Seven’s new cooking contest won its timeslot on night two as My Kitchen Rules increased to 1.18m viewers (up from 1.10m). With Nine committed to the Survivor finale (892,000 / 804,000) it gave Seven a window of opportunity.
The return of Grey’s Anatomy (1.21m) in the traditional Rafters slot was even better news. Together with its standard early night line-up, Seven took the night comfortably on 31.6% to Nine’s 27.1% and TEN’s 18.9%.
The best for TEN was So You Think You Can Dance Australia on 872,000 -down from Sunday’s premiere of 1.16m viewers. The Biggest Loser‘s 786,000 was also down on Monday night (806,000 in adjusted figures).
At the heart of the problem is the early evening lead ins. The 7PM Project was 577,000. Neighbours just 512,000. Malcolm in the Middle 466,000. Yet TEN News at Five wins its slot with 814,000. The network was third in demos too.
TEN’s commitment to The 7PM Project has been widely noted as bold and worthy, but it will now need to dig deep, particularly with advertisers, as serious schedules come on board and Loser is expected to prop up its weeknight schedule at 7:30.
Sunrise and Today are neck and neck: 343,000 and 338,000. There has never been a closer brekkie contest right at the top of the year. This will be one to watch.
I think that ten should put their news at 6pm, and only have it go for half an hour. I’ve never liked the commercial channels news much, abc and sbs news are far better. I would rather watch abc news at 7 than the 7pm project or any of the drivel on the other channels. I wish channel ten would put Futurama on at 7pm permanently, they always bring it on for a few weeks and then it’s taken off again. I love the old simpsons and still love watching them…but I’ve seen them that many times, and Futurama is an awesome show.
Give Tony Martin his own show. He is a classic funny man. I enjoyed the breakfast show on radio way back in 1989, 1990 when Triple M had Tony Martin, Rob Sitch, Mick Molloy & The D-Generation. Wayne from St. Albans was fantastic.
The 7PM Project needs to change thing’s. Have a comedian first up to get people laughing & show the news bits towards end of show. Also have Tony Martin to host the show.
Has the 7pm project worked out what’s it’s trying to be yet? Wake me when they finish their trials. I’d hate to think of the cost to pay for all those heads on a 30min show. Maybe they should wathc the Colbert Report or The Daily Show for ideas…
The 7PM is one of the better shows on telly.
Should be at 10-11 when i can be bothered with FTA tv.
Can’t beleive the amount of crap people are willing to watch. Life needed.
Andrew says:
February 3, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Cancel the 7PM Project and give the time slot to Tony Martin and just tell him to do Get This in television form.
best thing i’ve heard in a long time!
People wants ducks!!
Cancel the 7PM Project and give the time slot to Tony Martin and just tell him to do Get This in television form.
There’s a lack of appropriateness in 7pm project’s style that undermines its value. Carrie has improved a great deal, and I find her a warm, natural on screen and uses both her journalistic skills as well as her ability to contribute to lively chatter and opinion, Problem is, comedians do not necessarily make good presenters and certainly not good journos. Charlie is getting there, although still lacks a little finesse on the interviewing front. Dave Hughes should not be asking q’s, he struggles to find coherent, cohesive comments in his comic realm.
Tom Gleeson, is a funny and engaging talent on screen, but reading an autocue and asking serious q’s about SIDS or a bomb blast is just not congruent with the more serious tones of the program. They struggle some nights to get that mix, and get it right.
I love Denise Scott, but why the producers feel that each panelist has to ask at least one question of a guest or live cross is beyond me. Guests via satellite or at a location have no sense of whom is in the studio, and must be very disconcerting to be fielding q’s from 4 unseen presenters. Denise just uses her moment to be funny – again not appropriate on those more serious items, It somehow disrespects the more sensitive content.Banter & Comment are fine but, generating questions and program material is another whilst making smart cracks is another
Perhaps these things are contributing to the haphazard response from viewers and bloggers. Shame because the Kitty Flanagan and the crusty George Negus are a lovely balance for the hipsters Todd and money man and dimpled doc!
The bits just don’t seem to hang together into a shapely whole – too fragmented.
Just in my opinion, of course
The 7PM project isn’t a bad show. I’m a casual viewer. My main motivation for watching it is for laughs since I’m all newsed out at that point. I’m also hungry. Ten have always had trouble with the 7pm slot so unless they’ve got an ace up their sleeve, axing the show would be pointless. At least persisting with it gives it a chance to improve and shows Ten’s commitment to its programmes.
RE: 6pm news for Ten – I don’t think it could work. I believe its current timeslot is key to its success. It provides an alternative to the other networks from 5 – 6.30. Besides, the 6pm news slot is already extremely competitive.
That is disappointing to hear the low ratings for 7pm Project. I love it and watch it every single night, have done so for a few months now. Beats Home and away and 2.5 Reptitive men.
The only thing bad about the 7pm Project is Kitty Flannigan, can’t stand her nasely voice and irritating whine. Not to mention the fact that you’d think you could take a women of her age more seriously.
they should relaunch the 7PM Project.
Like new set, new ads or something!
