Channel Seven well ahead of rival networks as hot teens and chefs flourish
AN amateur cooking competition and a down-home Aussie soap — both program formats available on rival channels, only Seven it seems does it better.
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AN amateur cooking competition and a down-home Aussie soap — both program formats available on rival channels, only Seven it seems does it better.
A little over halfway through the year, and with the Olympics still to come, Channel Seven has already won the free-to-air ratings battle, marking a decade of domination.
The network chalked up its 19th week of ratings’ victories last week, winning the year over nearest rival Nine and third-place getter Channel Ten, a position it puts down to the success of My Kitchen Rules and the longevity of Home and Away.
MKR, Seven’s “gateway” juggernaut that originated to counter Ten’s MasterChef back in 2011, raised its viewer average to 1.5 million this year to easily earn the title of Australia’s most-watched program across its 48-episode run.
But it’s the soap Home and Away, now in its 26th year, that continues to serve as the backbone of the network, according to program bosses who admit they continue to be stunned by the show’s ratings average of 1.3 million an episode.
In contrast, the Ten network’s Neighbours now averages just under 200,000 viewers.
Such is the success of Home and Away, Seven scheduling head Brook Hall jokes that the network is considering producing two versions of it. “We’d always love another Home and Away,” said Hall, who describes the show as a “once in a lifetime” phenomenon that is a rare example of a show immune to a timeslot change or axing speculation.
“If anything, the only thing we talk about in regards to that show is how we can have more of it. It sets the night up perfectly for us and provides us with reach across so many different demographics. Any network would kill to have it and we don’t take that for granted.”
Former Packed To The Rafters regular James Stewart, who joined Home and Away this year as the patriarch of the new Morgan family, said he has been stunned by the reaction from fans of the show, who approach him “in every city”.
“Sometimes they just want to know what football team I follow, but it just amazes me how many people watch the show and what ages they range from,” Stewart said. “I have friends in Ireland who hang on every episode.”
Seven, meanwhile, has achieved its unassailable lead with an overall audience share of 29.9 per cent over Nine (26.1), with Ten a distant third with 19.3 per cent. A normal ratings year spans 40 weeks. However an Olympic year is measured in 38
Seven has now claimed 19 weeks and will easily account for both weeks of the Olympics, an event that is traditionally a ratings goldmine.
Nine, in comparison, has won just four. However, the network is hopeful the return of home-reno performer The Block will account for a stronger second half of the year.
A Nine rep said the network was pleased with the ratings of its 6pm news and NRL coverage.
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