The Nine network won the 2019 ratings year in total people for the first time since 2006. The network also won all key demographic groups and secures the number one primary channel.
The following information provided by Nine. Note that the network shares quoted are for consolidated-28 days where available and in some cases “exclude Commonwealth Games”.
No. 1 Network All Key Demographics
- No. 1 Network Total People
- No. 1 Primary Channel All Key Demographics and Total People
- No. 1 Commercial Free-to-air BVOD: 9Now
- No. 1 Overall Program: State of Origin Game 1
- No. 1 Overall Regular Program: Married at First Sight
- No. 1 New Program: LEGO Masters
- No. 1 & No. 2 Reality Series: Married at First Sight & The Block
- No. 1 & No. 2 & No. 3 Light Entertainment Series: Lego Masters, Australian Ninja Warrior & The Voice
- No. 1 Comedy Program: Hamish & Andy’s “Perfect” Holiday
- No. 1 Sports Program: State of Origin
- No. 1 Weekly Public Affairs Program: 60 Minutes
- No. 1 Daily Public Affairs Program: A Current Affair
- No. 1 Multichannel Program: The Ashes (4th Test, Day 5, Session 1)
With the official ratings survey period wrapping up overnight, Nine is celebrating its best ratings share performance of all time.
Key to the network’s success is a year-round schedule of premium Australian content that has once again delivered proven consistency of audience across all advertiser-preferred demographics.
It is this reliable slate of family-friendly programming that sees Nine crowned Australia’s No. 1 network for 2019 with the demographics most highly sought after – People 25-54, People 16-39 and Grocery Shoppers with Children.
Nine’s primary channel also ranks as Australia’s most watched channel in 2019 with all key demographics.
Furthermore, Nine also secured the greatest number of viewers (Total People) for both its primary channel and network share.
Nine can also lay claim to the highest rating program of the year, with the first State of Origin game between NSW and Queensland securing a national linear broadcast average audience of 3.230 million viewers (Metro: 2.192 million/Regional: 1.038 million).
Michael Healy, Director of Television for Nine, said: “We are immensely proud to have had not only our best year in OzTAM history, but also to have once again delivered on the audience we program our content for: the key demographics of 25-54s, 16-39s and Grocery Shoppers with Child.
“2019 has seen us consistently deliver with the biggest shows of the year, be it a powerhouse like Married at First Sight , the breakout new hit show of 2019 in LEGO Masters , or audiences favourites like The Voice , Australian Ninja Warrior and The Block , which have all deeply resonated with audiences across TV and also on 9Now.”
Michael Stephenson, Chief Sales Officer for Nine, said: “Four years ago we made the strategic decision to focus on the thing that matters most to advertisers – the key demographics. We are pleased to have won another year in the key demographics, driven by the most consistent slate of premium content that engages millions of Australians every week, across every platform.”
Nine’s spectacular year began with the Australian Open , signalling the biggest ever shake- up in sports broadcast rights in this country. The prestigious event delivered two weeks of consistently high audiences and gave Nine a flying start to the year.
The men’s final, in which Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets, secured a national linear broadcast average audience of 2.368 million (Metro: 1.739 million/Regional: 630,000).
The women’s final, in which Naomi Osaka defeated Petra Kvitova, attracted a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.604 million (Metro: 1.179 million/Regional: 426,000). This represented an 11.5% increase on the average Total People audience that tuned in to the women’s final of the 2018 Australian Open. With People 25-54, the average audience was up by 20.2% on 2018, and with People 16-39 the average audience was up by 31.9%.
The Australian Open provided the perfect launch pad for Nine’s ratings year, which saw each of our 7.30pm tentpole programs dominate their timeslots. It is these proven pillars of consistency that have driven Nine’s success across the entire year.
MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT
For the second year in a row MAFS has cemented its place as Australia’s No.1 series. No other show on television dominates the national conversation the way MAFS does.
MAFS secured a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.948 million viewers per episode (Metro: 1.457 million/Regional: 491,000). The finale culminated with a national linear broadcast average audience of 2.798 million viewers (Metro: 2.110 million/Regional: 688,000), making it the No. 1 non-sports program of 2019.
