As media bosses warn federal MPs in Canberra today that allowing metropolitan TV networks to merge with regional broadcasters could threaten local content, the latest prime-time ratings show how hard WIN TV would be hit if it lost access to Nine's programming.
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The Gillard government's proposal to scrap rules preventing commercial broadcasters reaching more than 75 per cent of the population is being examined on Monday by a hastily convened parliamentary committee.
Scrapping the reach rule could pave the way for a mooted $4billion merger of Nine Entertainment Co and Southern Cross.
This could force WIN to surrender its current Nine programming to Southern Cross and switch to showing the lower-rating programs of the struggling Ten Network.
The Bermuda-based owner of WIN, Bruce Gordon, currently holds a 14 per cent stake in Ten, which along with WIN opposes a Nine-Southern Cross tie-up.
Survey 1 ratings data for the Canberra market shows WIN winning in prime-time thanks to such popular Nine programs as The Block All Stars, rugby league telecasts, 60 Minutes and The Big Bang Theory.
Southern Cross, which currently carries Ten programs in regional markets, is running fourth overall behind the ABC.
Ratings for the Canberra market show Southern Cross Ten's share of nightly audiences has slid as low as 8 per cent over the first month of the 2013 ratings battle.
While Prime7's My Kitchen Rules and WIN's The Block All Stars are Canberra's most-watched programs so far this year, Southern Cross Ten has struggled to draw a crowd with the likes of MasterChef: The Professionals, Mr and Mrs Murder and The Simpsons.
Across the week, Southern Cross Ten's main channel is running fourth behind ABC1, with 11.2 per cent of the free-to-air audience between 6pm and midnight.
WIN wins prime-time in Canberra with a 22.3 per cent share for its main channel, followed by Prime7, with 20.1 per cent, and ABC1, with 13.6.
Southern Cross Ten's best night is Tuesday (when it draws 17.1 per cent of the audience), though it still ranks third behind Prime7 and WIN.
The Ten affiliate's weakest night is Thursday, when its main channel's audience share drops to 8 per cent – not much more than its own digital offshoot, Eleven (6.4 per cent).
WIN's main channel, boosted by the six-nights-a-week success of Nine's The Block All Stars, wins the Canberra ratings on Sundays (with a 20.9 share), Mondays (26.8), Wednesdays (25.5), Thursdays (23.1) and Fridays (22.4).
Prime7 comes first on Tuesdays (21.6) and Saturdays (19.4).
The ABC1's strongest night is Monday (16.8) and SBS1 gets its biggest share on Sunday (6.3).
The home cooks and home renovators of My Kitchen Rules and The Block, respectively, account for 10 of the 20 highest-rating programs in Canberra.
WIN's 6.30pm local news bulletin, presented by newsreader Danielle Post, is the ninth most-watched program in the capital, with an estimated 37,733 viewers.
WIN's 6pm relay of National Nine News ranks 13th, with 36,882 viewers.
The 7pm Canberra news bulletin on ABC1 does not rate a mention among Canberra's 20 most-watched programs.
