The Who We Are update: Week 45

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This week's forum is now a heritage item - worth studying but no longer current. For the latest on Australian attitudes and media trends, go to blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

To discuss whether it matters when "true" movies tell lies, go to The Tribal Mind.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Monday
Channel Seven won the week, needing no help from its offshoot 7TWO. Here's how OzTAM says the prime time audience shares broke up: SBS2 0.4; ONE 1.1; ABC2 1.4; 7TWO 1.7; GO 2.7; SBS1 5.1; ABC1 16.2; Ten 19.0; Nine 23.5; Seven 29.1.

You might expect that all this extra choice in free to air would be having some impact on Pay TV, but it's hard to spot any shrinkage in Pay's account of itself for the week: "On Tuesday night, New Zealand's Next Top Model had a series high audience of 113,000 people while The Contender Australia [Charlotte Dawson's boxing show -- anybody want to tell us what it's like?] premiered on Monday night with 98,000 viewers (both on FOX8). Midsomer Murders on UKTV was watched by 128,000 people, Relocation Relocation on Lifestyle had its biggest audience of the year so far with 100,000 people and Law & Order: SVU on TV1 was seen by 89,000 people.

"The thrilling fifth One Day International between India and Australia gave FOX Sports the best result of the series so far with 232,000 people watching Live: Cricket: ODI Ind v Aus 5th ODI S1. Live: Football: A-League Perth v Melb was watched by 85,000 people and Rugby League: Four Nations on Sunday morning was watched by 84,000 people (all on FOX Sports).

"In week 45, STV channels represented 21.3% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, 21.7% of all regional viewing and 57.9% of all viewing in subscription TV homes." This may change once Foxtel and Austar begin delivering GO and 7TWO to their subscribers via cable and satellite.

What Australia watched, including the top digitals, week ending November 6
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 MELBOURNE CUP-THE RACE Seven 2,673,000 640,000 1,323,000 340,000 156,000 214,000
2 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 2,072,000 601,000 650,000 361,000 251,000 209,000
3 RSPCA ANIMAL RESCUE Seven 1,583,000 370,000 492,000 327,000 177,000 217,000
4 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,528,000 394,000 453,000 326,000 154,000 202,000
5 LAST CHANCE SURGERY Seven 1,514,000 359,000 483,000 305,000 175,000 192,000
6 BORDER SECURITY Seven 1,433,000 351,000 427,000 338,000 138,000 179,000
7 MIDSOMER MURDERS ABC1 1,426,000 406,000 405,000 242,000 176,000 197,000
8 TWO AND A HALF MEN -MON Nine 1,387,000 401,000 412,000 287,000 147,000 140,000
9 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,370,000 334,000 414,000 268,000 162,000 193,000
10 BONES Seven 1,356,000 339,000 380,000 273,000 171,000 193,000
Continued here

11 BORDER SECURITY -WED (R) Seven 1,345,000 400,000 360,000 267,000 138,000 180,000
12 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,327,000 249,000 382,000 341,000 148,000 206,000
13 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,297,000 411,000 346,000 233,000 143,000 164,000
14 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,274,000 318,000 368,000 268,000 142,000 178,000
15 NCIS RPT Ten 1,268,000 339,000 379,000 234,000 142,000 174,000
16 MEDICAL EMERGENCY Seven 1,253,000 367,000 335,000 258,000 143,000 150,000
17 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 1,238,000 382,000 356,000 251,000 114,000 136,000
18 HIGHWAY PATROL Seven 1,237,000 324,000 354,000 252,000 149,000 158,000
19 MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL-LATE Seven 1,237,000 260,000 689,000 145,000 66,000 76,000
20 GETAWAY Nine 1,231,000 345,000 402,000 238,000 109,000 137,000
21 CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,224,000 318,000 410,000 213,000 135,000 148,000
22 BEAUTY AND THE GEEK AUSTRALIA Seven 1,211,000 351,000 353,000 222,000 137,000 147,000
23 20 TO 1 -TUE Nine 1,204,000 298,000 477,000 193,000 124,000 113,000
24 THE MENTALIST Nine 1,188,000 358,000 372,000 214,000 128,000 115,000
25 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,187,000 238,000 366,000 293,000 120,000 169,000
26 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,182,000 339,000 290,000 255,000 117,000 181,000
27 TWO AND A HALF MEN -WED Nine 1,167,000 292,000 393,000 228,000 113,000 142,000
28 CITY HOMICIDE-WED Seven 1,161,000 322,000 360,000 205,000 108,000 166,000
29 PRIVATE PRACTICE-TUE Seven 1,150,000 342,000 321,000 211,000 162,000 114,000
30 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,119,000 265,000 386,000 239,000 99,000 129,000
31 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,102,000 313,000 291,000 209,000 155,000 134,000
32 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,101,000 341,000 301,000 208,000 109,000 142,000
33 DESTROYED IN SECONDS Seven 1,074,000 292,000 283,000 219,000 137,000 142,000
34 CRIMINAL MINDS-MON Seven 1,059,000 292,000 335,000 159,000 131,000 142,000
35 A MODEL DAUGHTER - THE KILLING OF CAROLINE BYRNE Ten 1,058,000 308,000 335,000 151,000 126,000 138,000
36 CSI Nine 1,056,000 310,000 325,000 184,000 110,000 128,000
37 FLASHFORWARD Seven 1,056,000 311,000 290,000 158,000 136,000 161,000

... And the tops on the digitals
256 RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE GO! 156,000 37,000 45,000 24,000 29,000 21,000
259 WIPEOUT GO! 154,000 24,000 45,000 40,000 27,000 18,000
290 RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION GO! 134,000 34,000 43,000 18,000 21,000 18,000
296 DOCTOR WHO ABC2 128,000 19,000 39,000 31,000 14,000 25,000
329 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 110,000 21,000 31,000 15,000 24,000 20,000
330 REAPER 7TWO 110,000 34,000 41,000 6,000 14,000 15,000
333 THE BIG BANG THEORY GO! 108,000 19,000 30,000 29,000 15,000 14,000
340 UGLY BETTY 7TWO 105,000 46,000 24,000 7,000 6,000 21,000
346 HEROES 7TWO 102,000 23,000 47,000 13,000 13,000 6,000

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,182,000 339,000 290,000 255,000 117,000 181,000
2 M-INDEPENDENCE DAY Seven 966,000 282,000 237,000 209,000 99,000 139,000
3 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 953,000 223,000 325,000 183,000 118,000 103,000
4 ABC NEWS-SA ABC1 931,000 259,000 298,000 182,000 79,000 112,000
5 THE BILL ABC1 870,000 261,000 231,000 147,000 97,000 134,000
6 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 862,000 232,000 259,000 168,000 103,000 99,000
7 TAGGART ABC1 808,000 231,000 224,000 145,000 99,000 109,000
8 HOPE SPRINGS ABC1 797,000 225,000 223,000 173,000 76,000 100,000
12 SHE'S THE MAN -RPT Nine 582,000 202,000 200,000 119,000 62,000
13 KENNY RPT Ten 563,000 123,000 170,000 121,000 66,000 82,000
14 SILENT WITNESS RPT ABC1 484,000 131,000 157,000 80,000 58,000 58,000
15 THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND Ten 440,000 110,000 149,000 85,000 54,000 42,000
16 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS -RPT Nine 431,000 123,000 146,000 76,000 49,000 37,000
25 IRON CHEF SBS ONE 265,000 84,000 92,000 33,000 24,000 33,000
26 MYTHBUSTERS SBS ONE 264,000 81,000 71,000 55,000 22,000 35,000
28 ROCKWIZ SBS ONE 240,000 73,000 82,000 28,000 16,000 40,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 MIDSOMER MURDERS ABC1 1,426,000 406,000 405,000 242,000 176,000 197,000
2 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,297,000 411,000 346,000 233,000 143,000 164,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,194,000 317,000 346,000 246,000 141,000 144,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,045,000 280,000 298,000 207,000 128,000 131,000
5 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,000,000 271,000 299,000 183,000 141,000 106,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 981,000 249,000 295,000 228,000 95,000 114,000
12 M-WAR OF THE WORLDS Seven 731,000 212,000 224,000 135,000 77,000 84,000
15 HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS RPT Ten 632,000 188,000 169,000 146,000 62,000 66,000
16 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN -RPT Nine 629,000 199,000 223,000 98,000 53,000 56,000
96 TORCHWOOD ABC2 89,000 15,000 18,000 19,000 14,000 22,000
132 SCRUBS (R) 7TWO 61,000 16,000 23,000 10,000 7,000 5,000
138 GOOD GAME ABC1 57,000 10,000 15,000 14,000 11,000 7,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 GETAWAY Nine 1,225,000 342,000 399,000 239,000 108,000 137,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,217,000 313,000 352,000 253,000 140,000 158,000
3 BEAUTY AND THE GEEK AUSTRALIA Seven 1,211,000 351,000 353,000 222,000 137,000 147,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,176,000 301,000 297,000 288,000 135,000 154,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,132,000 262,000 400,000 257,000 96,000 117,000
6 CSI Nine 1,069,000 313,000 331,000 185,000 110,000 130,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,057,000 297,000 342,000 221,000 84,000 113,000
8 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,050,000 307,000 244,000 213,000 154,000 132,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 1,017,000 290,000 297,000 228,000 99,000 103,000
10 ABC NEWS ABC1 965,000 321,000 306,000 137,000 79,000 122,000
11 GLEE Ten 905,000 270,000 244,000 174,000 87,000 129,000
12 GHOST WHISPERER Seven 895,000 262,000 248,000 177,000 107,000 100,000
13 SECRET MILLIONAIRE Nine 891,000 240,000 270,000 162,000 100,000 119,000
14 RUSH Ten 826,000 215,000 288,000 145,000 85,000 93,000
17 THE AMAZING RACE 15 Seven 761,000 230,000 238,000 128,000 87,000 78,000
18 BURN NOTICE Ten 735,000 205,000 231,000 113,000 91,000 94,000
37 LUKE NGUYEN'S VIETNAM SBS ONE 307,000 99,000 103,000 56,000 20,000 28,000
91 STARGATE ATLANTIS 7TWO 97,000 12,000 38,000 14,000 16,000 16,000
93 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 89,000 15,000 28,000 11,000 20,000 16,000
104 FIFTH GEAR 7TWO 81,000 22,000 29,000 18,000 6,000 6,000
105 THE NANNY GO! 79,000 31,000 11,000 11,000 10,000 15,000
108 UFC WIRED ONE 78,000 22,000 32,000 8,000 10,000 6,000
122 DROP DEAD DIVA GO! 63,000 23,000 19,000 4,000 13,000 4,000
124 FRINGE GO! 61,000 14,000 9,000 24,000 4,000 10,000
154 GOSSIP GIRL GO! 45,000 8,000 14,000 6,000 8,000 9,000
208 THE JAY LENO SHOW 7TWO 21,000 12,000 2,000 6,000 0 1,000
216 THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW 7TWO 19,000 6,000 7,000 4,000 1,000 1,000
218 HOME AND AWAY - THE EARLY YEARS 7TWO 18,000 11,000 3,000 0 4,000 0

