The 2026 ratings season officially kicked off last night at 7:30pm with a clash-of-the-titans in a head-to-head.
While the networks have spent weeks teasing their big season returns, the first overnights reveal how the audience is actually falling.
The verdict: Nine takes the night, Seven takes the reach
The initial numbers suggest the battle lines are clearly drawn. Nine’s MAFS flexed its muscles to secure the top entertainment spot, pulling a national Total TV reach of over 2.8 million.
It’s a nuptial knockout
The network successfully converted new nuptial drama into immediate eyeballs.
Seven’s Idol proved to be a resilient counter. The premiere held its own with a national reach of 1.8 million. While it didn’t topple the wedding cake, Seven is claiming a win in the ‘pure family entertainment’ category.
The network notes that Idol is trending higher in regional markets where recent infrastructure acquisitions bolstered their footprint.
Australian Idol finds the heartland
Drama dominates the digital shift
Nine walked down the aisle with Series 13 of Married At First Sight. The results confirm that the nation’s appetite for high-stakes romance remains high.
Beyond the linear numbers, the BVOD data on 9Now is already showing double-digit growth.
This performance proves that the under-40 demographic is increasingly watching on its own terms. By positioning the MAFS return directly after the Australian Open, Nine successfully transitioned sports fans into reality chaos before their Winter Olympics broadcast begins with previews this Wednesday.
Seven banks on heartland connections
Seven isn’t licking any wounds yet, though. The 105-minute Idol premiere was a calculated move to hold the family demographic through a marathon of auditions.
By focusing on ‘authentic talent’ and emotional narratives, they’re positioning the show as a brand-safe haven for advertisers who are wary of volatile reality drama.
The network is using these results to champion its Total TV narrative. They’re banking on the fact that while Nine wins the scandal-watchers, Seven owns the heartland.
Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was stable
Ten finds stability in the jungle
Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was stable. By reaching 1,097,000 viewers, Ten maintained a steady alternative. They’ll be hoping to hang on and build momentum toward the return of Australian Survivor later this month.
Source: VOZ © OzTAM 2026. National Total TV Reach, Overnight (Live + As Live), Feb 2, 2026.