146,000 91,000 61,000 56,000
28 FOOD SAFARI SBS 456,000 131,000 141,000 99,000 36,000 49,000
46 CHANDON PICTURES-EV ABC1 258,000 105,000 54,000 38,000 26,000 36,000
80 9AM WITH DAVID & KIM Ten 139,000 34,000 57,000 19,000 19,000 11,000
98 TAKEN OUT Ten 122,000 22,000 42,000 31,000 22,000 5,000
99 MORNINGS WITH KERRI-ANNE SUMMER SERIES -RPT Nine 121,000 42,000 42,000 12,000 12,000 14,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 9 NIGHT SESSION Seven 2,316,000 761,000 838,000 345,000 186,000 186,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,720,000 455,000 477,000 337,000 191,000 260,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,588,000 426,000 458,000 285,000 164,000 255,000
4 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,429,000 440,000 393,000 253,000 152,000 191,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,187,000 327,000 389,000 240,000 153,000 79,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,140,000 288,000 356,000 206,000 134,000 156,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,109,000 328,000 353,000 229,000 132,000 66,000
8 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,072,000 251,000 330,000 201,000 132,000 158,000
9 NCIS RPT Ten 965,000 231,000 275,000 188,000 123,000 147,000
10 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 957,000 236,000 302,000 162,000 124,000 134,000
11 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 909,000 269,000 293,000 171,000 92,000 83,000
12 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 794,000 199,000 187,000 198,000 95,000 115,000
18 SEVEN'S TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 9 NIGHT SESSION - LATE Seven 635,000 172,000 261,000 79,000 53,000 70,000
21 SEVEN'S TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 9 Seven 568,000 158,000 229,000 74,000 59,000 49,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,506,000 387,000 442,000 330,000 161,000 186,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,483,000 412,000 456,000 310,000 144,000 160,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,275,000 380,000 459,000 209,000 117,000 109,000
4 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 8 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,105,000 337,000 380,000 178,000 110,000 99,000
5 CRICKET: ONE DAY SERIES - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,064,000 344,000 319,000 174,000 123,000 104,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,019,000 365,000 344,000 184,000 126,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 993,000 280,000 278,000 209,000 113,000 113,000
8 ABC NEWS ABC1 966,000 286,000 283,000 201,000 95,000 101,000
9 TOP GEAR SBS 931,000 216,000 311,000 218,000 113,000 72,000
10 SERENITY Ten 821,000 230,000 251,000 183,000 77,000 81,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 7 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,745,000 513,000 614,000 303,000 152,000 164,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,644,000 430,000 452,000 387,000 164,000 209,000
3 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,338,000 356,000 403,000 288,000 128,000 164,000
4 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 7 NIGHT SESSION - LATE Seven 1,039,000 308,000 405,000 125,000 103,000 99,000
5 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 929,000 248,000 299,000 212,000 99,000 70,000
9 DOCTOR WHO: THE NEXT DOCTOR ABC1 738,000 212,000 183,000 149,000 87,000 108,000
10 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 7 Seven 735,000 207,000 243,000 145,000 62,000 78,000
13 M- NANNY MCPHEE RPT Ten 677,000 195,000 187,000 165,000 57,000 73,000

The ratings race, updated 10 am Monday
Television's "official" ratings year starts on February 8, and we've reached that point in the silly season when sports freaks are the only happy viewers -- because cricket and tennis are just about the only things on. On Sunday, Channel Seven commanded 45 per cent of the prime time audience because of Jelena Dokic. She smashed all competition -- even the ABC's Dr Who Christmas special (which should teach the ABC a lesson about waiting four weeks).

Here's a summary of viewing last night and last week that includes a sampling of non-sporting experiences for the discerning minority.

15 FLASHPOINT Nine 585,000 135,000 184,000 130,000 74,000 62,000
26 M-THE TERMINATOR Seven 269,000 94,000 109,000 30,000 25,000 12,000

On Pay TV last week, the most watched programs were; 1. Cricket: Twenty/20 Big Bash final (Fox Sports 2) 262,000; 2 America's Next Top Model (Fox 8) 245,000; 3 The Simpsons (Fox 8) 186,000; 4 American Idol Auditions (Fox 8) 174,000; 5 Roots (Fox Classics) 161,000.