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 BORDER SECURITY (R) Seven 1,345,000 400,000 360,000 267,000 138,000 180,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,314,000 291,000 388,000 261,000 158,000 215,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,286,000 327,000 325,000 265,000 143,000 225,000
4 MEDICAL EMERGENCY Seven 1,253,000 367,000 335,000 258,000 143,000 150,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,227,000 323,000 417,000 228,000 110,000 150,000
6 CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,224,000 318,000 410,000 213,000 135,000 148,000
7 TWO AND A HALF MEN -WED Nine 1,170,000 292,000 394,000 230,000 112,000 142,000
8 CITY HOMICIDE-WED Seven 1,161,000 322,000 360,000 205,000 108,000 166,000
9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,121,000 316,000 288,000 217,000 150,000 150,000
10 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,102,000 343,000 301,000 208,000 109,000 141,000
12 A MODEL DAUGHTER - THE KILLING OF CAROLINE BYRNE Ten 1,059,000 309,000 335,000 152,000 126,000 138,000
25 HUNGRY BEAST ABC1 641,000 203,000 159,000 127,000 65,000 86,000
28 JOHN SAFRAN'S RACE RELATIONS ABC1 526,000 167,000 144,000 89,000 54,000 71,000
50 SHINTARO! SBS ONE 241,000 83,000 83,000 35,000 20,000 20,000
86 SUPERHUMAN ABC2 121,000 27,000 36,000 12,000 26,000 20,000
93 HEROES 7TWO 100,000 22,000 46,000 13,000 13,000 6,000
94 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 98,000 23,000 17,000 16,000 22,000 21,000
115 FRINGE GO! 65,000 19,000 22,000 8,000 9,000 7,000
151 THE WIRE GO! 44,000 12,000 12,000 11,000 6,000 3,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

The ratings race, updated 10 am Wednesday
It seems Australia watched the Cup then fell asleep in front of the set, leaving Seven's shows to flicker on into the night. They didn't even wake up long enough to switch the dial to 7TWO for the relaunch of Ugly Betty. To see how this year's Cup audience compares with the all-time records, go to The TV shows Australia loved.

After three nights of 7TWO, the prime time audience shares stand thus: SBS2 0.3 per cent; ABC2 1.3; ONE 1.3; 7TWO 1.7; GO! 2.9; SBS1 5.7; ABC1 13.6; TEN 19.0; Nine 23.7; Seven 30.6.

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 THE 2009 MELBOURNE CUP-THE RACE Seven 2,563,000 637,000 1,319,000 335,000 60,000 211,000
2 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 2,072,000 601,000 650,000 361,000 251,000 209,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,682,000 370,000 601,000 306,000 193,000 212,000
4 RSPCA ANIMAL RESCUE Seven 1,583,000 370,000 492,000 327,000 177,000 217,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,564,000 352,000 569,000 287,000 152,000 203,000
6 LAST CHANCE SURGERY Seven 1,514,000 359,000 483,000 305,000 175,000 192,000
7 NCIS RPT Ten 1,266,000 339,000 379,000 233,000 142,000 173,000
8 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,226,000 337,000 350,000 224,000 165,000 150,000
9 THE 2009 MELBOURNE CUP-LATE Seven 1,212,000 251,000 674,000 141,000 74,000 73,000
10 20 TO 1 -TUE Nine 1,206,000 298,000 477,000 194,000 123,000 113,000
11 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,197,000 252,000 491,000 239,000 92,000 123,000
12 PRIVATE PRACTICE-TUE Seven 1,150,000 342,000 321,000 211,000 162,000 114,000
19 LIE TO ME Ten 910,000 225,000 302,000 148,000 106,000 128,000
23 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 766,000 221,000 268,000 108,000 76,000 93,000
27 AUSSIE LADETTE TO LADY Nine 688,000 165,000 312,000 70,000 72,000 69,000
77 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 146,000 29,000 54,000 16,000 30,000 16,000
87 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS GO! 117,000 25,000 32,000 23,000 16,000 21,000
90 REAPER 7TWO 110,000 34,000 41,000 6,000 14,000 15,000
92 UGLY BETTY 7TWO 105,000 46,000 24,000 7,000 6,000 21,000
128 THE WIRE ABC2 58,000 25,000 9,000 7,000 7,000 10,000