Throughout this season the program also delivered impressive television audience growth for Nine, particularly in the key demographics of People 25-54.
| Average Audience | P25-54 | P16-39 | Grocery Shopper + Child | Total Individuals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 957,000 | 573,000 | 456,000 | 1,855,000 |
| 2019 | 1,005,000 | 575,000 | 466,000 | 1,948,000 |
| Change | +5.02% | +0.42% | +2.35% | +5.01% |
Source: OzTAM 5CM & Regional TAM Regional Agg (incl. WA), Consolidated 28, Married at First Sight ex encores, Season 6 (28/01/2019- 8/04/2019); Married at First Sight, Season 5 (29/01/2018 - 21/03/2018), Average Audience, Total Individuals/P25-54/P16-39/GS+Child
Compared with last year, Season 6 is well ahead in terms of performance across digital, increasing significantly across all key VPM metrics.
| Series VPM | LIVE VPM | VOD VPM | Total Minutes | Total Stream Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10,000 | 240,000 | 510,261,000 | 13,054,000 |
| 2019 | 32,000 | 352,000 | 955,719,000 | 26,653,000 |
| Change | +69% | +32% | +47% | +51% |
Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Married at First Sight, Season 6 (28/01/2019 - 8/04/2019); Married at First Sight, Season 5 (29/01/2018 - 21/03/2018), Duration: 15min+
Its cross-platform average audience came in at more than 2.5 million viewers per episode (across overnight, time-shifted viewing and VPM streaming on 9Now), representing a 10% Total Viewing increase on 2018.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,697,000 | 158,000 | 261,000 | 10,000 | 240,000 | 2,366,000 |
| 2019 | 1,780,000 | 159,000 | 269,000 | 32,000 | 352,000 | 2,592,000 |
| Change | +5% | +1% | +3% | +220% | +47% | +10% |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 28/01/19-08/04/19 & 29/01/18-29/03/18 “Married at First Sight” AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19. OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Married at First Sight, Season 6 (28/01/2019 - 8/04/2019); Married at First Sight, Season 5 (29/01/2018 - 21/03/2018), Duration: 15min+
LEGO MASTERS
LEGO Masters burst onto our screens in 2019 and quickly established itself as the breakout, smash-hit new program of the year. A fresh, dynamic and energetic format, LEGO Masters was a game-changer in free-to-air television.
With a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.894 million viewers per episode (Metro: 1.393 million/Regional: 501,000), LEGO Masters is the highest rating new series launch since Australian Ninja Warrior in 2017.
The “Winner Announced” segment of the final episode clocked in with a massive national linear broadcast average audience of 2.473 million viewers (Metro: 1.852 million/Regional: 621,000)
Its cross-platform average audience registered 2.353 million viewers per episode.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,543,000 | 335,000 | 357,000 | 9,000 | 109,000 | 2,353,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 28/04/19-10/05/19 “Lego Masters”, AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19. OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Lego Masters, Season 1 (28/04/2019 - 14/05/2019), Duration: 15min+
THE VOICE
The world’s biggest and most enduring singing contest, The Voice , celebrated its eighth series in Australia 2019. The Voice delivered a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.415 million viewers per episode (Metro: 1.027 million/Regional: 388,000), with 1.479 million viewers tuning in to the “Winner Announced” segment of the final episode (Metro:
1.080 million/Regional: 399,000).
Its cross-platform average audience came in at 1.78 million viewers per episode.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,323,000 | 102,000 | 248,000 | 16,000 | 91,000 | 1,780,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 18/02/19-09/04/19 “The Voice”, AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19. Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, The Voice, Season 8 (19/05/2019 - 7/07/2019), Duration: 15min+
AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR
For its third series, Australian Ninja Warrior headed south to Melbourne, where it drew a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.440 million viewers per episode (Metro:
1.038 million/Regional: 402,000), with 1.980 million viewers tuning in to the “Winner Announced” segment of the final episode (Metro: 1.431 million/Regional: 550,000).
Its cross-platform average audience secured 1.731 million viewers per episode.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,359,000 | 111,000 | 208,000 | 10,000 | 43,000 | 1,731,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), Season 3 (8/07/2019 - 30/07/2019 “Australian Ninja Warrior”, AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19. Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Australian Ninja Warrior, Season 3 (8/07/2019 - 29/07/2019), Duration: 15min+
THE BLOCK
In 2019, The Block celebrated an incredible 15th series. And Australia’s longest-running reality series is showing no signs of slowing down, with a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.409 million viewers per episode (Metro: 1.038 million/Regional: 371,000). The “Winner Announced” segment of the grand final achieved a national linear broadcast average audience of 2.655 million viewers (Metro: 1.991 million/Regional: 664,000), making it the second highest rating non-sports program of the year.
