2007 ABC TV RATING HIGHLIGHTS

Kim Dalton, Director of ABC TV said the outstanding performance by the network this year, which sees its second highest ratings share on record, was underpinned by two factors – the strength of our Australian programming and our great strides in expanding our on-line and digital delivery.

“I made a commitment to increasing levels of Australian content. I think this year’s figures, with 14 or our top 20 programs being Australian, has vindicated this approach. The figures demonstrate that Australian audiences want more Australian programs in all genres.

“The second factor in 2007 was ABC TV’s 14.4 million digital downloads of Australian programs. “We are in a leadership position in the world, let alone among Australian broadcasters. ABC TV is no longer just putting out a single signal. We are a multi-channel, multi-platform and a multi-device broadcaster.“This demonstrates that there is an even stronger and more diverse role for the public broadcaster in the digital age,” said Dalton.

2007 ABCTV HIGHLIGHTS (as of 1st December)
FREE-TO-AIR PRIME-TIME SHARE (wks 7-48 2007 excluding 2 wk Easter period)
• This year ABC TV has recorded its second highest share on record.
• ABC TV’s prime-time household share ytd is 18% (up 7% on the 2006 ratings year wks 7-48). This is the second highest share on record behind 2004 (18.3%). The only other network to experience growth is Seven (up 5%) while SBS is steady.
• ABC TV’s household share is highest in Sydney (18.8%) and in Perth (18.4%).
• ABC TV’s prime-time people share ytd is 16.7% (up 9% on the 2006 ratings year). This is the second highest share on record behind 2004 (16.9%).This is the largest increase of any network – Seven (up 5%) and SBS (up 2%) are the only other networks to experience growth.
• ABC TV’s people share is highest in Sydney (17.5%).

TOP ABC TV PROGRAMS
• 6 of the top 10 programs so far this year are Australian.
• 14 of the top 20 programs so far this year are Australian.
• 25 Australian programs so far this year have achieved audiences of over 1 million compared to 19 by this time last year. Top ABC TV Programs by Peak Episode City by City

SYDNEY -
• Highest ever share this year (ratings survey period). People share of 17.5% and HH share of 18.8%.
• Top ABC TV Programs include The Chaser’s War on Everything, The Chaser Decides 2007, Spicks and Specks, Summer Heights High and Constructing Australia: The Bridge.
MELBOURNE -
• People share of 16.4% and HH share of 18% (both up on last year).
• Top ABC TV Programs include The Chaser’s War on Everything, Spicks and Specks, Summer Heights High, Midsomer Murders and New Tricks.
BRISBANE -
• People share of 16.5% (highest ever share) and HH share of 17.4% (equal highest share with 2004 result).
• Top ABC TV Programs include The Chaser’s War on Everything, Australian Story (No Stone Unturned: Daniel Morcombe), New Tricks, Midsomer Murders and Spicks and Specks.
ADELAIDE -
• People share of 15.5% (up on last year) and HH share of 16.3% (steady).
• Top ABC TV Programs include The Chaser’s War on Everything, Spicks and Specks, New Tricks, Midsomer Murders and The Chaser Decides 2007.
PERTH -
• People share of 16.7% and HH share of 18.4% (both up on last year).
• Top ABC TV Programs include The Chaser’s War on Everything, Midsomer Murders, ABC News, Constructing Australia: Pipe Dreams and Summer Heights High. Popular Wednesday Evening Programs (5 Cities)

• Based on peak episode, Wednesday evening programs comprise ABC TV’s 3 most popular programs so far this year - Chaser’s War on Everything (No.1), Spicks and Specks (No.2) and Summer Heights High (no.3).
• ABC TV’s FTA People Share on Wednesday evenings has increased by 22% compared to the same period last year.

Spicks and Specks (Wed 8:30pm)
• Series average is 1.29 million with a household share of 25.5%. This year the series average is up 21% on last year.
• It achieved its highest audience ever on 12th September with an average audience of 1.62 million with a household share of 29.9%. The Chaser’s War on Everything (Wed 9pm)
• Series average is 1.45 million with a household share of 27.1%.
• Peak episode on 12th September achieved a five city average audience of 2.29 million with a household share of 37.1%.

Summer Heights High (Wed 9:30pm)
• Series average of 1.3 million (HH share of 27.3%).
• Achieved peak audience of 1.48 million on 24th October with a household share of 30.3%. Librarians (Wed 9:30pm up to 28th Nov)
• Series average of 1.05 million (HH share of 25.2%).
• Achieved a peak audience of 1.28 million on 31st October with a household share of 29.3%.

The Chaser Decides (Wed 9:00pm)
• Achieved an audience of 1.40 million (HH share of 29.8%). ABC News & Current Affairs ABC 7pm News (Mon-Fri)
• ABC 7pm News (Mon-Fri) has increased its audience (up by 7.5%) since last year and is averaging 1.05 million.
• Four Corners is enjoying its highest audience this year for the last 10 years.

Best Ever Audiences:
The Cook and the Chef (Wed 6:30pm)
• Achieved its highest audience ever at 654,000 on 8th August this year. It also attracted 632,000 on 18th July and the 5th September.
• Compared to last year, the program’s audience has increased by 31%.

Talking Heads (Mon 6:30pm)
• Achieved its highest ever audience of 587,000 on 29th October featuring an interview with John Clark.
• Compared to last year, the program’s audience has increased by 7%.

Gardening Australia (Sat 6:30pm)
• Achieved its highest audience ever of 830,000 on 20th October.

Can We Help (Fri 6:30pm)
• Achieved its highest audience ever of 528,000 on 22nd June.
• Compared to last year, the program’s audience has increased by 35%.

Compass (Sun 9:30pm)
• Achieved its highest audience ever of 829,000 with The Abbey on 14th October. It also attracted the highest ever series average of 727,000.

ABC TV VODCASTS (Source: WebTrends) as of 4th November
• So far this year, the total number of downloads is 14.4 million.
• This year, weekly vodcast downloads are averaging 327,000. Weekly downloads peaked at 1.5 million (16-22 September 2007).

Highest this year:
• The Chaser’s War on Everything (8 million)
• jTV (2 million)
• Summer Heights High (1 million)