What Australia watched, Monday. including Good Game
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,441,000 376,000 381,000 272,000 178,000 234,000
2 TWO AND A HALF MEN -MON Nine 1,369,000 390,000 412,000 286,000 144,000 136,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,300,000 328,000 351,000 294,000 150,000 177,000
4 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 1,241,000 382,000 356,000 251,000 116,000 136,000
5 HIGHWAY PATROL Seven 1,237,000 324,000 354,000 252,000 149,000 158,000
6 THE MENTALIST Nine 1,195,000 360,000 372,000 218,000 128,000 116,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,123,000 338,000 274,000 211,000 167,000 133,000
8 DESTROYED IN SECONDS Seven 1,074,000 292,000 283,000 219,000 137,000 142,000
9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,074,000 248,000 357,000 238,000 112,000 118,000
10 NINE NEWS Nine 1,070,000 291,000 361,000 212,000 117,000 89,000
11 CRIMINAL MINDS-MON Seven 1,059,000 292,000 335,000 159,000 131,000 142,000
12 FLASHFORWARD Seven 1,056,000 311,000 290,000 158,000 136,000 161,000
13 AUSTRALIAN STORY ABC1 1,031,000 370,000 257,000 205,000 90,000 110,000
16 THE APPRENTICE AUSTRALIA Nine 841,000 261,000 281,000 119,000 106,000 74,000
17 GOOD NEWS WEEK Ten 833,000 236,000 242,000 155,000 97,000 102,000
18 FOUR CORNERS ABC1 773,000 281,000 172,000 162,000 77,000 81,000
24 TOP GEAR SBS ONE 674,000 200,000 183,000 141,000 70,000 80,000
27 JAMIE'S AMERICAN ROAD TRIP Ten 625,000 207,000 147,000 98,000 86,000 86,000
32 NURSE JACKIE MON Ten 455,000 127,000 178,000 62,000 52,000 36,000
80 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 149,000 22,000 37,000 26,000 33,000 31,000
89 DOCTOR WHO ABC2 129,000 20,000 39,000 31,000 14,000 25,000
105 THE VAMPIRE DIARIES GO! 86,000 21,000 25,000 15,000 18,000 7,000
117 M-SEABISCUIT 7TWO 74,000 26,000 18,000 7,000 8,000 15,000
154 GOOD GAME ABC2 44,000 2,000 11,000 13,000 8,000 10,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 THE FORCE Seven 1,519,000 392,000 450,000 325,000 152,000 200,000
2 BORDER SECURITY Seven 1,421,000 347,000 425,000 335,000 137,000 178,000
3 BONES Seven 1,366,000 342,000 382,000 277,000 171,000 194,000
4 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,327,000 249,000 382,000 341,000 148,000 206,000
5 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,183,000 236,000 365,000 293,000 120,000 169,000
6 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,039,000 241,000 351,000 215,000 139,000 93,000
7 60 MINUTES Nine 964,000 244,000 340,000 162,000 85,000 132,000
8 CASTLE Seven 950,000 248,000 277,000 171,000 135,000 119,000
9 AUSTRALIAN IDOL Ten 942,000 328,000 234,000 172,000 105,000 104,000
10 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 932,000 282,000 267,000 167,000 91,000 126,000
13 ROVE Ten 748,000 221,000 239,000 125,000 88,000 74,000
15 WUTHERING HEIGHTS ABC1 700,000 280,000 171,000 93,000 57,000 99,000
24 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? SBS ONE 382,000 121,000 111,000 55,000 33,000 63,000
43 WIPEOUT GO! 211,000 35,000 57,000 57,000 37,000 26,000
68 THE BIG BANG THEORY GO! 142,000 27,000 36,000 38,000 20,000 20,000
76 THE FLINTSTONES GO! 128,000 27,000 58,000 11,000 21,000 12,000
86 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 - PRE-RACE ONE 106,000 15,000 21,000 42,000 12,000 16,000
87 FOUR NATIONS RUGBY LEAGUE 2009 Nine 106,000 29,000 31,000 33,000 5,000 8,000
91 MICHAEL JACKSON: HIS LAST TELEVISED CONCERT 7TWO 88,000 7,000 39,000 21,000 11,000 9,000
97 WELCOME TO 7TWO 7TWO 82,000 19,000 33,000 12,000 10,000 9,000

David Dale is the author of The Little Book of Australia -- A snapshot of who we are (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Tried to tune in, but SEVENTWO is not available outside the metropolitan areas. Don't see what the problem is. We got GO straight away. Annoyed as have been watching shows like Heroes and Lost from the start and have been dumped on by Prime channel

by Paul on November 02, 2009 at 09:34 AM

Certainly no-one in that rural backwater that is Canberra (the nation's capital doncha know) got to watch 7TWO as broadcasting won't begin until January 2010. Sucks to be a Heroes/Lost/Ugly Betty fan

by beniamo on November 02, 2009 at 10:02 AM

I fiddled with the Hard Drive Recorder yesterday arvo and tuned in all the digital channels... saw a bit of a movie on 7TWO, thought "seen this before" and THEN discovered that tuning into the digital channels on the Hard Drive somehow manages to block the Foxtel signal. An expert is required as Mrs GP would NOT be happy if she went without her Food Channel during the day...

by D@GP on November 02, 2009 at 10:17 AM

I would have tuned in, but once again Tasmania missed out. We are supposed to have 7TWO in December, but I won't hold my breath. What's the point of starting shows from episode one, if we can't view them??? No wonder I like boxed sets of DVDs!!!

by 2paw on November 02, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Yes, I caught the first episodes of Scrubs last night on 7TWO. Was good to watch it from the beginning.
Bit of a shock on Idol last night, but as no one watches it, I don't suppose it matters? I only watched the first 10 mins, then switched off.

Tribal Mind asks: What was the Idol shock? One of the papers said somebody was going to resign. Was that all?

by Nic on November 02, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Not watched any of 7-2 as yet, apart from ensuring both the TV and PVR will receive (and both too for my elderly parents, just in case) I think they pulled a massive clanger with the launch and that excretion passed off as entertainment they called "McHales Navy" - the original cast of this classic would be spinning in the ground. It might be a secondary chanel, but they have spun off some of their longer running series (Despos, Heros, Lost, UB etc). They should have gone for a reasonable Sunday night movie to kick it off, as they will struggle to gain any share if all people associate it with is sh!t, they are really not going to mine for gems in the sewage outfall.
That said, I am looking forward to Heros this week, in the hope it can resurect something of the earlier series, if not, can see this being the last series as reviews havent been that flattering in the US.

by ozinoz on November 02, 2009 at 12:32 PM

I was wondering why I couldn't get 7TWO. Seems if you live in a regional area you can't get it yet? Got Go and One straight away so why can't we get 7TWO? Must be that Prime doesn't want to lose viewers and is blocking 7 from broadcasting in regional areas.

by em on November 02, 2009 at 01:05 PM

A big raspberry blown in the general direction of the gibbons at Prime for denying the viewing public outside of Sydney the new #2's (does that mean the existing Channel 7 channel is #1's?)
And more to the point since Canberra is Prime territory (was there on the weekend) what will our fearless leader Krudd have to say about this fiasco?
IN good news though, the next Doctor Who special (apart from his appearance over the weekend on The Sarah Jane Adventures on the DVD player in the back of the Skerrickmobile) is airing on the BBC on 15th November, and on Australian PC's very soon after I imagine.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 02, 2009 at 04:01 PM

7-TWO in the cities... 7-TWOT in the country

by D@GP on November 02, 2009 at 06:32 PM

I am able to get 7TWO and I live in Mareeba, very much regional, well, rural even. It hasn't shown up on the Austar schedule though, only GO is there along with the FTA traditional channels. Iused to live in Canberra, so it's fascinating I can get it here but not there.

by newmareeban on November 02, 2009 at 08:43 PM

Canberra & 7TWO ! Stay in their motels & you do not get any digital tv ,anyway.Anyone know of a motel that has recent model tvs with a clear wide-screen digital reception ?

by doug on November 02, 2009 at 10:19 PM

We watched a bit of 7TWO. It's seems to be very similar to GO!

by bobmar28 on November 03, 2009 at 05:21 AM

I haven't realised that 7-2 wasn't available as there'd been nothing as yet I was intersted in till Heroes. So now I have to give up all of those shows? I'm a LITTLE cranky. They shouldn't launch unless we can all get it. Must be half the audience. None of the publicity made this clear.

by Susan on November 03, 2009 at 06:24 AM

doug: certainly not the $99 bargain rooms @ a certain hotel chain on the northern ACT/NSW border. But there were about 6 Austar channels, including Showtime. It was a major effort to avoid watching The Love Guru.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 03, 2009 at 07:30 AM

Ugly Betty S3 starts tonight on 7TWO @ 7.30pm.
TM how did Good Game (ABC2) go last night? Did it beat Vampire Diaries?

Tribal Mind slaps his forehead and replies: Omigod, how could I have forgotten to check that? It's in the chart now. Do you assume GG has the same kind of audience as Vampire Diaries?

by arthur on November 03, 2009 at 08:18 AM

I can get 7TWO clear as a bell but Nine and GO!!!!!! are all pixellated up, mostly. Smack bang in the middle of Sydney. Anyone else have this problem (or blessing depending how you look at it)? Every other digital signal is fine. Just Nine and GO!!!! up the poo. Although finding that the signal for all channels is also stuffed up by airplanes and leafblowers.
Watched Jay Leno last night. Is he supposed to be funny? Didn't get that. But Tina Fey was characteristically wonderful in an interview which felt like it was inflicted on her by NBC management. 7TWO is going to be hit and miss I think. I don't understand the logic....oh wait.....

by darren on November 03, 2009 at 08:41 AM

So Good Game continues to bomb hard. Good one ABC2!
@ TM
I don't assume that, just that they are in the same timeslot.

Tribal Mind asks: So do you blame the low ratings on the absence of the troublemaker?

by arthur on November 03, 2009 at 08:47 AM

Arthur, you'll have to help me out - what is GG's usual audience. Has there been a noticeable backlash over Junglist's junking?

by Wendell on November 03, 2009 at 08:58 AM

Wendell, TM has only reported about 10-12 Good Game ratings over the course of 2009, but pre-debacle ratings averaged 60-70k.
Therefore, the two episodes since have had significantly lower ratings (

Tribal Mind wonders: But the pre-debacle episodes were also pre Vampire Diaries episodes.

by arthur on November 03, 2009 at 09:51 AM

darren: the cloak and dagger men at Channel Nork know how much you detest them, so they've installed a special disruptification device on your aerial so you don't have the privilege of watching their tripe.
Which also explains why WIN has crappy reception for me.
Speaking of crappy, watched an Episode of Momma's Boys last night. OMG what a car crash. Heck if I'd had to date Mr Skerrick whilst seeking the approval of Nanny Skerrick then I would have been toast. Previous potential monsters-in-law have wanted to hose me, and have disuaded sonny boy from being involved with me. But the mothers on this show were surely relations of Attila the Hun.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 03, 2009 at 01:05 PM

So, the old disruptification-device-in-the-aerial trick eh?
Makes sense, Nine and Seven have been sending out don't-watch-us-just-buy-the-freaking-dvd (not-so)-subliminal messages for quite a while now. I bet they hold huge shares in JBHiFi.
Good to see the Melbourne Cup was won by a horse. Again.

by darren on November 03, 2009 at 02:38 PM

Stumbled over Big Bang Theory ever-so-briefly last night while waiting for The Mentalist to begin. What absolute trash Australia is watching, judging by the figures above. Producers should be gaoled for "gross abuse and overuse of a laugh track".

by D@GP on November 03, 2009 at 02:40 PM

@ TM

Not exactly. There were approximately four episodes where Good Game and Vampire Diaries overlapped, and Good Game beat Vampires at least one of the four times (when I bothered to ask for ratings).

by arthur on November 03, 2009 at 02:58 PM

I'm surprised that Four Corners didn't have more viewers last night given the controversial topic.

by Shoopie on November 03, 2009 at 06:07 PM

Top Gear going to 9 Bad News! I wonder how long it will be before it's on GO!

by john on November 03, 2009 at 10:18 PM

darren, I have the same problem with the digital signal. Try a new antenna and cable.

by bobmar28 on November 04, 2009 at 05:38 AM

I'm still wondering why 7 shifted their shows like Ugly Betty, Heroes and Lost to 7TWO, when they could have still attracted an audience at 10.30pm. It worked with Boston Legal, Scrubs, Family Guy and 30 Rock. Would have been a lot better than some of those silly docos and reality shows they are currently screening at 10.30pm.

by J Bar on November 04, 2009 at 08:35 AM

TM, hate to pester you but do you have Ugly Betty's (7TWO) ratings for last night? I think it will get around 200k.

