There was a sports feast for viewers on Boxing Day with the MCG Third Test dominating the TV ratings.
Australia won the toss and put England in to bat and the batsmen were dispatched not long after first arriving at the crease. The English innings lasted just 65 hours and only Root and Bairstow managed to score above 25. At this early stage the prospects of TV ratings deep into Day 5 looks doubtful.
See also: Covid positive result rocks Third Test as Seven commentary team stands down
TV viewers saw returning Australian captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon each claim three wickets.
Cricket fans had plenty to look forward after the stumps on Day 1 of the Test with two BBL games programmed. The first starting just after 6pm and the second after 9pm and both were broadcast on Seven and Fox Cricket.
Seven also had the start of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race with coverage on 7mate from 12.30pm.
Channel 10 had a cricket alternative with a Boxing Day A-League clash featuring Melbourne Victory and Western United in the evening. A women’s match A-League match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City was broadcast on 10 Bold at 5pm.
Earlier in the afternoon on 10 Peach viewers saw an away win for Melbourne United up against the Sydney Kings while the JackJumpers took on the Breakers.
On subscription TV, Boxing Day sports fare included as feast of NBA, NFL and NBL across ESPN and ESPN2.
Summary of the cricket appears below.
The best of the rest non-sport on Sunday included:
Seven: News 1,033,000
Nine: News 827,000, 60 Minutes Summer 517,000
ABC: News 565,000, Death in Paradise 368,000, Call the Midwife 352,000
10: 10 News First 214,000
The summary of the Second Ashes Test TV crowds is as follows:
3rd Test Australia v England
Day One Melbourne (Sunday)
Seven and Fox Cricket
First session Seven: 1,472,000 (Metro 791,000 Regional 349,000) Fox: 332,000
Second session Seven: 1,600,000 (Metro 880,000 Regional 375,000) Fox: 345,000
Third session Seven: 1,833,000 (Metro 994,000 Regional 468,000) Fox: 371,000
Sunday TV ratings Metro primetime shares primary/network
ABC 14.6% (20.2%)
Seven 26.5% (33.6%)
Nine 19.8% (28.0%)
10 3.4% (9.2%)
SBS 4.9% (8.9%)
See also: Day 1, Second Test
Summer TV Ratings December 16, 2021: Day/Night Test pushes Seven to big Thursday win
Sunday TV ratings Metro top 20 all people
| 1 | SEVEN NEWS – SUNDAY | Channel 7 | 1,033,000 |
| 2 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 S3 | Channel 7 | 994,000 |
| 3 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 TEA | Channel 7 | 964,000 |
| 4 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 S2 | Channel 7 | 880,000 |
| 5 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 LUNCH | Channel 7 | 830,000 |
| 6 | NINE NEWS SUNDAY | Channel 9 | 827,000 |
| 7 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 S1 | Channel 7 | 791,000 |
| 8 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE – SYD THUN V SYD SIXERS | Channel 7 | 604,000 |
| 9 | ABC NEWS SUNDAY | ABC TV | 565,000 |
| 10 | 60 MINUTES SUMMER | Channel 9 | 517,000 |
| 11 | DEATH IN PARADISE (R) | ABC TV | 368,000 |
| 12 | CALL THE MIDWIFE: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (2020)-EV | ABC TV | 352,000 |
| 13 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: THIRD TEST – THE ASHES D1 PRE GAME | 7mate, Channel 7 | 315,000 |
| 14 | LIVE: BBL PRE GAME | FOX CRICKET | 307,000 |
| 15 | DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S A PERFECT PLANET -RPT | Channel 9 | 306,000 |
| 16 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE – PERTH V MELB REN | Channel 7 | 303,000 |
| 17 | LIVE: THE ASHES BIG BREAK | FOX CRICKET | 302,000 |
| 18 | WEEKEND SUNRISE – SUNDAY | Channel 7 | 285,000 |
| 19 | LIVE: THE ASHES TEA BREAK | FOX CRICKET | 280,000 |
| 20 | LIVE: THE ASHES: AUS V ENG 3RD TEST D1 | FOX CRICKET | 273,000 |
Other Sunday Sport TV ratings
Cricket: Big Bash League
Thunder v Sixers
Seven: 901,000 (Metro 604,000 Regional 297,000)
Fox Cricket: 209,000/180,000 (1st and 2nd innings)
Scorchers v Renegades
Seven: 470,000 (Metro 303,000 Regional 134,000)
Fox Cricket: 155,000/74,000
Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race
7mate: 233,000
Football
Channel 10: A-League Men
Melbourne Victory v Western United 57,000
10 Bold: A-League Women
Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City 15,000
Basketball
NBL on 10 Peach 12,000
Tasmanian JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers
Sydney Kings v Melbourne United