anthony albanese labor
Labor leader Anthony Albanese (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

I know I will be heckled for saying this but it’s a pretty poor state of affairs for the ALP when Q+A (and especially Jacqui Lambie) make more sense on the budget than Albo.

Albo’s address in reply to the budget averaged 491,000. Joshie’s Tuesday night effort averaged 615,000 — as it should, after all he’s the man with the hands on the money levers. Albo’s offering was just the usual collection of gunna’s and wouldas. Apart from Lambie’s contribution, Q+A could have been Albo’s address in reply in many voices (370,000 watched). Lambie had the passion, Albo had the half hour and it drained away.

Seven won the night because its 6pm news hour averaged 1.48 million. Nine’s hour averaged 1.16 million. Home Away (816,000 nationally) dominated too. MasterChef got 747,000 nationally with no opposition. Not good enough.

The final half hour of The Chase Australia from 5.30 pm is the lead-up for Seven until prime-time ratings start at 6pm. Last night that half hour was the seventh most watched slot nationally. That says all you need to know about what was aired last night across the networks.

Network channel share:

  1. Seven (30.7%)
  2. Nine (24.7%)
  3. Ten (20.1%)
  4. ABC (14.3%)
  5. SBS (9.9%)


Network main channels:

  1. Seven (20.4%)
  2. Nine (16.9%)
  3. Ten (13.1%)
  4. ABC (9.5%)
  5. SBS ONE (6.0%)


Top 5 digital channels: 

  1. 7mate (4.2%)
  2. 7TWO (3.9%)
  3. 10 Bold (3.4%)
  4. 10 Peach (3.0%))
  5. GO (2.9%)


Top 10 national programs:

  1. Seven News — 1.510 million
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 1.440 million
  3. Nine News  — 1.142 million
  4. Nine News  6.30 — 1.128 million
  5. A Current Affair (Nine) — 941,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 919,000
  7. The Chase Australia 5.30pm (Seven) — 843,000
  8. Home and Away (Seven) — 816,000
  9. Masterchef Australia (Ten) — 747,000
  10. Hot Seat (Nine) — 628,000


Top metro programs: None with a million or more viewers


Losers: Masterchef.
Metro news and current affairs:

  1. Seven News —968,000
  2. Seven News 6.30 — 934,000
  3. Nine News  — 886,000
  4. Nine News 6.30 — 873,000
  5. ACA (Nine) — 689,000
  6. 7pm ABC News — 619,00
  7. The Project 7pm (Ten) — 431,000
  8. Ten News First — 363,000
  9. The Project 6.30pm (Ten) — 337,000
  10. Opposition Leader’s Budget Address In Reply (ABC) — 280,000


Morning (National) TV:

  1. Sunrise (Seven) — 448,000/274,000
  2. Today (Nine) — 309,000/209,000
  3. News Breakfast (ABC) — 261,000/178,000
  4. The Morning Show (Seven) — 208,000
  5. Today Extra (Nine) — 150,000
  6. Studio 10 (Ten) — 70,000


Top five pay TV programs:

  1. Aussie Gold Hunters (Discovery) — 79,000
  2. The bolt Report (Sky News) — 62,000
  3. Paul Murray Live (Sky News) — 53,000
  4. Alan Jones, Credlin (Sky News) — 49,000