Nine’s new panel show The Verdict debuts with 522,000 viewers but comes third in timeslot
Karl Stefanovic’s new panel talk show The Verdict last night drew 522,000 metropolitan viewers on its debut on Nine at 8.40pm.
The Verdict, which drew a mixed social media reaction thanks in large part to former Labor leader Mark Latham and Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, was beaten in its timeslot by Seven’s Highway Patrol which kicked off at 8.30pm with a metro audience of 698,000.
It was also out-rated by Ten’s Gogglebox which was watched by 559,000, according to OzTam’s overnight metro ratings.
Meanwhile Ten’s The Bachelorette pulled 855,000 metro viewers at 7.30pm for an episode which saw Sam Frost and contestant Richie dress up as 80-year-olds to see what they be like at an older age.
The result came as Ten’s The Bachelorette was again the most watched non-news program on Thursday night and was also the most-watched show across the key advertising demographics (16-39, 18-49 and 25-54).
Nine managed to win the night, thanks to the efforts of its news hour which saw 926,000 tune in at 6pm, dipping to 902,000 from 6.30pm. The channel had an audience share of 19.7 per cent, just head of Seven’s share of 18.8 per cent. Ten claimed third place with a share of 15.4 per cent while the ABC settled for a share of 11.6 per cent.
Also in the 7.30pm timeslot, Nine’s The Block grabbed 721,000 metro viewers and was the second most-watched show amongst 18-49 year olds and 25-54 year olds.
Seven’s Home and Away, which aired from 7pm to 8.30pm, pulled in 721,000 metro viewers.
On the ABC, 7.30 was watched by 753,000 and The Chaser’s Media Circus at 8pm had an audience of 609,000.
Seven News at 6pm was the most-watched program of the evening with a metro audience of 926,000 which slid to 865,000 from 6.30pm.
Top 15 Shows:
1 SEVEN NEWS Network Seven 926,000
2 NINE NEWS Network Nine 926,000
3 NINE NEWS 6:30 Network Nine 902,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Network Nine 886,000
5 SEVEN NEWS / TODAY TONIGHT Network Seven 865,000
6 THE BACHELORETTE AUSTRALIA THURS Network TEN 855,000
7 ABC NEWS-EV Network ABC 778,000
8 7.30-EV Network ABC 753,000
9 THE BLOCK -THU Network Nine 721,000
10 HOME AND AWAY Network Seven 705,000
11 HIGHWAY PATROL (R) Network Seven 698,000
12 THE CHASER’S MEDIA CIRCUS-EV Network ABC 609,000
13 THE PROJECT 7PM Network TEN 599,000 161,000 152,000 138,000 68,000 80,000
14 THE CHASE AUSTRALIA Network Seven 579,000
15 CAUGHT ON DASHCAM Network Seven 572,000
Audience Share:
Network 9 19.7%
Network 7 18.8%
Network TEN 15.4%
Network ABC 11.6%
Network 7TWO 5.6%
Network SBS 5.0%
Network GO! 4.7%
Network Gem 3.8%
Network ELEVEN 3.7%
Network ABC2 3.1%
Network ONE 2.8%
Network 7mate 2.5%
Network ABC News 24 1.5%
Network SBS 2 1.0%
Network ABC3 0.6%
Network NITV 0.2%
Total Audience Share:
Network 9 TTL 28.3%
Network 7 TTL 26.9%
Network TEN TTL 21.9%
Network ABC TTL 16.8%
Network SBS TTL 6.2%
Data OzTAM Pty Limited 2015. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of OzTAM.
I think the verdict on The Verdict is “too dumb for smart people, too boring for dumb people”.
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Horrible show.
Poorly executed extreme version of QandA meets Real Time w/ Bill Maher.
Cheap production.
Cheap talent.
And a host who surely knows he is better than such a mess.
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The Verdict is not extreme at all. If anything QandA is on the far left spectrum of politics.
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How much Karl is too much Karl?
THIS MUCH KARL!
The audience has voted with their fingers……….its poor!
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I really hate that Mark Latham’s comments get so much attention. This is of course exactly what Nine wanted, ensuring there will be more of the same.
YUCK.
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It would be excellent for the country if the current affairs (serious segment) was not nulified at each point,and economics for Free to Air in this segment being destroyed by tax payer supported, no balanced SBS and ABC shows.
But…..this was first go, so they’ll fine tune. With a likely cheap cost relative to something like Highway Patrol it might have been profitable. Given 2GB/3AW ratings in radio versus ABC’s two station line ups (e.g. 702/RN), there is no reason why , given ABC ratings for their current affairs shows, that this one can beat ABC/SBS equivelent ratings just like the two party preferred outcome (say 55/44 jof the last election.
Good on Nine for testing.
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Rough around the edges, sure, but how quickly we forget the very first episode of Q&A.
That was like an awkward school debate, hosted by someone’s white-haired uncle with a strangulated voice, and guests with no personality.
It found its feet eventually, and also its audience of purse-lipped, inner-city pseudo-intellectuals who live for the thrill of being offended and outraged.
Perhaps this show will be for the other 90% of the population. Give it a few eps.
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Mike – everybody should be watching shows like Q&A. From the topics to the panelists to the audience, I think the show did a good job of being representative.
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I hope The Verdict is given a fair go. I welcomed the idea of the show as I have given up on Q&A due to its being more of the same, week in, week out. You can almost predict what Tony Jones is going to say. I would be interested to hear more from Mark Latham especially once he settles down a bit.
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