What Australia watched, week ending January 24
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 3 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,435,000 433,000 543,000 214,000 120,000 126,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,416,000 364,000 397,000 279,000 165,000 212,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,397,000 375,000 520,000 278,000 136,000 88,000
4 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,339,000 331,000 350,000 322,000 161,000 175,000
5 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,317,000 411,000 321,000 281,000 136,000 168,000
6 ONE DAY CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA GAME 2 SESSION 2 Nine 1,301,000 338,000 442,000 232,000 146,000 144,000
7 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,266,000 339,000 361,000 226,000 149,000 191,000
8 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 1,216,000 341,000 423,000 242,000 104,000 106,000
9 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 1 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,198,000 331,000 457,000 184,000 104,000 122,000
10 INSIDE QUEEN MARY 2 Seven 1,166,000 366,000 304,000 250,000 116,000 130,000
11 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,160,000 356,000 299,000 235,000 117,000 153,000
12 NCIS RPT Ten 1,158,000 326,000 368,000 209,000 120,000 135,000
13 NINE NEWS Nine 1,149,000 295,000 402,000 254,000 112,000 87,000
14 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 5 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,148,000 334,000 412,000 189,000 108,000 105,000
15 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,127,000 329,000 342,000 202,000 120,000 134,000
16 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,121,000 309,000 402,000 233,000 101,000 76,000
17 FLASHPOINT Nine 1,103,000 302,000 323,000 253,000 109,000 116,000
18 TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 6 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,091,000 320,000 403,000 177,000 96,000 96,000
19 CRICKET: ONE DAY SERIES - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,079,000 337,000 308,000 223,000 122,000 90,000
20 SEVEN'S TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 4 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,068,000 294,000 392,000 184,000 95,000 103,000
21 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,068,000 251,000 310,000 262,000 111,000 135,000
22 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,067,000 311,000 312,000 242,000 93,000 110,000
23 SEVEN'S TENNIS: 2009 AUST OPEN - DAY 2 NIGHT SESSION Seven 1,067,000 307,000 400,000 165,000 97,000 97,000
24 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,041,000 287,000 348,000 233,000 97,000 76,000
25 TOP GEAR SBS 1,024,000 236,000 383,000 192,000 105,000 107,000
26 ABC NEWS ABC1 984,000 275,000 310,000 164,000 101,000 134,000
27 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 974,000 279,000 287,000 221,000 82,000 105,000
28 EYE FOR AN ELEPHANT ABC1 960,000 293,000 250,000 193,000 103,000 123,000
29 THE MENTALIST -RPT Nine 953,000 281,000 299,000 176,000 98,000 99,000
30 THE RICH LIST - SUN Seven 951,000 231,000 310,000 184,000 94,000 132,000
31 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT RPT Ten 938,000 284,000 261,000 213,000 92,000 88,000
32 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 924,000 241,000 270,000 183,000 80,000 149,000
33 JACK OF ALL TRADES Nine 915,000 229,000 304,000 161,000 112,000 110,000
34 LAW AND ORDER: SVU RPT Ten 914,000 277,000 231,000 227,000 85,000 94,000
35 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 905,000 212,000 274,000 209,000 70,000 140,000
36 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 903,000 216,000 253,000 197,000 103,000 133,000
37 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 901,000 302,000 312,000 129,000 158,000
38 DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS THURS Ten 890,000 223,000 259,000 233,000 88,000 86,000
43 COLD CASE -RPT Nine 800,000 230,000 255,000 125,000 99,000 92,000
46 THE WAITING ROOM Nine 781,000 205,000 219,000 170,000 74,000 113,000
50 M-NINE MONTHS Seven 756,000 212,000 256,000 114,000 83,000 90,000
51 THE SIMPSONS WED Ten 750,000 213,000 251,000 125,000 71,000 91,000
52 7.30 REPORT SUMMER EDITION ABC1 750,000 218,000 208,000 135,000 80,000 109,000
57 NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE Nine 715,000 179,000 191,000 177,000 65,000 103,000
61 NEIGHBOURS Ten 681,000 216,000 202,000 126,000 61,000 76,000
62 MY FAMILY ABC1 679,000 143,000 177,000 132,000 86,000 141,000
63 TEMPTATION Nine 678,000 165,000 222,000 163,000 64,000 64,000
64 FRIENDS - DAILY Ten 664,000 172,000 204,000 131,000 63,000 93,000
69 LAW & ORDER FRI EP 2 Ten 643,000 191,000 185,000 113,000 77,000 78,000
71 THE BILL ABC1 641,000 163,000 189,000 111,000 76,000 102,000
72 FRIENDS - DAILY RPT Ten 622,000 186,000 159,000 130,000 64,000 83,000
77 TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION: CLOSURE ABC1 593,000 148,000 144,000 94,000 88,000 119,000
79 E.R. Nine 593,000 126,000 205,000 133,000 62,000 67,000
80 PAYCHECK -RPT Nine 586,000 208,000 216,000 95,000 67,000
81 LAW & ORDER FRI Ten 571,000 163,000 169,000 105,000 63,000 71,000
82 ABOUT A BOY RPT Ten 562,000 163,000 171,000 90,000 57,000 81,000
87 ABSOLUTE POWER -RPT Nine 537,000 171,000 152,000 117,000 38,000 60,000
93 THE TRIAL OF TONY BLAIR ABC1 518,000 156,000 168,000 72,000 51,000 70,000
99 E.R. -EP2 Nine 484,000 109,000 158,000 91,000 60,000 66,000
103 FOOD SAFARI SBS 455,000 130,000 136,000 105,000 30,000 55,000
105 MADE IN CHICAGO: THE MAKING OF BARACK OBAMA ABC1 434,000 120,000 145,000 59,000 38,000 72,000
107 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 428,000 118,000 117,000 89,000 40,000 64,000
111 LONG WAY DOWN SBS 422,000 108,000 118,000 92,000 39,000 66,000
112 MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS Nine 410,000 122,000 129,000 65,000 55,000 38,000
123 SOUTH PARK SBS 374,000 90,000 129,000 70,000 38,000 47,000
125 SUNRISE Seven 363,000 113,000 66,000 98,000 34,000 52,000
126 MYTHBUSTERS SBS 362,000 96,000 98,000 60,000 58,000 50,000
130 CARLA CAMETTI PD SBS 335,000 118,000 99,000 45,000 29,000 44,000
133 NIGELLA EXPRESS ABC1 329,000 73,000 87,000 81,000 30,000 58,000
134 PARTY ANIMALS ABC1 328,000 102,000 78,000 42,000 41,000 65,000
135 CHANDON PICTURES ABC1 326,000 83,000 98,000 60,000 33,000 52,000
142 REX IN ROME SBS 309,000 70,000 118,000 54,000 42,000 27,000
146 TODAY Nine 296,000 90,000 90,000 69,000 20,000 27,000
148 MONSTER HOUSE Nine 289,000 117,000 80,000 30,000 21,000 40,000
152 THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART Ten 278,000 88,000 86,000 23,000 32,000 50,000
165 SPEER AND HITLER RPT SBS 245,000 71,000 80,000 38,000 33,000 24,000
181 THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA: HIGHLIGHTS-PM ABC1 209,000 63,000 61,000 40,000 19,000 25,000
184 ROCKWIZ SBS 208,000 60,000 61,000 33,000 31,000 23,000
195 THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW Nine 192,000 48,000 75,000 41,000 12,000 16,000
196 THE OFFICE Ten 192,000 62,000 66,000 19,000 15,000 30,000
198 MAN STROKE WOMAN RPT ABC1 186,000 61,000 53,000 32,000 17,000 23,000
200 THE ETERNITY MAN ABC1 185,000 66,000 61,000 21,000 17,000 20,000
(Extrapolated from OzTAM's sample of 3,000 households, mainland capitals)

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

TM states: Television's "official" ratings year starts on February 8, and we've reached that point in the silly season when sports freaks are the only happy viewers."
Damn right! I'm so so so so sooooo sick of sport! Today's options - cricket, tennis or Oprah! So depressing! Thank god for Top Gear tonight! Saves my last day of the holidays from being a total wipeout. I don't understand why we need 11 or 12 hours a day of tennis for two weeks solid!! How are there even that many games to watch? I'm assuming that there is a lot of repetition - so why not just have one session of it a day? I just want normal tv back!

by Beckala on January 26, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Only 738K for Doctor Who? Must be most people who'd watch had left the big smoke(and their ratings meters) behind. I know I saw holiday makers watching it in the community room at the holiday park we were at. Methinks that Aunty won't show it at such a poor watched timeslot again.

by Bereft Skerrick on January 26, 2009 at 11:20 AM

In reference to http://au.tv.yahoo.com/news/article/-/article/5278846/micallef-moves-to-ten/
An open letter to Shaun Micallef: Your Majesty, why the hell are you going to Channel Shirl? I went to check the Seven TV Guide website to see what was on Doctor Who next week, and there it is. Micallef moves to Ten. Is it that April Fools Day has come early? Do you really want to be associated with a network that considers Vyle Randypants a star? Sure, I'll follow you wherever you go like a lost herring. And yes, the concept of smacking down self-entitled Gen Y's does sound appealing. But this habit of collecting TV channels like the latest set of Star Wars figures has got to stop! What's next, Channel 31 hosting In Moscow Tonight? And this "commercially exclusive deal" means no more Newstopia? No more TGYH? Comrade Beluga will be weeping! I wish you well. Humble Regards, Bereft Skerrick.

by Bereft Skerrick on January 26, 2009 at 01:26 PM

I guess I owe broadcasters a somewhat qualified apology. When watching major sports events on telly, I've always criticized them for showing the "Australians" regardless of their performance purely because of their nationality. For example, the Olympics, they show the Aussie in prime time playing ping pong where he or she has no chance of winning and ignore the key players say from China or Korea. Yet, the Jelena effect seems to justify this stance? Or is it does because it is a more interesting game of tennis than a 6-0 6-0 over in 20mins match....
Slightly off the topic but don't know where else to express this. What do people think if Heath posthumously wins the Oscar? Personally, I don't really see the point of posthumous awards, o.k. it might be nice for his family to have his work recognised but it is not really the same as the actor being alive and knowing that he or she won. It also has the element of sympathy about it which could distract from the actual worth of the performance.

by kate on January 26, 2009 at 05:00 PM

Ahh.... and how sorry I feel for Jelena, because she's now the "star" of "the next big chapter"!!
Sure it's a buzz to see a fellow Aussie doing amazing stuff despite what she's been through - but there's no way the media is going to use her as anything other than a ratings (i.e. money) generator.
Nationalism is a real money earner when it comes from "feel good" stories.
Of course nationalism that ain't so feel good is a good earner to, if the reporter and camera man can make sure they're the one's feeling much less good...
Strange that.

by Steve C on January 26, 2009 at 05:05 PM

What do people think if Heath posthumously wins the Oscar?
by kate on January 26, 2009 at 05:00 PM
I could be wrong, but I believe the Oscar awards are about 'the performance'.
Sure, it's a living actor who usually gives that performance and it's not so usual for them to kark it before the awards take place - but it's still the performance that earns the award...
It'd be a mighty fine thing though if the performances of say Vincent Van Gogh weren't so highly honoured in monetary terms simply because he's long gone... I might be able to afford one of his pics! :)
BTW, the problem that many people fail to recognise with the seeming bias towards showing "Aussies" only during the Olympics is the sheer volume of events that take place at the Olympics. If broadcasters were to show every event, they'd be showing Olympics 24-7 for a couple of months at least, so showing only those events (and the finals rather than all the lead up heats etc, etc) which will likely have more local interest is quite logical.
Do other countries show events with plenty of Aussies in them just to show how magnanimous towards us they are? I dare say it's much the same situation around the World. Brazilians like to see Brazilians doing well... the Yanks like seeing Yanks do well, as do the Poms love seeing Poms do well, etc, etc, etc...
I do admit to wanting to see the New Guineans do well, but they're so rarely featured in any sports broadcasts, let alone the Olympics. :)

by Steve C on January 26, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Not surprised the ratings for the Dr were a lot lower than usual. Why did ABC choose to show it during a long weekend when so many people were away? Surely it would have made more sense to show it this Sun coming instead?
Anyway, I did watch but didnt think it was a very good ep though of course, being such a big Tennant fan, it was better than nothing at all. I thought the whole plot/story a tifle silly and just a bit all over the place. Maybe it was the lack of companion or something. Guess I miss Donna!
And I have to say I will be glad when ratings start. I am so completely sick of Tennis, cricket etc.etc.etc. And sick of the heat. Roll on Autumn!

Tribal Mind replies: Hopefully the ABC will show this year's Who specials closer to their British dates, so the Christmas transformation episode can be somewhere near Dec 25.

by em on January 27, 2009 at 07:51 AM

Beckala, as a tennis fan I am perhaps a little biased on this point. But yes, I do think we need 10+ hours a day of tennis! In the Open they start with 128 female players and 128 male players. 8 rounds of tennis to get one winner. In the first round that is 128 matches to be played over 2 days for the men and women. There isn't a lot of repition happening. You'd usually see 5 full matches televised a day and you're lucky if you see highlights or even a few games from another 5-10 matches that day. After the first week is over there are obviously not as many matches to be played but still enough to fill up the 5 matches a day that they plan to televise. I think later in the week they start showing less - I believe the telecast doesn't start until 3pm one day.
Anyway as a non-tennis fan I can see how this would annoy you. But for me it has been a great relief because summer viewing has been so terrible that I was positively desperate for something decent to watch. In conclusion, TM is right: Only the sports fans are happy now. Before that, no one was!

by mel on January 27, 2009 at 10:21 AM

was that dude with the glasses on TT on Monday episode DD?

by bbq on January 27, 2009 at 11:18 AM

For me, if Heath won the Oscar, I think it is still worthy of the award, even if he is no longer here to accept it. It is about that performance. Everyone can agree that the performance is amazing, it was getting the awards buzz before he passed away. Just because he passed away, doesn't mean that performance is now invalid or unworthy. It also doesn't make it even more worthy. While you may get a few sympathy votes, at the same time, these awards are voted for by 100s or 1000s of people (eg SAG, there are 1000s of people voting - Golden Globes is a different story, but the others have huge voting audiences). His opposition has actors who have been awarded and nominated before - Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Robert Downy Jr, for example. There are just as many reasons to vote for them - Hoffman is a big favourite - rising from the "sharted" guy in Along Came Polly to Capote; Downy Jr has come back from jail and heroin addiction. I think Heath's nomination is just as valid and deserved. I also think it's deserved because his performance was absolutely phenomenal (spelling - sorry, not sure if I got that right) - and is an amazing achievement regardless of the hoopla surrounding it.

by Beckala on January 27, 2009 at 08:24 PM

Speaking of movies, I went to see 'Doubt' a couple of weeks ago and thought it was great etc etc but was surprised to hear quite a few people laughing at things that weren't actually funny, just ironic. Maybe worth a knowing snort or a 'huh' but a thigh-slapping guffaw? I thought it weird to say the least but was willing to believe it was just a bunch of morons in the audience that day (there was a lot of wrapper-rustling also, idiots).
But then I went and saw 'Revolutionary Road' on the weekend (also great but Kate Winslet's American accent is distracting) and people were laughing throughout again! Am I losing the plot or are people stupid? I favour the latter but I'm starting to wonder. These are not funny films. Has anyone else noticed similar reactions?
If you can't watch a thoughtful movie without cacking yourself wouldn't you be better suited to 'Bedtime Stories'?
I'm thinking of asking the cinema to install a 'don't laugh' sign. Just so people know. Or a 'if you think Kochie's funny, don't bother' sign at the door.
And conversely, someone writes a tongue-in-cheek article about why the dingo should be on the coat of arms and everyone posts comments about how damaging dingoes are to the environment and not even native anyway so there (does that type of response ever take you by surprise, TM?).
I blame the Global Financial Crisis (it's a nervous titter maybe). People are losing their minds starting with their sense of humour.
Should I be asking "What's wrong with people" or "What's wrong with me"? Be honest now.

by darren on January 28, 2009 at 08:44 AM

What does everyone think of the new tv lineups?
With the change of days for a few shows such as Border, Australia's got talent, underbelly (starting off on wed then changing to sundays) do you think the audiences will change their viewing habits with these changes?
Channel 7 have spread out their USA shows over everynight - so there is now something to watch on everynight!
What do you all think?
Great numbers for channel 7 - pity dokic is out...

by James on January 28, 2009 at 09:40 AM

I think a good performance is a good performance forever (a bit of David Brent there). Posthumous Oscars are respecting that in a way, and Heath's nomination is definitely very deserving.
That's a massive figure for tennis. I can't get enough of it at the moment, and I'm not generally a sports fan. They were good matches last night, but it really does show if there's an Australian player the figures will skyrocket. Patriotism?

by Kym on January 28, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Re Heath: agreed, it was a great performance, well deserving of its nomination. Oscars do tend towards sentimentality with the actual winner which I think will give him a boost in the stakes, but I don't think he's undeserving just because he's carked it.
Watched the Doctor Who Xmas special, and I rather enjoyed it. Maybe it was everyone talking it down and giving me lowered expectations, but I had fun. The "new" Doctor was having a great time hamming it up, I thought.
Good to see Serenity do well in the ratings. We channel surfed at one stage and got stuck (even though we own the DVD) watching Captain Tightpants and his crew. Watching Joss Whedon's shows always makes me realise how dull the usual viewing schedule is without him.
Roll on ratings period! Hopefully I'll be caught up on Heroes by then... ;)

by tqd on January 28, 2009 at 10:45 AM

Dear TM, how did Doctor Who do last night? Perfect timing for DVR'ing the 2nd series I didn't have DVR'ed yet!

Tribal Mind replies: 27 DOCTOR WHO RPT ABC1 467,000 136,000 114,000 98,000 42,000 78,000

by Bereft Skerrick on January 28, 2009 at 10:47 AM

Tqd like you I too popped in on Serenity and stayed - thank goodness Joss is back soon with Dollhouse - hopefully it is a worthy stablemate to Buffy Angel & Firefly/Serenity - everything is shiny!
Looking forward to the return of some faves next week - not a big tennis fan although like a number of people watched Dokic's matches.
Can't remeber who was raving the other day about how each FTA station treats sneak peeks but have to agree - 4-5 complete episodes is not a sneak peek Nein - whereas the first 5 minutes can be a la Shirl (Life on Mars).
Darren I too have noticed some distinct misbeahviour in cinemas - saw Bride Wars on Oz Day (yes I known UnAustralian of me) and a gent there spent a great deal of the movie whining it was a "chick flick" - he bought a ticket and went with 2 women - what did he expect because the word war was in the title that it would be an action flick! I liked Doubt - a thought provoking film - not to much to giggle at really. For mine the sign at the door should be turn off those mobiles - the number fools who think it ok to have a chat mid movie astound me.
Beckala and Kym agree with all comments re Heath and the Dark Knight although for me he still should have won for Brokeback mountain - was a far superior performance to Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Capote - I did see both films at the time.
TM are you going to ask us who we think will win Oscars in the main categories? - I know it is off topic but may be interesting to see what the regulars think.

by Cathy on January 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM

hey david, do you have the morning shows ratings please?

Tribal Mind replies: I can't find anything called "the morning show" in today's chart. What channel is it on?

by ryan on January 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I see Nein has finally announced a date for "Underbelly 2 ~ Return of the Belly". Mon Feb 9 at 8.30, which really makes a mockery of the preview viral doing the rounds or Rev Niles chest beating because being an 8.30 timeslot there can be no gratious sex or violence (as shown in the viral) so I guess that means having to wait till the dvd release to see it as the maker intended. I HATE having to do that. I know it is all about the advertising $$, but I still think they would have a reasonable pull if it was shown as a MA in the 9.30 slot, given the undeniable success of the first one. Oh well, its only money...

by ozinoz on January 28, 2009 at 03:09 PM

Whilst I highly admire the acting talents of Heath and was sorry to hear of his premature death, I had an uneasy feeling watching his take on the Joker. Then it hit me. I submitted my theory to several friends who all looked at me, smiled, then agreed with my theory. Heath was taking off Daffy Duck. Thoughts, anyone?

