Viewers not as keen on Kevin's kitchen

AUSTRALIANS are less interested in Kevin Rudd’s cooking skills than Tony Abbott’s.

AUSTRALIANS are less interested in Kevin RuddÂ’s cooking skills than Tony AbbottÂ’s.

The Prime Minister’s culinary exploits on Annabel Crabb’s ABC1 series Kitchen Cabinet averaged 892,000 metro viewers on another strong night for ABC1. That was slightly less than the previous night’s episode featuring Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, which averaged 921,000 viewers.

To be fair, Thursday generally attracts a smaller TV viewing audience than Wednesday. And last night’s schedule was confused somewhat by Nine’s Thursday Night NRL coverage of the Broncos' win over the Bulldogs (540,000 in Sydney and Brisbane).

Nine won the night with a 23.0 per cent share ahead of Seven’s 10.5 per cent and ABC1’s 13.8 per cent. But Seven won in Adelaide and Perth and was only one channel share point behind Nine in Brisbane.

The hour from 6pm on Seven and Nine had the four highest-ranking programs with Nine News on top with 1.214 million viewers, ahead of Seven News (1.192 million).

As if by, er, magic, Seven’s acquisition from pay-TV, Dynamo: Magician Impossible, delivered its fourth consecutive 900,000-plus audience (938,000) to be the top-ranking entertainment program of the night. And Seven’s Home and Away double episode averaged 901,000 metro viewers.

ABC1’s strong night was anchored by its news (936,000) and another strong result for the improved 7.30 (792,000).

The ABC1 comedy hour of Upper Middle Bogan (881,000) and It’s A Date (722,000) also delivered, with Upper Middle Bogan rising to its best audience since its launch.

On Ten, Save With Jamie averaged 596,000 ahead of Law & Order: SVU’s 521,000 and 511,000.

Big Brother had 786,000 on Nine and another 433,000 for its screening on GO!.

On pay-TV, Fox Footy’s dominance continued with AFL 360 rising to 121,000 ahead of the first week of finals.

OZTAM OVERNIGHT RANKINGS, SEPTEMBER 5
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,214,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,192,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 994,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 951,000
5 DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE Seven 938,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 936,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 901,000
8 KITCHEN CABINET ABC1 892,000
9 UPPER MIDDLE BOGAN ABC1 881,000
10 7.30 ABC1 792,000
11 BIG BROTHER Nine 786,000
12 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 786,000
13 IT'S A DATE ABC1 722,000
14 HOT SEAT Nine 673,000
15 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 610,000
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