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Updated: Million Dollar Flop rates just 644,000 for Nine (but wins last 15 minutes)

million_dollar_dropNine’s disastrous start to the 2011 ratings season has continued with Million Dollar Drop pulling in an audience of just 644,000 on Monday night – leaving the network in the unusual position of being beaten in the timeslot by the ABC’s Four Corners and Media Watch.

The Eddie McGuire-hosted game show’s debut last Monday had received the network’s full promotional firepower, but only reached 933,000 on its first outing, 12th for the night, according to metro ratings from OzTam.

It did even worse this Monday, falling to 20th.  

This was despite the network scheduling an extra episode last Thursday in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, where it ranged from sixth to 20th.

Last night, the show did best in its home town of Melbourne, where it was 18th for the night.

The poor ratings for Million Dollar Drop will raise the question of whether a fourth episode will even be aired by Nine in primetime.

Nine is currently badly struggling with its Tuesday lineup which saw Million Dollar Drop preceeded by a triple bill of Two And A Half Men in most of the country. The first episode rated 969,000 while the next pulled in 711,000. The third, a repeat, which didn’t air in Brisbane, pulled in a four city audience of 567,000.

In other markets, Million Dollar Drop has fared better. As Million Dollar Money Drop, it has been a ratings staple in the US for the Fox network. And in the UK, Million Pound Drop Live has had three series and a Christmas special for Channel 4, which airs it live.

Meanwhile, Seven cruised home, with My Kitchen Rules top show with 1.444m.

Ten also had a bad night, with not a single show in the top ten and a lower share than ABC1. The 7PM Project was Ten’s best performer with 830,000. Oprah’s Glee special pulled in 775,000, while House – in the 8.30pm slot – rated 604,000, saving Million Dollar drop from the humiliation of coming fourth.

6.3opm update: Nine has released data from OzTam which indicates that the show actually won the last 15 minutes of its timeslot, suggesting the audience may have a taste for Million Dollar Drop’s more dramatic moments.

During its last 15 minutes on air, Million Dollar Drop averaged 836,000. In the same 15 minute block, Conviction Kitchen averaged 798,000, House/Good News Week delivered 588,000 and Media Watch/ Q & A rated 691,000.

Monday’s top 15 shows:

  1. My Kitchen Rules Seven 1.444m
  2. Today Tonight Seven 1.358m
  3. Seven News Seven 1.355m
  4. Nine News Nine 1.122m
  5. ABC News ABC 1.122m
  6. A Current Affair Nine 1.054m
  7. Home and Away Seven 1.010m
  8. Two and a Half Men 7:30pm– 0.969m
  9. Four Corners ABC 0.864m
  10. Conviction Kitchen Seven 0.841m
  11. The 7pm Project Ten 0.830m
  12. Australian Story ABC 0.830m
  13. Media Watch ABC 0.809m
  14. 7.30 ABC 0.807m
  15. Oprah and the Cast of Glee Ten 0.775m

Monday’s channel share:

  • Seven: 25.4%
  • Nine: 18.2%
  • ABC1: 14.8%
  • Ten: 12.8%
  • 7TWO: 5.3%
  • SBS1: 4.6%
  • GO!: 4.5%
  • Eleven: 3.6%
  • 7mate: 3.5%
  • Gem: 2.9%
  • ABC2: 1.6%
  • ABC News 24: 0.8%
  • SBS2: 0.6%
  • One: 0.8%
  • ABC3: 0.5%
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