by David @ Green Point on January 28, 2009 at 03:24 PM

When we went and saw Australia at the cinema, there were a few examples of misbehaviour - funnily enough though, on what seemed to be on pension day - we were the youngest in the cinema by about 30 years. As a high school teacher, i know kids these days have no idea how to watch a film in silence, therefore I don't go to see films with them in the target audience (why I didn't go to see Twilight, for example, or I never go to see Harry Potter at the movies). Therefore when I saw the audience, I thought "fantastic, at least these people are mature enough to know how to behave". WRONG!! One guy sitting behind us did the thing I find the most irritating at cinemas - let's predict the next ten seconds at the top of our lungs. Example "he's going to tip the water on her" - then he tips the water. "She'll start singing the bloody song now" - 10 seconds later she's singing. I absolutely HATE that, it sends me nuts, so I turned around and gave him a huge death glare whilst clearing my throat. Unplanned, but at exact same moment, Mr Beckala did the same thing. Mr prediction however, couldn't hold his opinions to himself, so was laughing at inappropriate moments, and when Hugh Jackman swore, had to clear his throat and mutter "my word, that's just not neccessary, how ridiculous"... Then on the other side of the cinema, people giggling at the racism towards the indigenous characters! this is why I so rarely go to the cinema - I'm so used to having to police it when we view at work, I feel like I almost have to do it there, and it's not fun!

Cathy, completely agree with you re: Brokeback. Heath was the clear winner. He created this soulful, beautifully tortured character, while Capote was an imitation - I know it was a very skilled one, but he didn't have to completely create it like Heath did. But look at the content of Brokeback - same reason Heath wouldn't win is why the film didn't win Best Film. Still cranky at that...TM, I'm seconding Cathy's suggestion at Oscar predictions - would love to hear what others think. I love awards season!!

ozinoz - Underbelly is only going to be shown in that timeslot for the first week, it is moving to Sunday after that. I don't know if it will be going later, but that's not the permanent timeslot, so there could be a move back. Someone else may know the exact time.

by Beckala on January 28, 2009 at 04:25 PM

sorry david, either mornings with kerri anne or 9am with david and kim.

Tribal Mind replies: How about I just include the week's averages for both next Sunday?

by ryan on January 28, 2009 at 07:54 PM

darren wrote: "These are not funny films. Has anyone else noticed similar reactions?"
The guy next to me during "Hotel For Dogs" (the kids' choice, not mine) was guffawing and thigh-slapping. While there were some amusing moments, he was getting far more entertainment out of a fairly run-of-the-mill kids movie than I was.
David @ Green Point: Daffy Duck can be a remarkably scary individual.
Cathy et al: most years (pre-kids) we'd have an Oscars Party (sometimes it even coincided with my birthday; hellfire and damnation can rain upon whoever moved it to February) and I'd print out ballots from the Oscars website and we'd all guess who'd win. Those little categories (Best Live Action Short, etc) are always impossible, and even more impossible when they're not broadcast any more!
Here's the linky goodness for the ballot paper: http://www.oscar.com/media/2009/pdf/OscarPrintableBallot_81st.pdf

by tqd on January 28, 2009 at 07:57 PM

It was mainly an old guy behind me who wasn't predicting what was going to happen but repeating every line he though was a little amusing ("it's funny because it's true!") and I think he'd brought some snacks from home because he was rustling one of those really thin plastic bags. The almost silent rustles are the worst. I don't normally care that much....Okay I do but the main problem is it changes the meaning of the film if they're discussing the possibility of a paedophile priest and what to do about it and the meaninglessness of life in the suburbs and someone's chuckling in the dark behind you. They should know a cinema's an ideal place for a murder.
Re Heath ('Our' Heath) to tell the truth I thought his Ennis Del Mar was a bit over-rated.

by darren on January 29, 2009 at 05:55 AM

Oh Beckala, I had four elder ladies along my row at Australia doing the loud pre-cog psychic thingy. They got so loud and into their predictions it became a game to them. They giggled and squealed and enjoyed themselves immensely. It was awful. Then as they filed out at the end they were full of praise for such a wonderful movie. At Twilight you could hear a pin drop.

by Suze on January 29, 2009 at 06:30 AM

Suze, I think, based on the evidence, that the oldies are the one to avoid!! I'm so used to the behaviour of kids at school, I guess I'm not giving them enough credit when they go to see something they really love! I'll wait for the dvd anyway, I need to use it for my year 11 extension students (we're doing the Gothic genre, they're so excited that we can use Twilight!)
tqd, I do an Oscars party too! We make up drinking rules and we have to take a sip of champagne any time certain things occur - standing ovations, somebody cries, somebody thanks god etc. In our uni days, it used to be a shot, but now we all have normal jobs, it's not quite as easy, so the champagne thing has to suffice! We used to do it for Golden Globes too, but thanks very much FTA, we had to miss out this year :-(

by Beckala on January 29, 2009 at 07:57 AM

Darren your experience with Revolutionary Road seems to be an epidemic - I saw it last night and quite a few people giggled and laughed throughout the movie - admittedly there were some bits where you could laugh comfortably but most of the film was not a laughing matter. Audience last night were fairly well behaved - can't pick 'em really - old or young mainstream or arthouse, the insensitive few who should just stay home and watch dvds are out there infecting our cinema experiences

by Cathy on January 29, 2009 at 08:04 AM

Quoth darren on January 29, 2009 at 05:55 AM: "Re Heath ('Our' Heath) to tell the truth I thought his Ennis Del Mar was a bit over-rated."
I did too while watching the movie, but then we got to his final scene, and I broke down completely... Excuse me, I need to go and find a tissue again... *sniff*
For me, the standout actor was Anne Hathaway. She went from this high spirited young woman to this completely hard bitch with *nails* and *hair* to match. I know it's hard to judge a performance on makeup, but I thought her (and Michelle Williams) were both completely and unfairly overshadowed by the male actors and *that* scene.

by tqd on January 29, 2009 at 09:44 AM

Darren and fellow bloggers. I totally agree! What is wrong with cinema goers at the moment? I saw RR the other night and yes, there were idiots laughing. I kept thinking I was missing something or not getting it as it certainly wasn't a funny film. And also there were a group of about 6 teenage girls who giggled, nudged each other and spent most of the movie texting. I can only assume they thought that the movie , having Leo and Kate in it, was going to be a romantic flick like Titanic.

