Dick Smith’s ratings puzzle
Last night’s documentary Dick Smith’s Population Puzzle created a question over its ratings too.
The show – in which the businessman debated issues around the future size of Australia – was of wildly varying interest across the country.
In Sydney, it was the most watched show of the night, according to preliminary overnight metro ratings from OzTam with 378,000 viewers, while the Q&A population debate that followed was the city’s fourth biggest show of the night.
Yet in both Melbourne and Brisbane the Dick Smith doco was 17th while in both Adelaide and Perth it was 14th.
Overall it was 12th for the night with a five city metro average of 960,000 viewers.
Meanwhile The Matty Johns Show continued to tread water in Sydney for Seven, 17th for the night although it did slightly better in Brisbane where it was 12th.
Thursday’s top 15 shows:
- Seven News Seven 1.372m
- Today Tonight Seven 1.292m
- Nine News Nine 1.194m
- Getaway Nine 1.140m
- ABC News ABC 1.110m
- A Current Affair Nine 1.067m
- Bondi Vet Ten 1.056m
- Rush Ten 1.002m
- Home and Away Seven 0.995m
- The Mentalist Nine 0.991m
- Recruits Ten 0.963m
- Dick Smith’s Population Puzzle ABC 0.960m
- Two and a Half Men Nine 0.953m
- Q&A: Population Debate ABC 0.899m
- Ten News Ten 0.874m
Thursday’s channel share:
- Nine: 24.1%
- Seven: 20.8%
- Ten: 19.9%
- ABC1: 18.7%
- GO!: 5.0%
- SBS1: 3.5%
- ABC2: 2.8%
- 7TWO 2.7%
- One: 1.0%
- ABC3: 0.6%
- SBS2: 0.6%
- ABC News 24: 0.3%
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dick smith for p/m
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Max, is that you?
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What the hell were Melbournians watching instead of this important matter??!?
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I guess we’re a bit more socio aware in Sydney
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@Juan – Probably watching the Footy Show with Melbournes greatest asset – Sam Newman.
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Lastnight showed us the biggest form of hypocrisy in Bob Brown’s thirst for a Bigger Australia then on the other hand saying he cares for our enviroment !!! Does the man realise that the more people the bigger the footprint????? Where is the man coming from???
So for all you people out there who intend to vote Green you are actually going to ruin our enviroment………Stop and think about it for a second ( if you have half a brain thats how long it will take you to figure it out.!!
I think the most valuable thing Australia could have right now is too put into our schools geography lessons for our future. We may live in a large country but it is an ecologically delicate one.
Dick Smith and his intelligent daughter Jenny join our ever growing population concerned for the future of our country.
Thankyou Dick for speaking out for us to these “earless”wonders we have trying to run our country.
My idea to save us from being over populated is to “unsign” the United Nations agreement and go back to making our own decisions and growing our own food.
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Judging by the front page of the Herald Sun must be AFL and one of the 18 footy shows
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Totally agree anonymous….Dick Smith for P/M
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Obviously those in higher density cities are more concerned about the issue, as opposed to those which are free from traffic problems, bad public transport (cityrail) and generally overcrowded areas. And yes, Melbournians and Brisbanians were watching the Footy Show’s greatest asset Sam Newman (@Grant).
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Us Sydney people were watching it because you can’t easily afford a house, drive anywhere quickly, take reliable transportation or snare a wave anymore.
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Fabulous Dick Smith for a program that challenges all sides of politics on a crucial issue that needs to be discussed rationally and not linked to racism.
A vote for the power of one.
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Dick smith for PM! after all, most of the people here in australia would vote for their dick…
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Clearly Australia doesn’t need any more migrants until the waiting time for elective surgery in our hospitals is under a week. Hard working, tax paying Australians are waiting up to two years for a new hip. Classroom sizes are also very large and should be reduced to give young Australians a chance at a better education.
I’ve questioned this migrant intake level often and been shouted down. Thankfully there are others out there that share my views.
Let’s watch the two major parties squirm on this topic during the next eight days.
Go Dick!
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I think it is digraceful that the national broadcaster should allow itself to used as a platform for the personal views of this very wealthy individual. The debate about our population is no more likely to be solved by this kind of semi informed emotive grandstanding than a viable climate change policy will be developed by Julia G’s citizens forum. When will Australians realise we are not overcrowded and at the limit of our capacity? The issues we have around poor infrastructure, over urbanisation and lack of social integration are primarily a function of bad planning and poor government and a selfish attitude of many Aussies to “keep things they way they are”.
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Dick smith’s film was excellent .
