November 30th, 2009 9:40 pm

2009 Ratings Wrap: Network Ten

A wrap up of the Network Ten’s 2009 ratings highlights, including the top programs on Ten and sports channel One.

The only network with year-on-year gains in total people share and audience – seriously!

TEN’s chief programming officer, David Mott:

“TEN’s 2009 line-up has delivered in spades, providing some of the year’s most memorable TV moments and significantly expanding the Network’s audience profile.

We have cemented our position as the clear leader in 16-39 and daytime and we end the year as the only Network with year-on-year gains in our total people share and audience.

This year, our strengthened line-up produced the three most watched programs of 2009, as well as a raft of hit new shows – including local productions of MasterChef Australia, the hilarious Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation and Recruits. We also introduced an exciting new international line-up headed by Merlin, Lie To Me, the musical comedy Glee and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Throughout the year, we continued to build our online audience, offering viewers more opportunities to connect with their favourite television brands. This year, we delivered more unique content than ever before and achieved impressive traffic growth across our suite of sites. In 2010, as more of our key franchises tap into the online market, TEN is well positioned to become the leading commercial network for catch-up TV with the rights to stream over 40 programs.

2010 is set to be another exciting year for Network Ten. All our favourite programs return together with the pick of new US shows including the hilariously funny Modern Family, the highly anticipated drama series The Good Wife and the new animated Family Guy spin-off, The Cleveland Show.

We also have a number of new local productions heading to the Network in 2010 including Junior MasterChef, dramas Hawke and Offspring, as well as 12 days of Commonwealth Games coverage live from Delhi.

Our strengthened domestic and international line-up of proven favourites and exciting new shows puts us in a strong position to deliver increased depth and consistency across the schedule, through to the Commonwealth Games and beyond.”

Network Ten Total (TEN + ONE):

• Network Ten Total (TEN + ONE combined) wins the year in prime-time in 18-49 with a 33.7% share
• Network Ten Total (TEN + ONE combined) wins the year in prime-time in 16-39 with a 37.0% share

TEN (primary channel):

• TEN wins the year in prime-time in 16-39 and under 50s
• TEN has commercial share gains in all key demographics (see 2009 v 2008 Shares: 6pm-10:30pm Commercial Primary Networks table on page 2)
• TEN is competitive in 18-49 with a 33.5% share; Year- on-year share in 18-49 is up by 2.9%; Year-on-year audience in 18-49 is up by 1.5%
• TEN wins 16-39 for 9th straight year; Year-on-year share in 16-39 is up by 2.7%
• TEN’s year-on-year share in 25-54 is up by 4.7%; year- on-year audience in 25-54 is up by 4.9%
• TEN’s year-on-year total share is up by 5.5%; Year-on- year audience is up by 4.0%
• TEN wins the year in daytime; TEN News At Five is the year’s top regular daytime program
• TEN delivers the top 3 shows of 2009: MasterChef Australia – The Winner Announced, MasterChef Australia – Finale Night and The AFL Grand Final

Note: Network Ten Total is the combination of TEN and ONE across 5 mainland capital cities. Primary Network Figures exclude digital terrestrial channels. Network Total Figures include digital terrestrial channels.

Program Highlights:

• TEN delivers five hit new shows: MasterChef Australia, Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation, Merlin, Recruits and Lie To Me
• MasterChef Australia – The Winner Announced is the year’s #1 show with 3.73 million viewers, becoming Australia’s most watched non-sporting event since OzTAM ratings began in 2001
• The AFL Grand Final is the most-watched sporting event of 2009 with 2.88 million viewers; highest rating AFL Grand Final in Melbourne on record
• Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation is Australia’s favourite comedy series with an average audience of 1.60 million viewers
• Merlin is Australia’s favourite new international drama with an average audience of 1.36 million viewers
• NCIS is Australia’s favourite US drama with an average audience of 1.45 million viewers
• TEN leads in ‘big event’ TV.
• Franchise finales peaked at:
  • MasterChef Australia – 4.11 million
  • The Biggest Loser Australia – 2.34m
  • Australian Idol – 1.71m
  • So You Think You Can Dance Australia – 1.67 million

2009 v 2008 Shares: 6pm–10:30pm

Commercial Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

6:00pm–10:30 pm (Zone 1)

Commercial Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

Commercial Network Totals (inc digital terrestrial channels)

Free to Air Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

Free to Air Network Totals (inc digital terrestrial channels)

6:00pm–midnight

Commercial Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

Commercial Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

Free to Air Primary Networks (exc digital terrestrial channels)

Free to Air Primary Networks (inc digital terrestrial channels)

2009 timeslot winners, 18–49 (CSHR)

• MasterChef Australia – Challenge (48.8%)
• Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation (47.7%)
• MasterChef Australia (46.9%)
• Ten News at Five (46.6%)
• Glee (41.8%)
• Rove (41.3%)
• So You Think You Can Dance Australia (40.5%)
• Ten News at Five Sat (40.3%)
• The Biggest Loser – Weigh In (39.9%)
• Celebrity MasterChef Australia (38.8%)
• Merlin (38.4%) Bondi Rescue (38.4%)
• Recruits (38.3%)
• The Biggest Loser (Tues –Fri) (38.0%)
• NCIS (37.7%)
• The Biggest Loser – Elimination (36.5%)
• Lie To Me (36.2%) House (35.7%)
• The All New Simpsons Fri (34.2%)
• Rules of Engagement (34.0%)

2009 top 20 programs (18–49)

2009 timeslot winners, 16–39 (CSHR)

• MasterChef Australia – Challenge (51.9%)
• Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation (50.9%)
• Ten News at Five (50.3%)
• MasterChef Australia (49.6%)
• Glee (47.9%)
• So You Think You Can Dance Australia (46.8%)
• Rove (46.6%)
• The Biggest Loser – Weigh In (44.1%)
• Ten News at Five Sat (41.9%)
• Celebrity MasterChef Australia (41.5%)
• Merlin (41.2%)
• The All New Simpsons Fri (40.8%)
• The Biggest Loser (Tues-Fri) (40.7%)
• Bondi Rescue (40.7%)
• The Simpsons Tues (40.6%)
• Rules of Engagement (39.7%)
• House (39.7%)
• The Biggest Loser – Elimination (39.5%)
• Neighbours (39.4%)
• The All New Simpsons Wed (39.3%)
• Supernatural (38.9%)
• The Simpsons (Mon-Fri) (38.4%)
• NCIS (38.3%)
• Rules of Engagement rpt (38.3%)
• Lie To Me (37.0%)
• The Biggest Loser US (36.8%)
• Sports Tonight Sat (36.3%)
• The Simpsons Wed (35.5%)
• Good News Week (35.5%)
• Little Britain USA (34.9%)

2009 top 20 programs (16–39)

2009 Total People Timeslot winners: Prime-time, Daytime and News (CSHR)

• Friends rpt (66.3%)
• Huey’s Cooking Adventures (63.9%)
• Dharma & Greg (63.7%)
• Everybody Loves Raymond rpt (63.3%)
• Judge Judy (52.9%)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (45.4%)
• Ten News At Five (42.6%)
• MasterChef Australia – Challenge (41.6%)
• MasterChef Australia (40.9%)
• Talking’ ’bout Your Generation (40.1%)
• Ten News At Five Sat (39.7%)
• Recruits (36.7%)
• Merlin (35.3%)
• Ten News At Five Sun (34.0%)

2009 top 20 programs (total people)

Commercial Share Percentage Variance –  Weeks 7 – 48 (2008 v 2009)

*(Excl Easter and Olympics) Sun-Sat 1800-2230

Australia’s no. 1 sports channel

General Manager, Sport, David White:

“Since its launch on 26 March, ONE has cemented itself as an important part of Australians’ viewing habits. In its first year, ONE has earned its position as Australia’s No. 1 sports channel, broadcasting some of 2009’s great sporting moments: from Mark Webber’s first Formula One Grand Prix Championship, to Cadel Evans’s victorious ride in the World Championship Road Race.

Without a doubt, the sporting highlight of 2009 was the AFL Grand Final match-up between Geelong and St Kilda. Broadcast on TEN and ONE, the Grand Final was watched by 2.88 million people and is Australia’s most-watched sports event of the year.*

In 2010, fans can look forward to even more sports action on ONE with the Formula One Grand Prix, the IPL Cricket tournament, the UCI World Cycling Championship, five weekly games of the ANZ Netball Championship and the MotoGP, which for the first time will be live and exclusive to ONE. 2010 will also see the return of our favourite locally- produced sports shows including the superb One Week At A Time and Thursday Night Live, as well as a nightly dose of Sports Tonight.

In 2010, Network Ten also has the year’s biggest sporting event on Australian television with the 2010 Commonwealth Games live from Delhi. Over 12 exciting days TEN and ONE will broadcast more than 30 sporting events, as well as live coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies.

ONE is in a strong position with these returning favourites and some exciting new events joining our line up, setting ONE on a course for further growth in 2010.”

Highlights of 2009:

• ONE is the No. 1 sports channel on Australian television, reaching 7.4 million people and over half of all households in our five-city metro markets
• ONE reaches 2.5 million people every week, higher than the combined reach of Fox Sports 1, 2 and 3
• ONE’s Netball coverage has reached 3.2 million people
• ONE’s Formula One World Championship coverage has reached 3.1 million people
• ONE’s IPL Cricket coverage has reached 2.7 million people
• ONE has developed a strong line-up of locally produced sports programs:
• Sports Tonight on ONE has an average audience of 34,000 viewers (with a reach of 117,000)
• One Week At A Time has an average audience of 80,000 viewers (with a reach of 245,000 )
• Thursday Night Live has an average audience of 59,000 viewers (with a reach of 337,000)

ONE’s Top 20 Programs (Total People):

ONE Audience Profile (All Day)

*Wks 16-48 2009

Cumulative Reach Percentage by Week

*Wks 16-48 2009 Total People 5 City Metro

• ONE has reached over half of all people and is still growing
• Fox Sports’ reach levels off due to lower penetration of Pay TV in metropolitan homes

Ten: OzTAM survey weeks 7-48, 2009 v 2008, excl Easter and Olympic Games. Metro commercial prime-time (18:00-22:30) share, Sun-Sat; Metro commercial daytime (09:00-18:00) share, Mon-Fri. Unless otherwise noted, all figures relate to metro (5 mainland capital cities).

One: OzTAM 5 City Metro survey weeks 16-48, 2009. Audience figures are reported for unique programming content. All simulcast programming (TEN and ONE HD) is reported solely as a combined number shown in TEN’s viewing figures. There is no separate ratings data available for ONE HD when programming is simulcast with TEN. Reach figures based on one minute reach.

Source: Network Ten