But I, too, have noticed that the lack of manners in audiences seems to be epidemic. Answering mobiles, chatting loudly, laughing at inapproriate moments. Starting to put me off going to movies. It's so annoying. Mobiles are really the most common annoyance. In fact, mobiles have created a whole lot of appalling, rude behaviour. And not just in movies.

Also have to put in my two cents worth about Heath and the Oscar. I do believe he was robbed over Brokeback Mountain and is truly deserving of Oscar for the Joker. A truly brilliant performance.

by em on January 29, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Beckala what do the parents think of this Oscars party drinking game? High-school's changed since I was there.
Cathy both 'Doubt' and 'Revolutionary Road' had some witty lines (especially for Meryl Streep and the crazy guy in RevRoad (or was he the sane one?...hmmmm)), but it's the level of laughing, the LEVEL! Like everyone'd taken an extra Prozac or like several people were trying to start a 'Mexican Wave' of laughter. Weird.

by darren on January 29, 2009 at 11:13 AM

An open letter to Shaun Micallef:
Dear Shaun,
Welcome to channel ten. When entering the premises, please leave your brain on the door step ... your contract conditions include, dumbing down your sharp wit and replacing with toilet humour, your scripts likely to be hijacked and reworked by our channel ten programmers to include lots of cross promotional marketing of channel ten's other awful products, and the acceptance of lower ratings from this network, more than any other networks that you have worked on ......
We hope you enjoy your tenure with us ...
Channel ten management

by Randwick Geoff on January 29, 2009 at 12:43 PM

After many bad experiences at my local cinema complex i only go to the first early sessions which are almost empty,never in schoolholidays or discount days. Now i have a great big screen at home the cinema is not attractive. In the 60s i went twice a week .

by doug on January 29, 2009 at 01:05 PM

Our last movie experiences have been excellent. Over Chrissy went to our local cinema on a Sun 10am to see the Bond movie & Mrs PJ & I had the WHOLE theatre to ourselves!!!! we could have destroyed the whole place but we were very well behaved + I'm not sure if there is somebody behind the hole in the back wall these days.....beats me how they make money. Then another day to Leichhardt for our "Chrissy movie experience", see a movie in the morning (Frost/Nixon) with the most people at a session we have ever seen & all behaved well, a bite of Italian for lunch then (Slumdog) in the afternoon, again lots of people & again all were well behaved, seems we've just been lucky.
Please TM can we have an "oscar" party ??
Thanks tqd for the ballot link, can anybody explain what the difference between Sound Editing & Sound Mixing is???
Back to tv........
Nigella is starting to really get on my t.. no I think annoy might be a better term, enjoy the actual cooking, but this pretence of a "story" eg "girls coming round for dinner after drinks"/ "friend just split from boyfriend"......boringgggg. Can't wait for the return of The Cook & The Chef. Will be seeing what trouble Ms Carmetti will get into tonight & will Everest have the last word??

by PJ453 on January 29, 2009 at 03:34 PM

thanks david for putting 9am with david and kim ratings up:) im very curious to know when kerri anne and the 7 morning show return with new eps whether 9am will hold their viewers
im surprised how good 10 news did last night!!

by ryan on January 29, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Tqd re: *that* scene, I read somewhere recently that in Singapore (I think) they screened 'Brokeback Mountain' on TV but because of censorship they took out all *those* scenes and just made it a movie about male friendship (close friends). I wonder would that version have won any Oscars? I guess we'll never know. All we know is Singaporeans saw a very strange movie.
PJ453, yes the 10 am movie is always a good way to go but I always feel like a bit of a freak bounding up to the counter as they open the doors. Always a bit.....enthusiastic in the mornings and it doesn't quite work with hungover ushers & the smell of rancid popcorn butter.
And about Nigella, I agree. I feel like a cad but I think it was just one of those summer things. Rolling eyes & hair tossing in February are different to how they were in December. Maggie & Simon are the real deal.

by darren on January 30, 2009 at 05:59 AM

Also surprised at ten news' good ratings. How about they change their schedule to the following to maximise their ratings, rather than to have endless simpsons repeats:
4.30 Judge Judy / similar PG-rated reality
5 B&B
5.30 Ten News
6.30 Neighbours
The flow-on ratings to neighbours would be good.

by arthur on January 30, 2009 at 09:15 AM

I just might start doing a count on how many times ACA will do a 'feature' or 'exclusive' on UNDERBELLY before it starts airing in a couple of weeks - there must have been at least 3 stories so far on the show which it's claimed by the producers of the show 'IS' current affairs. The other night they 'advertised' another blatant ad for the program complete with a commercial NEIN have been running for weeks - it really is shameful cross promotion and let's hope both MEDIA WATCH and the CHASER BOYS are on to it when they return.
CHANNEL SEVEN and TODAY TONIGHT are no better - the number of TENNIS stories and subtle cross promotions for upcoming shows continues in the lead up to the 'ratings period'.
Still loving MISS FIFI on SUNRISE - even though I can't stand the rest of the SUNRISE family. I think FLAT NAT gets back on Monday so expect that deadpan face to once again grace our screens. I notice JESSICA ROWE reading the news on SUNRISE. She couldn't sustain an audience at NEIN so gets the flick and a million bucks to soften the blow from management, then gets hired by SEVEN to do what she was hired basically to do on NEIN - and probably another nice million or so to look pretty and giggle a bit on SUNRISE. Isn't there just something a bit silly about all of this???
Still don't really know when the tennis is over but I presume it's Sunday night - what will Seven do without all that sport!!

Tribal Mind replies: Yes, Sunday. What Seven will do is finally play Desperate Housewives, 30 Rock and other shows we've been waiting for.

by GJ on January 30, 2009 at 10:20 AM

10 news jumps again!! whats going on??

by ryan on January 30, 2009 at 10:41 AM

I usually tend to go to the morning sessions (before high noon) to avoid some rowdy audience members later. Although the downside (or upside) is that it is quieter, with fewer people there. It depends whether you want to laugh (at the right moments!) or cry with others. When we went to see Benjamin Button, there were some teenagers (don't they seem to be the usual suspects?) munching so loudly on their popcorn and rustling plastic packets during the quiet bits in the film. At least do it during the loud parts!
All I know of sound editing is that it comes before sound mixing. Sound editing is more so the selections of the sound, and mixing is the process of combining. These Oscar parties sound spectacular. We've had this tradition of not watching the telecast until it airs and then marking our ballots. Cleared the day free this year so we can watch it live.

by Kym on January 30, 2009 at 11:12 AM

To Maggie and Simon fans - The Cook and the Chef is back from Wednesday 11 February at 6.30pm. I prefer their lashings of extra virgin olive oil to Nigella's buttery efforts.
Has been difficult in my limited tV viewing this week to avoid the over promotion of
Shirl's SYTYCD and Biggest Loser; Nein's Domestic Bliss, Underbelly - which is also on at every cinema by the way, and Farmer takes a wife; and Seven's Everything is after the tennis plus Sunday night!
Even things I wanted to watch now I do not want to know they are coming soon - show them alreeady...
And Nein - after showing the very first ep of season 14 ER will you be showing any more any time soon?

by Cathy on January 30, 2009 at 11:49 AM

Saw an ad on Nein this am for their new Wed night lineup advertised as "drama Wednesday". This included the Mentalist at 8.30 followed by some new show (forget what it was I wasn't really paying attention) followed by Cold Case. What happened to showing the rest of ER, huh Nein? Obviously shoved back on the shelf till next summer. Will we ever catch up or see the last series? I just wish Nein would flog it off to Foxtel so I can at least watch the rest of the season plus the last season without having to download or buy it.
I know I shouldn't expect anything better from Nein but can't help wishing that just once, just once, a network would screen a show from the beginning to the end of a series without messing it about constantly. Then they wonder why numbers of viewers are down. And they promote like crazy "Wipeout Aust". What a crock of bull ----! I will never cease to be amazed at what trash people will watch. Does anyone else think that society is just getting dumber??

by em on January 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Quoth Kym: "These Oscar parties sound spectacular. We've had this tradition of not watching the telecast until it airs and then marking our ballots. Cleared the day free this year so we can watch it live."
Oh, that would be brilliant! We've always done the Oscars party (even now, with small children, although it's down to at most six people from about thirty at its height, when we'd even have trivia quizzes during the ad breaks). And it's always bloody impossible to avoid spoilers, especially if there's any chance of an Australian getting an award. My workmates are getting used to the Oscars-free zone around my desk, but avoiding all mention on the bus on the way home is the trickiest bit!
Hate it when Channel Nein tell you who wins the big ones in the ad break right before we find out in the telecast. And they seem to do it most years...
And once this is over, it's time to prepare for Eurovision... (Although that's more pizza-and-beer, really.)

by tqd on January 30, 2009 at 07:32 PM

Why so many for Open Water, you ask TM?
Well, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Ch7 was showing the quarter finals men's tennis match from Melbourne rather than aforesaid movie...

by cronker on January 31, 2009 at 09:29 AM

10 news jumps again!! whats going on?? -
Perhaps an exclusive interview with Paris Hilton ?

by Randwick Geoff on January 31, 2009 at 09:35 AM

re: large numbers for open water - The tennis ran over time (Nadal game) so I don't think Open Water was shown...

Tribal Mind replies: That sounds right. We'll see if it shows up on the weekly chart tomorrow morning.

by James on January 31, 2009 at 09:47 AM

open water wasnt on last night. i waited hrs for it to come on and then seven didnt even show it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was hell not happy but i gotta expect it from a shit channel!!

by ryan on January 31, 2009 at 01:09 PM

The new Ch 10 promos for 2009 have been leaked on YouTube. Well, either leaked or it's another viral campaign. I think they look quite awesome and better than anything the networks have done in a long time.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RE1rcan4azM
url="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jQZ2p_Ta9fA

by J Bar on January 31, 2009 at 01:35 PM

Call me what you will but one of the off-ratings shows which I have enjoyed has been TEN's Orange Roughies. I know the show comes from New Zealand and proprietary as per some clown called Andrew Symonds would have anything or anyone from there all lumped together down the toilet however I'm not Australian enough to have adopted that attitude and am actually going to miss it. Reasonable acting, reasonable story line, not a bad show. I hope it finds a time slot, any time slot, somewhere on TEN's lineup.
T M, did the show actually rate as I've never seen it listed by you.

by Zjonn on January 31, 2009 at 03:52 PM

Open Water is arguably the worst film ever made. I'm glad for once about Seven, that they didn't show it...

Tribal Mind remarks: Now there's a talking point. What's the worst film regularly shown on TV?

by arthur on January 31, 2009 at 04:20 PM

Sadly all of the pretty stuff in the promos is going to go right over Shirl's regular target audience. I guess since they no longer have BB as a crutch they've got to retarget their target by a generation or two - from Y to X! Perhaps the Micallef Y-bashing concept is part of this genius plan.
Speaking of Gen X, a slightly different topic: I've been working all day listening to 2MMM via the web. Is it just me or have they almost completely trashed all of their "record collection" i.e. anything released on Vinyl. Been listening all day. No Queen. They play that "Sex On Fire" song to death. Rarely do you hear anything earlier that 1990. Live and Let Die by Guns & Roses has to be the oldest song I've heard all day. Are 2MMM, just like Ch Shirl, snubbing their demographic?

by Bereft Skerrick on January 31, 2009 at 04:26 PM

Mrs Skerrick - re 2MMM - I finally discarded them late last year when they went "awesome 80s" - I went to Vega and aside from some minor aberrations - Boz Scaggs anyone? -- they are OK. They do play Queen a bit. Briefly tuned in the other day to 2MMM to hear Robbie Williams... scary thought. I would have thought they would still trot out A-Ha as that seems to be on high rotation as well as any INXS and ACDC.... surprised they seem to have stopped that. Besides I do not think I am their demographic.
Speaking of Queen still mightily annoyed with Nein for the misuse of Queen to promo Farmer Wants a Wife... for goodness sake leave the wonderful song alone.

by Cathy on January 31, 2009 at 09:15 PM

Nine have really shown up Seven's lack of imagination in calling their new current affairs show on Sunday night 'Sunday Night' by calling their new Sunday morning version of 'Today' 'Today on Sunday'. Take that! And so 'Weekend Sunrise' gets up half an hour ealier and while everyone's still in bed Nine and Seven are fighting a pathetic battle that no-one's watching. Let the ratings begin.

