It's all about Seven

Another week and another victory to Channel Seven (29.4%) but as the op_inion predicted the gap was closed by Nine (26.7%). Seven’s domination is led by Australian dramas Packed to the Rafters and City Homicide as well as all their factual documentary programs which have become synonymous with Seven’s brand.

Find My Family, Medical Emergency, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Border Security, The Force, Crash Investigation Unit are winning Seven the key 7:30-8:30PM slots Monday-Wednesday.

The reality television genres bubble has definitely now burst with Dancing with the Stars only debuting with 1.3 million viewers last week and Make Me A Supermodel failing to fire for Seven.

It’s all Australian drama and factual entertainment that is putting bums on seats for Seven and the formula is working.

Nine’s most popular program was 60 Minutes but Nine News and A Current Affair are continually thrashed by Seven News and Today Tonight amidst rumours that Eddie McGuire may soon be permanently in the ACA hot seat as Tracy Grimshaw may find herself on 60 Minutes.

Seven wins the week with their Monday-Wednesday schedule where Nine struggles but they will be banking on Gordon Ramsay to save them when a new season of Kitchen Nightmares: USA launches tomorrow night at 8:30PM.

Tuesdays have always been a problem for Nine who use to surrender the night when Seven screened Dancing with the Stars. Wipeout started to reverse that trend and the Two and A Half Men does OK but does not impact Rafters or NCIS.

At the moment Nine is surrendering Wednesdays by showing movies but that will change when Fringe launches this month, a gamble that the network needs to take.

Other notable performances last week were Domestic Blitz which defeated The Outdoor Room, The Strip debuting with 1.45 million viewers and Rush who had 1.1 million viewers of their own.

Re-inventing that Wheel

Nine launch Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune tonight with the desire to lure viewers back to the 5:30PM slot and then stay on for National Nine News and A Current Affair.

So far the network has faired well in 2008 winning last week and MediaSpy reports that Nine and Seven are neck and neck on total audience shares for 2008 at 27.7% each.

Last week Nine’s decision to run the State of Origin in every capital city payed off attracting close to 2.2 million viewers, peaking at 2.4 million viewers.

Two and a Half Men continue to return healthy week night figures with thanks to the lack of interest with Big Brother 2008 which has allowed Home and Away’s position to be challenged for the first time in a few years.

It has been the performance of Sunday’s that is getting Nine off to a good start with last night, Nine captured 31% of the share from Seven on 24%. 60 Minutes is back and Domestic Blitz overtook Gladiators.

Gladiators fad is now wearing off while Scott Cam and Shelly Craft move in to the 6:30 Sunday role which for the last few years has seen the strong performance of Backyard Blitz and prior to that, The Block.

Domestic Blitz is all apart of the same formula which Nine does very well. It sees Renovation Rescue meet Changing Rooms meets Backyard Blitz and Cam has been groomed by the network as a very likeable host suited to the role with Craft.

Whilst Domestic Blitz has been apart of the ‘re-inventing wheel’ Nine will dust off the Wheel in about 15 minutes time to see if that too can assist the Network as they prime themselves towards ratings success in 2008.

With the very likeable Tim Campbell as host and Kelly Landry on the letters, Nine could have a successful new formula.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves but the Today Show’s ratings have increased and a number of Nine’s new shows like Search and Rescue, David Attenbrough, Fire 000 and now Domestic Blitz have been returning healthy numbers. Attenbrough even beat Border Security/Surf Patrol last week; perhaps that has something today with the new voiceover on Surf Patrol, Naomi Robson.

Seven still dominate the news and current affairs hour from 6PM which Nine will look to take ownership of once again.

The re-invention of that wheel continues tonight...