Even though audiences are down, it has still been a big year for free-to-air television. The Top 100 released by OzTAM shows that a new trend has well and truly taken hold – the split coding of shows that are scheduled as one (i.e. The Block Finale) that are instead listed for ratings as separate shows (i.e. The Block Finale and The Block Winner Announced) so that the network both benefit from the high ratings of the specific show and in having it split score a better share for the night. It’s tricky, but it’s now the way to finish out your long-form event reality TV show.
Not surprisingly, the final Aussie ending their run at Wimbledon topped the digital multi-channel figures – we are a nation of sport-addicted freaks. That the first Transformers movie picked up such a big score is a surprise, but not outrageous.
So how did everyone end up? Pretty much as expected – Ch7 first, then Ch9, Ch10 and ABC1 in that order (both for primary channels and consolidated network figures). With all up-fronts now public for the four networks, bring on 2012…