Channel Nine’s AFL Footy Show limping behind Channel Seven’s The Front Bar

CHANNEL Seven’s decision to tackle The Footy Show head on seems to be paying off with The Front Bar building on its viewership last night, while The Footy Show slid in the opposite direction.

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CHANNEL Seven’s decision to tackle The Footy Show head on with their own footy panel program, The Front Bar, seems to be paying off.

For the second week in a row the Channel 7 program has again drawn blood, averaging 189,000 viewers in Melbourne last night.

That’s 20,000 more than the week previous.

Andrew Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang on the set of The Front Bar.

Nine’s The Footy Show, with Craig Hutchison, Rebecca Maddern and Sam Newman, averaged 153,000 down 11,000 viewers.

The Front Bar, with Andrew Maher, Lawrence Mooney and Sam Pang, was also number one in its timeslot for all key demographics.

The AFL Footy Show was down on viewers this week, while The Front Bar was up.

It’s not all good news, with both shows failing to make the Top 10 in Melbourne overnight.

Nine News was number one with 318,000 viewers, followed by Channel Seven News with 293,000.

MasterChef Australia’s elimination challenge also did well, with 291,000 viewers tuning in to see Callan, Tamara and Sarah battle it out.

With a sweet take on sushi, Callan was sent packing.

A Current Affair, Home and Away, The Chase Australia and The Project rounded out the Top 10.