Tony Jones program was a disaster for commonsense and reason.
As` for John Elliot That brash fool should never be exposed to the Public.
Bob Brown ‘s delivery was sound and logical…..which is more than can be said for
the rest of the speakers.
Tony Jones was the looser on that day…….But the medal for courage and
genuine concern for his country goes to Dick Smith.
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Many thanks Dick. You have managed to finally get the politicians to publically comment that we really do need to figure out what is a sustainable level of population growth. Currenty, as was so obviously shown, vested interests whose only concern is maximizing profits through rapid population growth, and to hell with the consequences for the country, have been literally writing our immigration policy. Aided and abetted by some misguided individuals who seem to think that admitting there is an urgent need to have sustainable population growth is somehow “racist” or “anti-multiculturalist”. As Dick and any other person with a bit of common sense have pointed out quality of life and a sustainable Australia are the real issue here. The facts are simple. Quality of life is dependant on Environmental quality both built and natural. This is a finite planet and cannot sustain infinite population growth. That is why overpopulated countries are desperately seeking to limit the growth in population size. Otherwise it will become an environmental and human disaster. Australa should be setting an example of responsible population growth as part of the solution. Supporting unsustainable population growth means we become a part of the problem.
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I have to agree that Mr Elliott offered precious little to the forum in the way of clever thinking. He appeared quite the cliche of himself.
In reply to Gezza. I don’t mind in the least being accused of selfishness when it comes to limiting Australia’s population. It certainly far easier than dealing with overcrowding as it is too late then.
Australia takes more than it’s fair share of migrants including asylum seekers. if citizens of this country can’t access a surgeon, a uncrowded classroom, quality public transport or even a reliable water supply in the coming years, then the quality of life will have the population electing some real surprise packets like Family First or, heaven forbid, One Nation.
Let’s take control while we still can by formulating a sustainable Australian population plan and keeping property developers at arms length from pollies, planners and councillors.
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You are a legend Dick Smith and for those who dont know Dick has given thousands of his dollars towards charity in this counrty over the years. I see and hear him to more intelligent than the whole parliament pooled together.
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Twenty years overdue, but thank God for Dick Smith who has the personal integrity, courage and intelligence to stand up and say, “This mass immigration policy is out of control and something needs to be done about it while we still have some of our way of life and natural environment left.” For the first time in years, someone is doing something with altuistic motives, instead of the hypocritical mealy-mouthing we have come to accept from ones in the public eye that are too afraid to stand up for what they believe in and have sold Australia down the river in case it upsets the concept of ‘multiculturalism’, which it seems, has come to be regarded as some kind of revered ideology. Dick, you are a champion and I agree, this is the most important thing you can do and I will support you all the way. What can we do next? Just name it and we will be there. I feel real hope for the first time in years.
Susan Davies – Reservoir (name and contact details on request).
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Where the bloody hell are all of these pollies expecting to house the growing population?? In our deserts?
And I wish these pollies would refrain from the terms of “baby boomers” and “The ageing population”. Everyone is “ageing ” or dont they just get it????? grrrrr
I will remind the pollies that all our old “diggers” , the early struggling families and the “baby boomers” are the people of this country who have built it up to be a great country only to have someone still in “nappies” to pull the rug from under them. grrrr!!!!!
I feel very insulted by whats going on in this beautiful country of ours.
Dick you have actually given us a ray of hope for our future grandchildren.
Stand with Dick Smith and back him up if you too feel this way and if you dont then dont complain when it really goes pear shaped.
I too feel for the first time in yrs that hope.
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Dick Smith’s documentary was excellent.
One of the things I found stunning about this documentary is just the extent to which the politicians are so blatently ignoring the overwhelming population which is against this rampant growth. It’s like we’re living in a dictatorship. I mean even if hypothetically speaking, they are correct about all the economic benefits that the pollies proclaim that massive population growth brings ( which I don’t believe ), the people have spoken and we do not want this. It’s that simple. Reduce the population for heavens, sake we’re living in a democracy not Soviet Russia.
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Loved your show.
The higher the worlds population the more people breath oxygen and the more energy is burns oxygen.
At the same time we are destroying the oceans and trees which manufacture oxygen.
If oxygen is being used faster than it is being produced will we get to a stage where oxygen diminishes like a dam with dropping water levels?
If so, not only does Australia need to stabilise or reduce its population but the whole world.
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Dick well done. The increased traffic congestion, the water shortages in recent years, would all suggest that we aren’t doing a good job at caring for the part of the planet that we are responsible for. Just shifting people from areas with a worst track record in population management will do little to encourage the world to solve the issues of overpopulation.
Encouraging education & telecommuting, Fostering Innovation to remain in Aust, & Inspiring research into energy efficiency would all go a long way to improving Aust & the world.
John Elliot. Increasing the value of your assets thru scarcity (supply & demand) is one way to grow wealth. It is lazy, & long term can only be effective to a small percentage of the population.
Three other ways are:-
1. Provide more value than currently exists. eg: If the world is digging holes with sticks & you can provide a shovel. ie: improve productivity of your customers. The Return on Investment could determine the price of the shovel & not lack of supply.
2. Innovate. Improve efficiencies of yourself.
3. Wealth is an idea, help the world see value in what they’ve overlooked & take a small percentage.
In short you don’t need 3-5% population growth to grow Australia. We just need to think more effectively.
PS: Wealth is frequently determined by the product of 2 things:-
1. How many people you impact (positively)
2. How significantly you impact their lives.
eg: Rock Stars reach millions & have a minor impact on their life. Heart Surgeons reach 100’s but have a profound impact on the lives they save. Bill Gates (thru Microsoft) dramatically changed the Office & Home lifestyles of billions.
Today, Australia has a finite amount of dirt no one else has. When it runs out, we need to be exporting ideas & innovation. If not, all “36 Million” will become a starving, thirsty refugee camp.
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Well said everyone, keep the support going. If enough of us finally stand up for what we believe in, the pollies can’t pretend they are making policies for our benefit when the truth is, it’s only to further their own political careers, or monetary gain as was evident with the stand that the big business moguls have taken on the population issue. We can turn this around & make Australia once again, a great place to live: As Margaret Mead said, ” Never doubt that a small goup of thoughful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
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People in Tasmania were watching too, thank you Dick, agree totally.
Did I hear correctly 480,000 population increase in one year – are we totally crazy?
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Just where do they get the numbers for those polls from…In all my life I have never been asked my opinion!! ?
Dick you do have a lot of followers out here…believe us…are u listening Canberra???
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I think the point the article here is seeking to raise is not about the quality of the show or the popularity of Dick and his ideas, it is the fact there appears to be something very fishy about the regional variation or the balance of the OZTAM panel in each of the metro areas.
I would suggest the panel is balanced at a national level however not by each metro centre. It appears as though the profile and behaviour of the Sydney panel members is at odds to those of the other centres. Alarm bells would be ringing if was an agency using these ratings to buy media in specific metro markets.
This kind of behavioural variation is often difficult to address in terms of QC, as it may not be reflected in a variation in the demographic make up of the panel in the individual metro areas. It would be interesting if someone with access to the ratings data was able to re-assure people that this was as a result of actual behaviour and not as a result of poorly balanced panel.
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I feel a whole lot better now after reading all the support for Dick Smith, I no longer feel alone with my logical thinking. This is a world problem of course & will require a hard pill to swallow. A solution yet to be found, it will have to be radical. My thoughts & veiws would be far too long to submit here & very complexed, mainly to do with the way the world trades. All I ask of world leaders is, at what point in time will you become aware of this issue? Perhaps the earth will become one big Bangladesh. this is not a racist comment by the way, I realy feel for them.
I have pondered the idea that if a super inteligent being were to monitor our planet, he would conclude that inteligent life has not yet evolved. Leaders do not seem to be able to think ahead, are politicians just ego driven?
Guess it’s time for us all to get together & put this all too the people that we vote for & we may get something going, lets set up a new religion ” logical thinkers”
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“The ghost in the machine” was examined a century ago (or more?) by H.G.Wells, Aldous Huxley & others later, such as Prof Lovelace of ‘Gaiai’ note …the problem of man basing survival on the total exploitation of all of nature persists & expands with each discovery of ‘New Worlds’ with each new empire cannibalising the one(s) before and expanding into every corner of earth. (Look at deep-ocean drilling)
The Problem is we haven’t found any spare planets to use up.
Actually I think that problem is what has led to systems of morality & religion from as far back as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks & all the rest to the present times. So far these have proved inadequate & in Western societies are largely ignored anyway, in favour of the current religion of money worship for me, me, me. JB75
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Ted, you are not alone with your concern. It is evident that there are many people who feel this way & as someone has said, they have never been asked their opinion. The poiticians act in their own best interests, not in the interests of their country or people. Thank God for people like Dick Smith who has the resources and wherewithal to be heard and to make a stand, it is now up to us to support him. We can change policies by speaking out, the real damage is done by our silence. We need to continue to support Dick Smith and get behind whatever he has planned next.
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