Tribal Mind replies: You were half right. See above.

by arthur on November 04, 2009 at 08:40 AM

By the way, the 7TWO website says
"When does it start ?
7TWO starts on November the 1st at 12.00pm for all digital Free to Air viewers."
Seems they have an interesting interpretation of the word "all"
Am relieved to find that I am not the only person who can't get 7TWO in an area where we get Prime. I thought I must have been doing something wrong when scanning for new channels, and was confused because I had no trouble getting GO right from the start. Am upset though considering that I have been a regular Ugly Betty, Heros and Lost watcher and I suppose that now I am left to buying the eps on iTunes or buying the DVDs. Very poor form from Seven - being regional viewers should not make us second-class citizens.

by LAH on November 04, 2009 at 09:36 AM

Bobmar28, it is a new antenna and cable, although maybe being an inside antenna is an issue? No external antenna or wall socket thingo. Just strange that every other channel is fine except Nine and GO!!!!! On Nine I have Bert Newton speaking like: "And....but.....th....cra....st....Ne..." and only moving 3 times a minute. I guess I'll just have to live without. I think I can manage.
Saw Martha Stewart on 7TWO last night. If you want to know what it feels like to have your life slowly sucked from your body through the eyeballs, tune in! She's scary. Get the feeling she's just disposed of the makeup girl with a pickaxe and stashed her in the fridge before walking on set and making redcurrant champagne with Usher. And dancing (shudder).... Everything .....MUST ......be .... PERFECT!!!

by darren on November 04, 2009 at 11:25 AM

"It seems Australia watched the Cup then fell asleep in front of the set, leaving Seven's shows to flicker on into the night."
Can't be right as Melbourne Cup Late dipped to ~1.2m. The only possible reason I can think of as to why PTTR got 2m and Private Practice got a record high 1.15m was that Nein's alternatives were absolutely garbage.

by arthur on November 04, 2009 at 11:35 AM

I tuned in to 7TWO to watch some Scrubs on Sunday and Seabiscuit Monday, but forgot to watch Ugly Betty! Garn! They're too many channels - I was watching about six on Monday, also catching John Simm in an ep of Doctor Who. Agree Ch 7 should've put some of their past hits to the late night slot rather than another channel. They're all better than Momma's Boy.

by Kym on November 04, 2009 at 11:38 AM

darren, thanks for the info that a horse won the Cup. That's more than I knew 10 minutes ago. (I'm very bah humbug on the whole Race thing.) And do check out Charlie Huston, you won't be disappointed.
Caught a rather charming show called "Reaper" on 7TWO last night. I liked. I'm sure it'll be dumped within a week or two. (Mr TQD thinks it may have been called "Chuck" in the states. Or maybe he's getting muddled.) Where will underperforming programs be dumped from GO!/7TWO??
And I somehow managed to catch Good Game as well. (Wii Golf? The world has gone to hell in a handbasket.) While I missed Junglist, the new woman seemed perfectly reasonable. If plastered in too much makeup. (Giving the woman in Castle a run for her money.)
Saw "Moon" with Sam Rockwell on the big screen yesterday. It was good, if nothing earth-shattering. But I do like Mr Rockwell (to paraphrase Mr TQD: independent cinema + Sam Rockwell = we got to see his naked butt) and it was good watching sci-fi that's not all about the special effects.

by tqd on November 04, 2009 at 11:40 AM

I get 7TWO (Sydney person) plus no probs with Nein or GO!. I did watch Ugly Betty last night - was amazed that although programmed for one hour - only went 50 minutes - seems to have less ad breaks - same experience on GO! too - gibbons do not want to waste as much air time on ads - one joy there.
Would like 7Two to repeat some new shpws such as Heroes so could catch them when they do not clash with others - one thing GO! does is repeat shows at least twice in the same week meaning you can get them at odd hours.
Hope fellow TMers who had a flutter yesterday profitted from their investments.

by Cathy on November 04, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Nice to see TM is only human too... Today's Wednesday. Yesterday's ratings were updated on todays page "10 am Tuesday"?

Tribal Mind replies: How dare you suggest I'm human. What if I was in New York when I wrote that?

by D@GP on November 04, 2009 at 01:04 PM

Watched The Simpson's Halloween episode, lots of laughs & still funny after all these years! I'm getting the feeling that the writers must be thinking that their audience have grown up as there seemed to be many more "adult" type references.
East West 101 is certainly high class drama, even if they do mumble at times, sorry I've missed so many episodes. The French influenced QI was enjoyable, so tqd - it was me not you. Maybe it's because I like hearing the "beeping" sound in place of swearing, because there was certainly a "beeping" lot of it!!
As for 7II, we can see it if we wanted to.

by PJ453 on November 04, 2009 at 03:43 PM

darren: perhaps the episode of 20 to 1 with Bert was one where he hadn't quite thawed out from the cryogenic process.
I can only imagine what it'd be like to watch Kerrianne Kennerley.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 04, 2009 at 04:15 PM

The Hungry Beast has come of age. Tonight's episode had just the right balance of satire, comedy and truth. Top job. RIP The Chasers. You've been replaced.

