• It was the first team service challenge on MasterChef Australia
Total TV Ratings, May 10
Nine’s Travel Guides continues its dominance with 989,000 viewers tuning in and lifting 28%. The episode saw audiences join our avid adventurers on a trip to Vanuatu. From canoeing along the country’s magnificent blue waters to trying a traditional hallucinogenic drink, the Guides took on some of Vanuatu’s most electrifying activities!
Seven’s The 1% Club came in next, with 903,000 watching as host Jim Jefferies served up the laughs, up 20%.
SBS’s Alone Australia was up a massive 148%, bringing in 854,000 viewers as the participants battled with hunger and isolation. Also on SBS, Rogue Heroes lifted 186% for a total TV audience of 432,000.
Lifting by 34% was 10’s MasterChef, with 794,000 tuning in to see the contestants be tasked with raiding Chef Shannon Bennett’s fridge to create the tastiest dish in 45 minutes. The winner then went head-to-head with Vue de Monde’s Hugh Allen.
Overnight TV Ratings, May 17
Primetime News
Seven News 964,000 (6:00pm) / 902,000 (6:30pm)
Nine News 777,000 (6:00pm) / 779,000 (6:30pm)
ABC News 533,000
10 News First 238,000 (5:00pm)/ 192,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 128,000 (6:30pm)/ 98,000 (7:00pm)
Daily Current Affairs
A Current Affair 680,000
7.30 405,000
The Project 196,000 6:30pm / 309,000 7pm
Breakfast TV
Sunrise 221,000
Today 207,000
News Breakfast 144,000
Nine has won the night with a primary share of 21.0% and a network share of 28.3%. 7Two has won multichannels with a 3.3% share.
Nine’s A Current Affair (680,000) interviewed the Fren Family from Travel Guides, who shared a behind-the-scenes look at daughter Victoria’s wedding day to now-husband Nathan. The series also showcased 92-year-old Erma Crane, who has been forced to bounce from one rental property to another while waiting for an insurance giant to fix up her flooded home. Then, we joined our guides as they got behind the wheel on a real rural road trip through the New South Wales Riverina and Victorian High Country on Travel Guides. It was a week of tasty treats, Aussie history and quirky country living. 622,000 tuned in. Then, 189,000 watched a repeat of the premiere episode of The Summit.
473,000 began their evening in Summer Bay with Seven’s Home and Away, as Justin and Leah prepared for an emotional farewell, Marilyn’s crusade drew unwanted attention and Tane showed his cousin compassion in the face of betrayal before 469,000 stayed on for The 1% Club. 207,000 then watched Brenda’s Story on US drama Accused, followed by 113,000 tuning in for another episode of the series, Laura’s Story.
On 10, The Project’s (196,000 6:30pm / 309,000 7pm) Waleed Aly spoke to inspirational actor Michael J Fox via satellite. Fox, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 1991, spoke about how early detection is key to eliminating the disease and how it’s the “gift that keeps on taking”. Shane Jenek, also known as Courtney Act also shared a message for the LGBTQIA+ community in the face of increasing hostility. Then, it was the first service challenge of the season on MasterChef with former contestants Sashi Cheliah and Matt Sinclair acting as team captains. The Blue Team were victorious with their Prawns with Cucumber Raita entree and outstanding Fish Curry with Cumin Rice main, sending them into Thursday’s Immunity challenge. 408,000 tuned in.
405,000 watched ABC’s 7.30. The team spoke with Cameron Chalmers and Dean Eastway, two men who were first responders to the harrowing school bus crash that took place west of Melbourne on May 16. They were driving behind the truck that caused the collision. The show also investigated how women are dipping into their superannuation for egg-freezing procedures and looked at how the Federal Budget did little to ease the hefty student loan debts of three million Australians. 430,000 then watched Hard Quiz as experts were quizzed on Hello Kitty, Triumph motorcycles, actor Michael J. Fox, and composers Gilbert and Sullivan. Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe brought in 116,000. Things took a turn for the farcical when the team re-invited a reviewer who had just given them a one-star review.
The highest rating non-news show on SBS was Alone Australia. 203,000 tuned in as the final three battled the elements as they reached the four-week mark. Michael decided to move camps, Mike took off in his kayak once again, and Gina made the decision to track down a wallaby instead of living off of trout.