• The Block wins big night of TV, as MKR and Masked Singer also launch
• Ryan Maloney first celeb unmasked by 10
• Spicks and Specks is the fourth show to return for the night with over 449K
Total TV, July 31
Topping the night in entertainment was Hunted. 982,000 tuned in as the show saw the capture of Nick, plus team Puneet and Kris – up 33%. Later in the night on 10, NCIS: Hawaii lifted 26% to draw an audience of 355,000.
Joanna Lumley took 759,000 ABC viewers to Berlin in Great Cities of the World, lifting 12%. Mystery Road: Origin followed on with 569,000, up 29%.
On Nine, Beauty and the Geek kicked off its final week, bringing in TikTok sensation Millie Ford to pump the energy up, before asking the couples what their future looked like outside of the show for 707,000 viewers – up 30%.
Overnight TV Ratings, August 7
Primetime News
Seven News 982,000
Nine News 807,000
ABC News 572,000
10 News First 253,000 (5:30pm)/ 188,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 141,000 (6:30pm) 121,000 (7:00pm)
Daily current affairs
Insiders 355,000
The Project 248,000 (6:30 pm)/314,000 (7pm)
Breakfast TV
Sunrise 265,000
Today 135,000
News Breakfast 153,000
Seven won a busy Sunday night thanks to a winning combination of the Commonwealth Games and a returning My Kitchen Rules. The broadcaster had both the #1 primary channel share with 25.4% and network share with 38.6%.
The Commonwealth Games has continued to bring in a strong audience for Seven as Australia claimed more gold in sports including cricket, diving, and netball:
Night: 724,000
Night 2: 396,000
Late Night: 396,000
Evening: 331,000
At 7:00pm, My Kitchen Rules returned with a new recipe as 503,000 tuned in for the series’ first episode since March of 2020 with mainstay Manu Feildel and international ring-in Nigella Lawson. The episode saw Victorian dad and daughter team Peter (56) and Alice (31) present a menu inspired by family favourites but were let down by their take on their Grandma’s Lemon Delicious pudding, getting a total score of 54/110.
On Nine, The Block returned for its new season, The Block: Tree Change, which saw five teams arrive in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges in Gisborne South. The episode was the top entertainment program of the night with 867,000 viewers and was also #1 in all key demos. The episode saw a 48-hour House Decider challenge as the show also teased the controversial walkout from one of the teams.
The show has seen significant increase YoY, including a 27% lift in regional viewers as The Block heads out of the city.
Earlier in the day on Nine, the NRL match between bottom feeders the Newcastle Knights and the Wests Tigers had 184,000 viewers, with 111,000 coming from Sydney.
On 10, The Masked Singer returned with an average audience of 522,000 as 598,000 tuned in for the first unmasking which revealed Neighbours legend Ryan Maloney. The guessing panel of Mel B, Dave Hughes, Chrissie Swan and Abbie Chatfield were unable to detect Maloney as the Knight, and instead nominated Nick Cummins, Shannon Noll, Brendan Fevola and David Hasselhoff.
Daniel Monaghan, SVP content & programming, Paramount ANZ, said: “The Masked Singer Australia didn’t disappoint, cementing its place as Australia’s favourite guessing game. Its powerhouse performances, super sleuths – Mel B, Abbie Chatfield, Dave Hughes and Chrissie Swan – and the much-awaited unmasking, really struck a chord with viewers.
“The Masked Singer was it the #2 show in its timeslot, but it was also the #2 show of the night in the key advertising demographic of under 50s and the youngest skewing reality show of the night.
“Thank you to our production partner Warner Bros., engaged sponsors and the talented cast and crew.”
On the ABC, Spicks and Specks returned for its new season with 449,000 viewers. Mediaweek spoke to host Adam Hills ahead of the season launch who said “It genuinely felt like we were making some of the best TV we’ve ever made on Spicks and Specks. There was a real zing in the room most nights.”
See More: Why Adam Hills says Spicks and Specks 2022 was “the hardest season” to make
The top non-news program on SBS was Mysteries from the Grave: Titanic with 110,000.