by D@GP on November 04, 2009 at 08:37 PM

darren, the weakest channel will do that. Try an antenna booster from Dick Smith/Tandy.
Also you can try manually reprogramming that channel, there should be an option for that on your remote, it works for me.

by bobmar28 on November 05, 2009 at 05:20 AM

Further information on The Race, tqd: The horse was ridden by a .....jockey and the trainer was ....some guy. Apparently they're having another one next year as well.
PJ453, I also enjoyed 'The Simpsons Hallowe'en Special XX' but I have serious problems with the New HD Simpsons. The colours are all wrong and they've renovated their kitchen. Can't adjust.
Watched Martha Stewart again last night. Seems I've been possessed. I was right. She is a Domestic Psychopath. Use the wrong spoon and get a meat skewer to the eye. I get the same foreboding when I visit Ikea but Martha is like the Ikea-Willies times ten. Good to know Americans embrace crap as well as we do.
Watched 'Heroes' last night but I'm completely lost and don't think it's worth trying to catch up.
Bereft Skerrick, it's much the same story with KAK, but if you're not careful, in addition to the "Ba....sne....ra.....ku.....sti...", you occasionaly get a freeze when her bosoms are in mid-swing and her face has slid sideways. Not pretty. Elderly Celebrities should insist on "No Freeze" clauses in their contracts. A seldom mentioned down side to high definition and digital. If you get a big TV you can see every single one of Samantha Armitage's nostril hairs at 4:30 pm. If you so desire.

by darren on November 05, 2009 at 06:00 AM

Darren, your description of Martha Stewart made me relive this weeks ep of True Blood where a Demon made a rather bloody Heart Souffle. Turned me off food for at least an hour. And gave me weird thoughts for a potential new program, "Masterchef with Zombies". They could get Bert Newton to host!

by em on November 05, 2009 at 07:36 AM

That's not bad for "...... CAROLINE BYRNE". Over a million. Also MasterChef is building. Will next weeks semi's draw over 1.5?

by Tim on November 05, 2009 at 08:34 AM

Watched The Samuai-Shintaro (a real hero of mine waaaaaayyyy back) on SBS last night, almost brought tears to my eyes remembering what we did & who we nearly maimed with poorly made star knives!!!! Hadn't even thought about the race issue re the Japanese. A good segway then to John Saffron's race show. Had a real sense of shrinkage when he visited the circumcism reversal man ....... ahhhhh, that did bring tears to my eyes!! Also now I can't get the "if I was a rich man...diddle, diddle, diddle, dee" out of my brain! Taped (yes vhs) the Caroline Byrne Ch10 show & recorded S&S & Hungry Beast for later viewing.

by PJ453 on November 05, 2009 at 09:20 AM

I cant believe that the SBS doco on one of the watershed moments of Australian TV in the "babyboom" 60's didnt rate a mention in the ratings chart. I speak of course of the clouds of flying star knives, of the leaping backwards into trees, of the clouds of blinding flash powder and hours of poorly dubbed medieval Japanese noble spirit that was Shintaro. Even at my age I loves me some running on water and hiding behind rice paper screens to avoid clouds of shuriken. Those were the days.
Shintaro aside (I PVR'd Heros for later viewing) I did watch Masterchef. Not sure about Alex Lloyd's winning. I think they felf sorry him having come from the UK to participate - couldnt dump him first go. Think Shirl are really pushing it with MC - there is regular MC, "celebrity" MC and now talk of a kids MC, (possibly taking the place of 5th Grader) not to mention the Ramsey abortion from the US which I am sure they will embrace. Could MC be the new Two and a Half Men and be on every night of the week? I hope not!

Tribal Mind replies: It's there now. He's certainly a bigger hero than Heroes.

by ozinoz on November 05, 2009 at 09:36 AM

Downloaded a new eppisode of Doc Martin last nite, what a great show !!
Great story, great pictures, great acting

by Don on November 05, 2009 at 09:59 AM

Don (re Doc Martin) - where from?? Everybody mentions d/l of tv episodes but I can never find them. Would love to see the latest Dexter series with John Lithgow that will probably never see FTA time here

by ozinoz on November 05, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Oh damn! Forgot about the Shintaro special. Will have to see if SBS 2 have it on another night. I loved that show when I was a kid. I remember my mum even making me a samurai outfit and me having plastic star knives that I used to run around the backyard throwing at everything. Even our poor dogs!
Can't imagine kids of today being allowed to play samurai these days. Someone might get hurt. Or offended. Or something.
But it sure was fun!
As to Masterchef last night. I thought the comedian guy should have won. I thought he did better all round. But knew Alex Lloyd would the moment he said he had trouble reading etc. Sympathy vote.
And the Caroline Byrne thing was quite good I thought. Well done and acted. And thought it would have rated better than City Homicide. Still, nice one Ten.

by em on November 05, 2009 at 11:09 AM

em, I would watch "Zombie Masterchef" in a flash. Braaaaaaaaaains! And I gave my nephew a Nerf dart gun for his eighth birthday the other day, and the first target was his sister's bunny rabbit. Foam bullets may not be the same as plastic shuriken, but kids will be kids.
darren, a jockey, eh? You don't say? Wonders never cease! :)
I don't seem to have turned on the TV last night. *twitch* How peculiar. *twitch*

by tqd on November 05, 2009 at 12:52 PM

Ah Shintaro and Tombai Mist (have no idea how to spell that) and what we used to call the inga ninjas. The good ole da s. Sorrie about the spelling - I vacuumed the keiboard and sucked up some letters.
Shame mi set top box has given up on SbS...

