Television in Australia - Ratings

Ratings

Further information: Television ratings in Australia

Australian prime time television ratings (major cities)

Network	2008	2009	2010
ABC	14.2%	14.0%	13.8%
C31	2.6%	2.0%	2.6%
Seven	24.2%	23.0%	23.5%
Nine	21.9%	21.9%	22.7%
Ten	17.0%	18.4%	17.3%
SBS	4.6%	4.8%	4.6%
Pay TV	15.5%	15.9%	15.5%

Television ratings in Australia are collected by three main organisations: OzTAM in metropolitan areas, Regional TAM in regional areas serviced by three commercial television networks, and in areas with two commercial networks, Nielsen Media Research Australia.

Ratings are collected for 40 weeks during the year, excluding a two-week break during Easter and ten weeks over summer. The majority of locally produced comedy and drama on commercial networks is shown during the ratings period.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Nine Network has been the ratings leader in Australia, typically followed by the Seven Network and Network Ten. Subscription television and the two national broadcasters, ABC and in particular SBS TV, due to its special-interest nature, typically attract fewer viewers than the three commercial networks. Network Ten, due to its programming line-up, has traditionally been the market leader for younger viewers.

The 2007 ratings period has so far been unique in that, for the first time since 2000, the Seven Network has overtaken its rival Nine Network in terms of average viewers. ABC has also, since the early 2000s, seen ratings (as well as audience reach) as a major performance indicator – this has, however, led to a decline in viewers rather than the expected increase. The Nine Network has, in the past, aggressively marketed its long-time ratings dominance through its promotional campaign "Still the One", which they no longer use.

For the second year in a row, the Seven Network have finished on top of the ratings, mainly due to its strong programming line-up which includes the 2008 Summer Olympics, Packed to the Rafters and City Homicide amongst others.