Nine wins 2020

The Nine Network has claimed victory the ratings year for 2020 (OzTAM, 5 cities, 6pm-12mn).

It is Nine’s second consecutive yearly win. Meanwhile, ABC overtook Ten to take out third place both in network and primary channel shares.

For the weeks 7 to 48 — covering the period from 9 February to 28 November, and excluding the weeks around Easter — the Nine Network claimed 27.7% market share, followed by Seven (27.2%), ABC (18.4%), Ten (18.0%) and SBS (8.8%).

For the primary channels: Nine (19.4%) was ahead of Seven (18.5%), ABC (13.1%), Ten (11.9%) and SBS (5.3%).

Some minor adjustments to shares may occur as consolidated 28-day viewing numbers for the last few weeks of the ratings year is taken into account.

Like in 2019, and before the pandemic hit, Nine started the year with its coverage of the Australian Open tennis. Although the two weeks of competition are outside of the ratings calendar, the event provides an ideal springboard for promotion and viewer momentum into the ratings year — as Seven often found in previous years.

The Block (Winners Announced: 1.792 million), Lego Masters (Winner Announced: 1.692m), Married At First Sight (Finale: 1.562m) and Lego Masters (Launch: 1.479m) topped Nine’s ratings in the reality portfolio. Ten’s relaunch of MasterChef Australia (Winner Announced: 1.592m), introducing three new judges and bringing back past contestants, paid off and boosted its numbers. The second season of The Masked Singer (The Final Reveal: 1.247m) also delivered well for Ten.

It was a tough year for Seven, with former hits My Kitchen Rules and House Rules both dropping off the radar, the new contest Plate Of Origin barely rating a mention, and the anticipated boost to come from the Olympic Games not eventuating, with the games postponed to 2021. Seven did experience some growth in the second half of the year, with its first hosting of reality franchises Big Brother and Farmer Wants A Wife delivering solid results.

The NRL State Of Origin (1st Match: 1.606m, 2nd: 1.658m, 3rd: 1.894m) and NRL Grand Final (2.106m) were high raters in sports, but they were all outranked by Seven’s coverage of the AFL Grand Final (3.016m), which was hosted in Queensland on account of the pandemic and played in prime time for the first time. Ten’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup (Race: 1.412m) was its highest sports ranking but has little impact on prime time.

The 2021 ratings year begins on 7 February and continues through to 27 November, with a two-week break over the Easter period.

Data © OzTAM Pty Limited 2020. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM.