Digital channel Go overtakes SBS1
Nine’s digital channel Go is threatening to eclipse SBS1 just weeks after launching.
Sunday saw Go pull in a bigger average audience than that of SBS’s main channel for the first time since the general entertainment channel launched on August 9.
The rise of the new free-to-air digital channel marks a new challenge for public service broadcaster SBS which is already struggling to maintain commercial revenues.
According to preliminary ratings from OzTam, Go’s audience share on Sunday was 3.7 per cent, while SBS1 was on 3.5 per cent. Go targets the 14 to 39-year-old audience and last night screened Seinfeld, gameshow Wipeout and three episodes of The Big Bang Theory.
While SBS does not directly compete on programming as its remit is to provide an alternative cultural voice – its sales team still fights for TV advertising dollars. The success of Go – and growth of Ten’s spin-off sports channel One, which rated 2.3% yesterday, threaten to leave the broadcaster facing a funding gap.
Meanwhile, Seven had a strong night with three of its programmes pulling in strong numbers for the network. The returning Sunday Night averaged 1.2m, while Border Security and The Force both rated 1.5m.
Ten’s Sunday night schedule was a flop, with Australian Idol and Rove both failing to reach a million and the network finishing behind the ABC.
Sunday’s top 15 shows:
- Nine News – Nine 1.6m
- Border Security – Seven 1.5m
- The Force – Seven 1.5m
- Seven News – Seven 1.5m
- Midsomer Murders – ABC 1.4m
- ABC News Update – ABC 1.3m
- Domestic Blitz – Nine 1.2m
- Sunday Night – Seven 1.2m
- 60 Minutes – Nine 1.2m
- Stephen Fry in America – ABC 1.1m
- Rescue Special Ops – Nine 1m
- Australian Idol – Ten 0.99m
- ABC News – ABC 0.98m
- The Bourne Ultimatum – Seven 0.97m
- Rove – Ten 0.81m
Last night’s share:
- Seven: 27.1%
- Nine: 24%
- ABC1: 21%
- Ten: 17.5%
- GO!: 3.7%
- SBS1: 3.5%
- ONE: 2.3%
- ABC2: 0.8%
- SBS2: 0.3%
On one hand its good to see the 9 and 10 multichannels doing well and I really like the ONE sports channel myself
On the other hand it’s a shame that SBS gets such low ratings, they often have great quality programs which only get a few 100,000 viewers
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Congratulations to ONE. Great coverage of the World Triathlon titles over the weekend. I’m tempted to dump the advert heavy Pay TV sports channels for ONE. At least I don’t have to pay to watch adverts on ONE!!! Plus ONE features many of the major sports such as triathlon that don’t get much exposure on the NRL/AFL/cricket domination on pay channels.
Now if ONE featured the English Premier League football I’d switch tomorrow! Its the only reason I pay to watch Fox!
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SBS rocks…
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So… now i’m just waiting for SBS or One to buy La Liga and EPL so we can completely ditch the viewer subscription model.
SBS has four channels but not much varied contents. Perhaps one should be converted into a Showtime-style international film channel..?
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