by Shoopie on November 05, 2009 at 04:58 PM

OMG. Australia Beauty and Teh Geek. Geek makeover night. Geeks are now oompa loompas and ready for their next challenge where they will fit in quite easily. On the set of Home & Away, with two of the shows actors (quoth "Am I meant to know who these people are" of the formerly curlyheaded geek) This is the first time I've suffered the Oz version, with the seemingly newly metrosexualled Bernard Curry. I swear if anyone ever came near Mr Skerrick with a pot of wax and hair straightening irons I'd moider them.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 05, 2009 at 08:09 PM

Shoopie: I've never seen keyboard letters blocking a vacuum hose. Clothes pegs, beer bottle lids, budgie bells, toothpicks, twigs, toy soldiers, lacy g-strings. But never keyboard letters.
Closer to topic, Bert Newton. Lampoon him as we do, I think his flipping of his toupee today for the Don Lane memorial service was one of the most genuine and heartfelt things I've ever seen. Discuss.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 05, 2009 at 09:19 PM

Ah yes, Moderately Attractive and the Geek. Dear god it's a train wreck. Mr Beckala saw about five minutes of it last night for the first time, before he ran screaming from the room. Found it quite amusing when "aspiring actress" Moderately Attractive was nearly hyperventilating at meeting... Ada Nicodemou! Wow, will she ever recover from that amazing moment?! Miss Congeniality Moderately Attractive (and what does that even mean, Miss Congeniality? We don't really have beauty pageants here, and the only other reference I can think of is the Sandra Bullock movie...)anyway, Miss Congeniality was overwhelmed by Ada's talent, saying "She was just absolutely incredible". Hmmm. I guess if you've spent your whole life rehearsing "I wish for world peace" in front of the mirror, you are easily impressed by other's talent. But my favourite line of the night was when the winning pair (oh, i can't even be bothered to remember the nickname of the other Moderately Attractive now, it's Friday dammit!) were figuring out who they were going to vote for. "If we go STRATEGICAL, we should vote off Emma". That's it lovey, go STRATEGICAL!!

On the other hand, Glee was truly fabulous. Puck with Rachel was funny... and hot! And who doesn't love a bit of Neil Diamond? Whenever I hear Neil Diamond, it always reminds me of Tony Martin on the Late Show talking about how, when listening to Crunchy Granola Suite and being convinced to go buy tickets to his concert to hear the "Good Lord!" line, only for Mr Diamond to neglect to sing it.

Ms Skerrick, I am in agreement with you over Bert's tribute to Don Lane. What's horrid is so many people are bagging him for it, when it was a tribute to one of his closest friends. Makes me think sometimes we (as in the Australian public) are just too damn quick to want to get an insult in - sometimes you can let moments go by without making a petty comment!

by Beckala on November 06, 2009 at 06:45 AM

Bereft, re Bert and his hair. I thought it was a wonderful touching moment. Brought a tear to the eye, it did! I know we pick on the old guy but I do think we all respect and admire him and all he gave to TV in this country. But I still think he should take himself off the screens now. Enough is enough and some people just don't know when to retire.

by em on November 06, 2009 at 08:19 AM

Re Bert Newton exposing himself in public.... I dunno about that but the whole Don Lane mourning period seems to me to have been touching and genuine and mercifully free of all the Dead Celebrity hysteria to which we've become accustomed. It's like people actually liked him or something.
Why doesn't Bert just go bald and get it over with? We've noticed it's not his real hair at this stage. Because it comes off. Real hair doesn't come off and go back on.
On another topic which no-one may give a rat's about, has it occured to anyone else that K Rudd's recent slip in the (one) opinion polls may have been engineered by the PM's Department a'la 'Hollowmen'? Conveniently allows him to act all tough and assert that he's doing what's unpopular and Right instead of what's popular and racist and unkind the silly dickhead. Just a thought....

by darren on November 06, 2009 at 08:39 AM

Who's the hottie, TM?

Tribal Mind replies: Ali Larter, the best thing about Heroes.

by Wendell on November 06, 2009 at 09:21 AM

A missed headline (that in itself's a pun) "Bert dips his lid for Don". Bert would have known the gala was being filmed...so well done, now just continue with the removing of both hairpiece & self from our screens knowing that a job well done has been made.
darren, it would seem that Martha Stewart has already scared away many, many people looking at the figures above. Luke Nugeyn's cooking show is easy to watch, except the colours seem really bright.
Remembered one of my earlist "sexual" jokes on seeing Shintaro : Why didn't Tombei have any children?.......because always Tombei Mist!! It that the sound of a cricket I hear????

by PJ453 on November 06, 2009 at 12:09 PM

Can't believe Beauty and the Geek is turning into such a hit. On the other hand, the abundance of Aussie cop/rescue shows has hurt Rush as well as City Homicide and Rescue Special Ops.

by J Bar on November 06, 2009 at 12:23 PM

darren: you're absolutely right about the lack of hysteria regarding the death of Don Lane. No paparazzi attempting to get casket photos, it's as if dying of a disease of (usually) old age is about the only way one can get a respectful death. Stab yourself with a stingray, then it's open season.

by Bereft Skerrick on November 06, 2009 at 12:35 PM

PJ453: "Bert Told to Keep His Hair On as Lanky Yank Prank Ruins Stroll Down Memory Lane".
Sorry.

by darren on November 06, 2009 at 01:01 PM

On Friday Nov. 27 the ABC replaces "Midsomer Murders" with repeats of "Wire in the Blood". I suppose that means that this is the first week of the non-rating period.

by Gary on November 07, 2009 at 12:27 PM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

The Who We Are update: Week 45

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