by darren on February 02, 2009 at 05:59 AM

Cathy: that reminds me, at the end of one of the promos for FWAW where the awesome Freddie sings "Somebody toooooooooooooooo" they have a dog howling. Now I love dogs and I love Queen, but never the twain should meet.
So be warned, Ch Shirl promo monkeys, I will take up arms if you start using "Fat Bottom Girls" for The Biggest Loser. But should SBS use "Bicycle Race" for the Tour De France I won't mind so much.
Down here on the coast we listen to 2ST at work, which caused a furore last year when they dumped having the 2UE talkback after 8pm and having locally hosted music instead. The Grey Army all whinged and whinged and they got their beloved 8-midnight ranting back.

by Bereft Skerrick on February 02, 2009 at 09:59 AM

Worst movie regularly shown on TV? That one is going to take some pondering...
Watched no FTA TV on the weekend (well, ABC Kids early on Sunday morning, I am disappointed that Storm Hawks has gone from the schedule, I rather liked that one and Mr Bear declared an antipathy for all things super hero, so I didn't get to see the new Wolverine cartoon either, but I suppose I should be proud that he's the one insisting on turning the TV off). Yay for Firefly DVDs!
Quoth Bereft Skerrick on January 31: "They play that "Sex On Fire" song to death." You know, I've heard the song on Triple-J all the time, but only just this morning found out what it was called, as I am notorious for never actually hearing lyrics or listening to back announcements.

by tqd on February 02, 2009 at 10:02 AM

Worst film: Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. Seems to be the fallback film so is shown and shown and shown and not just at kid timeslots but in prime time, usually instead of showing live State of Origin footy. I once thought it would be a good idea if instead of just putting "R" in the TV guide to show a repeat they had to put an "R" for every time it had been repeated, so Willy Wonka would be RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

by ned on February 02, 2009 at 10:36 AM

I watched the fatties moan & groan & spew and winge and sweat and complain last night followed by SYTYCD because I decided four hours of Rafa de-wedging himself was a road too far.
In unrelated news, I saw Matt 'Mr Asia' Newton on Saturday. He was standing by a taxi whilst his friend-who-was-a-girl ran into a Kwikimart for a coke. Exciting stuff.
Then I saw an article in the SMH about the position for his body-double apparently being advertised as "must have BIG WILLIE!" (exclamation point and caps not mine) and the obvious questions are:
(a) Is this to soothe Mr Newton's ego?
(b) Is this to boost Nine's ratings?
(c) Did Mr Asia indeed have a big willie?
(d) Does Australia need to see it?
(e) Is 'Underbelly 2' going to feature the same blue language (eg: "Snuggle off, you mother-snuggling willie-fiddling front bottom" or "Snuggle you, you willie-head")? Real mature.
I also saw someone walking a goat in Newtown. The first trend for 2009? Livestock as pets? If you think you've seen everything go for a drive up King St.

by darren on February 02, 2009 at 11:15 AM

Quoth ned: "so Willy Wonka would be RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..."
Which reminds me: on Sesame Street this morning, the special guest was Tina Fey. I still haven't seen her as Sarah Palin (I did see "Sarah Palin 2012" t-shirts online the other day - be afraid, be very afraid), but now I've seen her as a bookaneer (a pirate who loves books). Elmo had to say three words starting with the pirates' favourite letter (to prove he was a worthy Bookaneer himself and keep his book), and Allan (the guy who runs the shop) said that pirates favourite letter had to be "R" ("arrrrrr!" geddit?). I've never seen such withering glances from muppets before, who scolded him for such outmoded stereotypes.
For the record, the bookaneers' favourite letter is "F" and it's "L" that marks the spot, not "X". ("L" for library, of course.) And Ms Fey still has the sexiest glasses ever, even when she's dressed like a pirate. Why don't my glasses make me that sexy??

Tribal Mind remarks: New season of 30 Rock starts tonight at 11.30pm on Seven

by tqd on February 02, 2009 at 12:32 PM

Oztam sucks!! i dont get how it can be even close to to getting averages with only 3000 people to read of. get your act together!

by ryan on February 02, 2009 at 02:18 PM

Why do we still have such an antiquated ratings system with ratings periods and non-ratings periods? If Sunday night was one of the biggest rating nights of the year, why have it out of the official ratings period? Why can't we just have the ratings periods run throughout the whole year, so we don't have to put up with two months of rubbish at Christmas and Easter?

by J Bar on February 02, 2009 at 02:23 PM

I suppose the argument is that if there has to be a non-ratings period, it should be no longer than 4 weeks, in line with the annual leave the majority of people get each year. Personally, I'd suggest 3 weeks for Christmas/New year and 1 week for Easter. Keeps the employees happy that they still get some sort of holiday, and keeps us happy that we get quality programming for the vast majority of the year.

Tribal Mind remarks: The problem is that there isn't enough quality programming to spread across the current ratings year, let alone an extended ratings year.

by John on February 02, 2009 at 07:07 PM

"Tribal Mind remarks: The problem is that there isn't enough quality programming to spread across the current ratings year, let alone an extended ratings year."
But surely that's not *our* problem! That's a problem for the TV stations to sort out. (They could grab some of those goodies that are going to Pay TV...)
Ended up watching (while pottering on the computer) most of The Devil Wears Prada, even though I own it. I missed the beginning of the Despoes due to small boys being unable to sleep (argh, we need a cool change[*]!), so recorded it and just slacked off online with the fashions happening in the background.
And alas and alack!, I only just read Mr Dale's comment that 30 Rock was starting up last night. Oh well.
Did we get ratings for Monday night, or is OzTAM still having technical difficulties?
* Yes, I know the weather is worse in Vic/SA. That doesn't mean that I have to enjoy/appreciate the constant heat we're getting in Sydney (it just means that I'm hardly whinging at all, for me). Roll on winter!

Tribal Mind replies: Go to the new week's blog (click http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare) for the Sunday and Monday results.

by tqd on February 03, 2009 at 10:08 AM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

The Who We Are update: to January 31

COMMENTS

POST A COMMENT

Comments Terms & Conditions

RECENT ENTRIES

ARCHIVES