After less than three days of play in the series-deciding Third Test, cricket rights holders Seven and Fox Cricket have been guaranteed good TV ratings for a fifth day of the Fourth Test. Weather permitting of course as there is a forecast for showers later in the day.
Saturday offered a feast for cricket fans with Usman Khawaja putting on another batting display and then England again showing some staying power in the final overs of the day.
The evening delivered two Big Bash League games on Fox Cricket with wins for Sydney Thunder and then Hobart Hurricanes.
Elsewhere there was more tennis on Nine which helped deliver a winning Saturday primetime network share of 32.9%.
There was also A-League action on 10 and an AFLW double-header on Seven. The WNBL on ABC was postponed.
TV ratings: Fourth Ashes Test
Day One Sydney (Wednesday)
Seven and Fox Cricket
First session Total: 871,000
Seven: 661,000 (Metro 436,000 Regional 225,000) Fox 210,000
Second session Total: 890,000
Seven: 661,000 (Metro 421,000 Regional 240,000) Fox 229,000
Third session Total: 1,070,000
Seven: 827,000 (Metro 559,000 Regional 268,000) Fox 243,000
Day Two Sydney (Thursday)
Seven and Fox Cricket
First session Total: 858,000
Seven: 646,000 (Metro 451,000 Regional 195,000) Fox 212,000
Second session Total: 1,154,000
Seven: 886,000 (Metro 621,000 Regional 265,000) Fox 268,000
Third session Total: 1,504,000
Seven: 1,171,000 (Metro 789,000 Regional 382,000) Fox 333,000
Day Three Sydney (Friday)
Seven and Fox Cricket
First session Total: 940,000
Seven: 807,000 (Metro 550,000 Regional 257,000) Fox 133,000
Second session Total: 1,319,000
Seven: 1,030,000 (Metro 714,000 Regional 316,000) Fox 289,000
Third session Total: 1,553,000
Seven: 1,212,000 (Metro 830,000 Regional 382,000) Fox 341,000
Day Four Sydney (Saturday)
Seven and Fox Cricket
First session Total: 1,036,000
Seven: 799,000 (Metro 528,000 Regional 271,000) Fox 237,000
Second session Total: 1,312,000
Seven: 1,024,000 (Metro 688,000 Regional 336,000) Fox 288,000
Third session Total: 1,647,000
Seven: 1,290,000 (Metro 859,000 Regional 431,000) Fox 357,000
Saturday TV ratings Metro primetime shares primary/network
ABC 10.4% (16.6%)
Seven 18.5% (28.1%)
Nine 20.0% (32.9%)
10 5.2% (12.6%)
SBS 5.4% (9.8%)
#1 Multi Go! 4.5%
See also: Weekend TV ratings Friday January 7, 2022
Saturday TV ratings Metro top 20 all people
| 1 | SEVEN NEWS – SATURDAY | Channel 7 | 1,023,000 |
| 2 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: FOURTH TEST – THE ASHES D4 S3 | Channel 7 | 859,000 |
| 3 | NINE NEWS SATURDAY | Channel 9 | 830,000 |
| 4 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: FOURTH TEST – THE ASHES D4 S2 | Channel 7 | 688,000 |
| 5 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: FOURTH TEST – THE ASHES D4 TEA | Channel 7 | 660,000 |
| 6 | A CURRENT AFFAIR | Channel 9 | 556,000 |
| 7 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: FOURTH TEST – THE ASHES D4 S1 LUNCH | Channel 7 | 542,000 |
| 8 | ABC NEWS | ABC TV | 542,000 |
| 9 | SEVEN’S CRICKET: FOURTH TEST – THE ASHES D4 S1 | Channel 7 | 528,000 |
| 10 | THE LARKINS | ABC TV | 343,000 |
| 11 | M: TWISTER | Channel 9 | 314,000 |
| 12 | LIVE: BBL PRE GAME | FOX CRICKET | 271,000 |
| 13 | WEEKEND SUNRISE SATURDAY | Channel 7 | 253,000 |
| 14 | 10 NEWS FIRST SATURDAY | Channel 10 | 252,000 |
| 15 | COUNTRY HOUSE HUNTERS AUSTRALIA | Channel 9 | 245,000 |
| 16 | WEEKEND TODAY SATURDAY LATE | Channel 9 | 241,000 |
| 17 | LIVE: THE ASHES: AUS V ENG 4TH TEST D4 | FOX CRICKET | 232,000 |
| 18 | LIVE: THE ASHES TEA BREAK | FOX CRICKET | 214,000 |
| 19 | WEEKEND SUNRISE SATURDAY EARLY | Channel 7 | 202,000 |
| 20 | US | ABC TV | 197,000 |
Saturday Sports FTA and STV
AFLW Seven/7mate and Fox Footy
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Seven/7mate 168,000
Fox Footy 51,000
Fremantle v West Coast
Seven/7mate 98,000
Fox Footy 33,000
Football
A-League
10
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide
84,000 (Metro)
Basketball
WNBL ABC
Melbourne Boomers v Canberra Capitals
Postponed
Cricket
Big Bash League Fox Cricket
Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder 190,000/165,000
Brisbane Heat v Hobert Hurricanes 161,000/137,000
Tennis
Nine’s Summer of Tennis Day 6 (n) Go! 96,000
ATP Cup Day 8 (d) 43,000