Its cross-platform audience averaged 1.698 million viewers per episode.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,273,000 | 117,000 | 197,000 | 16,000 | 95,000 | 1,698,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 04/08/19-20/10/19 “The Block”, AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19 Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, The Block, Season 15 (4/08/2019 - 10/11/2019), Duration: 15min+, - last consolidated as at 29/11/19
TRAVEL GUIDES
In its fourth series, Travel Guides enjoyed its highest ratings to date in 2019. The hilarious program, which sees diverse groups of people experiencing and critiquing the same week- long holiday, had a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.171 million viewers per episode (Metro: 892,000/Regional: 279,000), representing significant year-on-year audience growth.
| Average Audience | P25-54 | P16-39 | Grocery Shopper + Child | Total Individuals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 586,000 | 299,000 | 273,000 | 1,080,000 |
| 2019 | 632,000 | 311,000 | 300,000 | 1,171,000 |
| Change | +7.80% | +4.00% | +10.04% | +8.42% |
Source: OzTAM 5CM & Reg TAM Regional Agg (incl. WA), Consolidated 28, Travel Guides ex encores, Season 3 (5/02/2019 - 2/04/2019); Season 2 (29/01/2018 - 26/03/2018), Nine + Nine Content Affils, Total People, Average Audience.
When cross-platform audiences are taken into account, the average audience per episode increases to 1.549 million.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,016,000 | 155,000 | 303,000 | 11,000 | 64,000 | 1,549,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 05/02/19-26/02/19 “Travel Guides” AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19 Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Travel Guides, Season 3 (5/02/2019 - 2/04/2019), Duration: 15min+
HAMISH & ANDY’S “PERFECT” HOLIDAY
The latest adventures of lifelong friends Hamish Blake and Andy Lee provided the No. 1 comedy program of 2019, with a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.103 viewers per episode (Metro: 801,000/Regional: 302,000) and a cross-platform average audience of 1.221M. These figures will continue to grow in the coming weeks. The final episode of Hamish & Andy’s “Perfect” Holiday goes to air at 7.00pm tonight on Nine.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,221,000 | 120,000 | 155,000 | 9,000 | 66,000 | 1,221,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 17/11/19-02/12/19, “Hamish & Andy Perfect Holiday” [consolidated 7] AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 29/11/19 Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 7 Day to Midnight, Hamish and Andy, Perfect Holiday (5/02/2019 - 28/04/2019), Duration: 15min+ ) - last consolidated as at 29/11/19
SEACHANGE
The reboot of the beloved Australian drama series concluded its 2019 run with a national linear broadcast average audience of 997,000 viewers per episode (Metro: 695,000/Regional: 301,000) and a cross-platform average audience of 1.435 million.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Encores | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 801,000 | 197,000 | 351,000 | 6,000 | 80,000 | 1,435,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 28/Consolidated 28 (encores only), 06/08/19-02/10/19 “Seachange” AUD & Total AUD (encores) - last consolidated as at 27/11/19 Source: OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Seachange, Season 1 (6/08/2019 - 24/09/2019), Duration: 15min+
LOVE ISLAND
The second season of Love Island Australia again set a new benchmark for cross-platform television and digital performance. The show’s national cross-platform audience averaged 713,000 across television and digital.
Love Island Australia also smashed records for digital, with 25 episodes surpassing the 200,000-mark on 9Now – numbers that continue to grow.
| Overnight | Time Shift to 28 | Live VPM | VPM | Total Viewing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 352,000 | 89,000 | 27,000 | 245,000 | 713,000 |
Source: OzTAM (5 City Metro) & Regional TAM (Combined Agg. Mkts), Overnight/Time Shift to 7/Consolidated 7, 7/10/2019 - 14/11/2019 “Love Island Australia” Nine/9GO! + Content Affils AUD & Total AUD - last consolidated as at 27/11/19 OzTAM Live + VOD VPM, Consolidated 28 Day to Midnight, Love Island AU, Season 2 (7/10/2019 - 14/11/2019), Duration: 15min+ - last consolidated as at 29/11/19
NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
Nine News wraps up another year as the most watched bulletin in the two biggest markets, Sydney and Melbourne. In Sydney, the average 6.00pm-7.00pm audience across all seven days for Nine News is 257,000, compared to 233,0000 for Seven News. In Melbourne, the average 6.00pm-7.00pm audience across all seven days for Nine News is 273,000, compared to 266,000 for Seven News.
A Current Affair concludes the 2019 ratings year as the undisputed champion of the 7.00pm timeslot, with a national linear broadcast average audience of 1.023 million viewers per episode (Metro 727,000/Regional: 296,000).
Celebrating its 41st season in 2019, 60 Minutes ends the year as Australia’s No. 1 weekly public affairs program. This year 60 Minutes achieved a national average audience of 1.030 million viewers per episode (Metro: 731,000/Regional: 299,000).