• Australian Survivor blindside sends Stevie home
• Phoebe Stewart sent to the Top 10 on Australian Idol
Total TV Ratings, February 19
The rules were bent on Married At First Sight (MAFS) as John Aiken allowed Josh to make the sole call on whether to leave or stay, after it became clear that he was suffering in a controlling and unworkable marriage to Melissa. Lifting 59% and cracking the 2 million mark, 2,003,000 watched as Josh decided to leave.
Vera came in next in total TV, up 33% and taking 1,320,000 to a remote lighthouse where a body had been discovered lashed to a sailboat. Death In Paradise also cleared 1 million, up 20% for a total TV audience of 1,061,000.
On Australian Survivor, 889,000 watched as the original Heroes came together at Tribal Council, sending Jordie home, lifting 42%.
The Top 24 was whittled down to the Top 12 on Australian Idol, lifting 23% for a total audience of 860,000.
Overnight TV Ratings, February 26
Primetime News
Seven News 816,000
Nine News 737,000
ABC News 612,000
10 News First 194,000 (5:00pm)/ 170,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 122,000 (6:30pm)/ 106,000 (7:00pm)
Daily Current Affairs
The Project 171,000 (6:30 pm)/ 275,000 (7pm)
60 Minutes 433,000
Breakfast TV
Sunrise 183,000
Today 141,000
News Breakfast 120,000
Nine has won the night with a primary share of 26.1% and a network share of 31.9%. 10 Peach has won multichannels with a 2.2% share.
The weekly Married At First Sight (MAFS) commitment ceremony saw the couples sit down on the couch for a grilling from the experts. 928,000 tuned in to Nine as Adam and Janelle left the experiment in the wake of Adam’s cheating with Claire. When it came to their turn on the couch, Jesse chose to leave but was kept in the experiment for another week when Claire opted to stay. On 60 Minutes, 433,000 watched as the show uncovered the realities of uterine transplants and what they could mean in the future.
Earlier in the day, 192,000 tuned in to the State Memorial for Olivia Newton-John.
ABC’s Sunday night mysteries continue to draw big crowds. 575,000 tuned in for Death In Paradise as the team confronted a skydiver who appeared to have been murdered mid-air, before 602,000 watched Vera get justice after the discovery of a homeless veteran’s badly beaten body.
On Seven, Australian Idol brought its Top 12 out on stage ahead of Australia taking over the votes. 451,000 watched as the judges unanimously granted fifteen-year-old high school student Phoebe Stewart immunity in the Live Verdict show after her performance of Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth ft. Emeli Sande. Then continuing to spotlight classic musicians, 221,000 tuned in to George Michael v Elton John.
On 10, The Sunday Project (171,000 6:30pm / 275,000 7pm) was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to chat Mardi Gras and superannuation. A blowout win for the villains on Australian Survivor meant the team earned a trip to a sandwich bar, with 483,000 watching as a Tribal Council blindside sent Stevie home just before the merge.
The highest rated show on SBS was Ancient Egypt By Train with 129,000 viewers.