It was watched but at the start the team didnt have enough chemistry or style….now they do and its the funny, informative and more!
Just people still think of it as the rusty show they watched when it was first put on!
dave, I couldn’t agree more with your comment re: 7pm Project. Dave Hughes never has anything constructive to say and generally ruins the flow of the show. It has definitely moved in leaps and bounds over summer (maybe due to the lack of Hughes?), but I also fear that it won’t be on for much longer.
The 6pm slot is the problem. It’s letting down Neighbours and the 7pm Project.
Neighbours is an iconic show that is criminally underpromoted by Ten, especially in its 25th Anniversary year. If I were Grundys I’d be taking it to Nine.
The 7pm Project has vastly improved over the last few months, and I’m convinced people could get into it – but it suffers because of the weak 6pm set-up.
I think a 6pm news is a great idea for Ten. Either that or, dare I say it, bring back The Simpsons – cos ratings were much better than Malcom In The Middle’s!
I agree with the comments about 7pm project endangering the rest of the line-up. Did ten really think that it would pick up 200,000 viewers to make it competitive with an already tough field – ABC News, Home & Away and 2& a half jokes. I am a fan and I do turn to it each night, but i do drift – it doesn’t always keep me hooked. An hour during summer on Mondays and Fridays did not work for me, but I can see where it has picked up its game and is giving us a good mix of presenters and guests – some regular, some surprises. I cannot like Dave Hughes – just can’t get there. When he opens his mouth and he hasn’t really formulated either the opinion or joke, and stumbles and mumbles it – i cringe.
I enjoy when he is not on! I don;t know what 10 can do with it. I hate to say it, but it might not be long for this world – 8 months is a pretty good season.
Ten need to capitalise on their News at Five. Everything between 6:00 and 7:30 needs to be revamped. Ten has the best lead into prime time, but it all goes to waste when Seven and Nine put on their news.
This is what I believe Ten should do to capitalise on their lead-in:
6:00-6:30 – Ten News at Six
6:30-7:00 – Neighbours
7:00-7:30 – The Biggest Loser
7:30-10:30 – Regular Programing
10:30-11:15 – “The Nightly Project”
11:15-12:00 – Ten Late News with Sports Tonight
12:00-1:00 – The Late Show with David Letterman
This has Ten competing against Seven and Nine in the key 6:00 timeslot, potentially giving Neighbours a better lead-in. It also gives Ten a stable late-night lineup which they should keep at a constant time (not floating like they do now).
I like the 7pm project. I like how they cover important stories like last week when they did the story on young people having to go into nursing homes with older people because there isn’t care for them. I like the variety of people they have on the panel so its a shame that its not rating.
@Edu – Agree with you 100%. Only thing is that the new Sunrise graphics are looking promising….
Wish Nine could do something with Today’s not-so-good graphics…
I wish TEN would put the effort into all the good shows, like they do with 7PM.
I quite like the 7pm project and have it on series link on my IQ and watch it most nights. It’s always entertaining and I have gone from hating dave hughes to actually liking him, which was no small feat.
The 7pm project will be the death of Ten’s tent pole programs
Dump the 7pm project, NBC in the states dumped Leno, Ten should follow suite and dump 7pm project, then maybe, Just maybe, they might not get beaten by ABC.
I watch Neighbours daily (have for the last 18 or so years), and have also come to really love the 7PM Project, too. Look forward to it every day, to see who they’ll have on as guests (since we don’t really have any shows at the moment in prime time for people to do promo), and also for a wrap up on the days events. It is also great to see Tony Martin back with a regular program as well. It doesn’t necessarily need to air at 7PM for me, but that is the name or it, so not sure about moving it. Also if it does go.. like some say, really what is the alternative? Repeats of The SImpsons for like the billionth time? Why is that better? If people really want that then just get the DVD where you can watch Simpsons as much as you want, and repeated for as long as you like. You can’t do that with live talk shows, with different guests, etc
I’ve been watching bits of The Biggest Loser and the editing has made it really confusing. That and I’m not much fans of Shannan and Michelle. Really miss Bob and Jillian.
Have been catching bits of SYTYCD as well and I prefer that to TBL but didn’t see all of last night due to wanting to catch the return of 24.
I don’t know how many People Recorded Loser and Dance that may affect the ratings of last night.
I don’t mind the 7pm Project. I do find it very mean spirited of the people who are rubbing their hands together and gloating over it’s poor ratings. Whether it stays or goes will be determined eventually without all the nasty comments. Channel 10 is always being attacked for not giving programmes a fair go (I include myself as an attacker) so at least I give them props for sticking with this. If it does go it was given more than enough time to improve and build an audience.
I’m think the following needs to occur: The 7PM Project needs to turn into the Late Night Project, to air after Ten Late News, like it do over the summer. We need a late night talk/news show and it would be a perfect fit. 6PM has to be repeats of Simpsons. Nothing else can rate as good against the news. 6:30 of course can’t be touched. Neighbours has owned that timeslot for 15+ years. I think that the 7:00 slot has to be something that is not news, not a sitcom and not a soap opera. I think the only option is a game show. A broad demographic game show, but targeted at younger viewers. It can’t be a dating one (tried and failed) and it can’t be a serious one (wrong channel. look what happened with ConTest). It has to have a rising, underexposed personality, the show has to be a new format to Aus (even if it’s pinched from overseas) and it has to be fun, uncomplicated, humourous and have essential game show ingredients. It can be done!
They put malcolm on instead of the office crazy!. I bet the office would rate 700-800 during primetime ratings. The whole problem seems to be the dud 7pm project. I don’t think it will last much longer. It’s also crazy for removing the simpsons from 6pm. We need a viable alternative
I think The 7PM Project is a fantastic idea, just executed poorly. Is it Roving or is it TEN? Either way, it needs to be fixed and fast!
I really hope it doesn’t end up in the axed pile. That would be a shame.
people are sick of their show. simple as that. sytycd isn’t what you call entertaining and the biggest loser is terrible. neighbours is well past it’s used by date and the 7pm project has been a failiure from day dot.
cut your losses 10 and cut at least 2 of those shows
It’s time to go 7PM Project – pity it hasn’t worked as it’s a good little show but it’s been given every chance and frankly, it’s not appointment television. Loser and Dance are being dragged down by it too which is not sustainable.
Simple solution.
Move Neighbours to 6pm, move the 7pm project to 6.30 and have it run for an hour. – the show works best when it goes for an hour as shown over summer. longer interviews and more indepth analysis of the days events.
I honestly dont know why it doesn’t rate better its a great little show.
Every Ten News viewer has gone to bed by 7. 7PM Project really should just move to late nights, I think with a late timeslot and more room to move (content wise) they can make a good little late night ratings earner, pumping up the shares, even if it doesn’t do well numbers wise.
Otherwise, Ten need to look at TV3′s Campbell Live, as that’s almost an anti-ACA/TT show. Current Affairs at a younger audience. But the problem there is finding as talented of a host.
I think the biggest problem with The 7pm Project is that it’s titled The 7pm Project. If it was called something else you could move it to 6pm instead of Malcolm in the Middle as an alternative to the straight news.
I like a bit of The 7pm Project and Ten’s commitment to the show is great, but at some point they’ve either got to move it or dump it. It’s ratings aren’t getting any better.
ten dont need to replace 7pm with anything crap, ten could just use its big shows like bl and masterchef to fill the slots, plus some everybody loves raymond or friends is pretty good, god looking at spew in a toilet is better looking than charlie, carrie or dave!!
Today all the way!! Sydnesiders and Melbournians really do know the breakfast show to watch!
7PM Project was good again last night, Kitty Flannigan also once again a stand out. I like 7PM because it is an alternative to the other crap on at the same time, and it is a quite good show. And i do hope Ten keep it because what are the alternative?? Malcolm?? Simpsons??? All old and been done before. The only thing i can think of is put The Office on at 7pm. Just like 2.5 Men, it didn’t have an audience, but started to grow, the show is still currently on air, meaning new episodes are available, but they also have several past seasons that they are able to begin with.
gotta love those 7pm project figures! Ten is getting its ass kicked at 7pm! its dragging their whole nights share right down!
I could be wrong here but didn’t The Simpsons repeats come in considerably higher than Malcolm? TBL and SYTYCD are low because they are cr@pvision and like team mates Idol and Big Brother their days are numbered!
i rekon 7 would be happy with those MKR numbers. it won all demos and has a good lead in total people. and the fact that it didn’t drop is a bright sign.
Unfortunately 7pm Project is bringing down TBL and ten need to be mindful of the potential impact it will have on advertisers and MC later in the year. I don’t watch 7pm project but regardless, i think ten need to get rid of it and return the likes of BL back to its traditional timeslot where it worked.
As much as I enjoy 7pm, its clearly hurting tens entire night. It has not grown, and has not shown any signs of growth. Neighbours is proving that its lead out relient on tens big franchieses. Maybe ten should should re-vamp the project and air it at 6pm out of ten news, since it does well out of ten news in late night. Pull it next week and re-lauch it after easter at 6pm under a new title, bump Loser back to 7 from next week and have a few filler shows (bondi vet and new simposns to fill the excess 30 min slots Monday and tuesday, and bump dance back up to 7.30 Wed/Thurs). Even if the Project can do 500 – 700k out of the news lead in, in its new 6pm timeslot growth at 6pm and a better lead in for Neighbours. It might also be able to attract a broader audience out of the news. The Biggest Loser, along with the fact that it no longer has consitant competion (as the same shows air at 7pm week nights but not at 7.30).
The 7pm Project has given Ten some consistency in the 7pm timeslot. The problem is, it is consistently tanking. You can’t blame Ten for not giving it a good go, but more than 6 months after its premiere it is still a failure and is not resonating with viewers. If it continues to drag down The Biggest Loser, I don’t think it will last much longer.
The 7pm Turkey needs to be canned, no ifs, buts or maybes. It is woefully underperforming in an absolutely crucial timeslot. Ten’s comitment may be all very worthy, but they are committing ratings suicide by persisting with it.
go today- what are all those queenslanders thinking up there..sunrise is vile
TEN’s best asset is it’s 5o’clock news… Perhaps they should replay it at 7PM?