The Big Bang Theory, Penny and Leonard (Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki)

Not the winners of Beauty and the Geek, but close, from The Big Bang Theory

In the week ending December 1, the prime time audience shares went like this: Seven 17.6 per cent; Nine 17.3 per cent; Pay TV 16.9; ABC1 11.5; Ten 9.3; 7TWO 3.4; SBS1 3.2; GO! 3.9; 7mate 3.6; Eleven 2.7; Gem 2.9; ONE 1.9; ABC2 1.9; ABC3 0.8; ABCnews24 0.8; SBS2 0.8.

Thursday's ratings data for viewers aged 16-39 and viewers aged over 55 demonstrate the massive audience fragmentation this country is going through. If you've ever wondered who is the audience for Beauty and the Geek, who is the audience for Annabel Crab and does anybody follow pop stars any more, examine the charts below.

In the season finale of Justified (showing this week on the Pay TV station FX) the writers found a way to keep Boyd Crowther, the most entertaining villain on television, still in the game. If you didn't see it, track it down on Pay TV or rent the DVD as soon as it comes out. Sadly we must wait till mid-January for the new season of Justified.

Timothy Olyphant stars as US Marshal Raylan Given in <i>Justified</i>.

Raylan saw his enemy disarmed in Justified.

To discuss why Cate Blanchett should play The Ultimate Evil, go to Australian Star Wars.

New Girl is now down to 485,000 viewers -- less than half her early audience -- but Ten rushed to point out this morning that she is in the top ten with viewers aged 16-39. And did anybody see Modern Spies? Should we all catch up?

As it nears its finale, Homeland is creeping upwards. It beat Wallander on Sunday, and, more significantly, it beat Summer With The Weekly, which used to be a seasonal icon.

Put the kettle on ... Seven's Winners and Losers.

Winners and Losers is solid if not spectacular

What Australia watched, week ending December 1

Description Total         Sydney      Melbourne Brisbane    Adelaide    Perth

1       SUNDAY NIGHT  Network 7   1,373,000  348,000     367,000     300,000     134,000     224,000

Zooey Deschanel at Fox's upfront presentation - she will star in this year's <i>The New Girl</i>.

New Girl may look like Yasmin's best friend, but she's focussed on the under-40s Photo: Getty Images

2       NINE NEWS SUNDAY   Network 9   1,331,000  400,000     481,000     220,000     128,000     101,000

3       NINE NEWS SATURDAY       Network 9   1,309,000  388,000     451,000     216,000     129,000     125,000

4       60 MINUTES       Network 9   1,291,000  347,000     423,000     269,000     117,000     136,000

<i>Homeland's</i> Morena Baccarin, left, with Damian Lewis. 'It's a big problem that we haven't quite figured out yet how to control.'

They used to be so happy, in Homeland

5       WINNERS & LOSERS  Network 7   1,168,000  351,000     299,000     233,000     116,000     169,000

6       SEVEN NEWS - SUN    Network 7   1,167,000  318,000     252,000     268,000     129,000     200,000

7       NINE NEWS         Network 9   1,120,000  326,000     367,000     236,000     98,000       93,000

8       THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 3         Network 9   1,088,000  300,000     392,000         194,000     104,000     98,000

9       SEVEN NEWS     Network 7   1,063,000  266,000     249,000     222,000     119,000     207,000

10     HOME AND AWAY       Network 7   990,000     298,000     229,000     212,000     100,000     152,000

11     SEVEN NEWS - SAT    Network 7   965,000     251,000     233,000     194,000     95,000       193,000

12     FIFTY YEARS OF BOND CARS: A TOP GEAR SPECIAL  Network 9   960,000     256,000     296,000     222,000         95,000       91,000

13     NEW TRICKS-FRI        Network ABC1     951,000     262,000     274,000     182,000     105,000     129,000

14     A CURRENT AFFAIR   Network 9   947,000     275,000     301,000     212,000     82,000       77,000

15     SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 2    Network 9   938,000     253,000     328,000         160,000     113,000     85,000

16     THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 2         Network 9   936,000     304,000     364,000         166,000     102,000    

17     TODAY TONIGHT        Network 7   931,000     254,000     216,000     183,000     101,000     176,000

18     ABC NEWS         Network ABC1     925,000     271,000     275,000     147,000     104,000     127,000

19     RBT  Network 9   900,000     280,000     291,000     183,000     74,000       72,000

20     THE BIG BANG THEORY -WED     Network 9   855,000     263,000     230,000     219,000     54,000       89,000

21     BORDER SECURITY (R)      Network 7   847,000     231,000     236,000     157,000     83,000       140,000

22     BONES      Network 7   825,000     225,000     249,000     160,000     95,000       96,000

23     BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Network 7   802,000     246,000     213,000     162,000     60,000       121,000

24     QI      Network ABC1     794,000     232,000     214,000     172,000     79,000       98,000

25     WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: A GRAMMY SALUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON   Network 7   792,000     230,000         217,000     174,000     70,000       100,000

26     DOC MARTIN RPT       Network ABC1     785,000     227,000     210,000     156,000     79,000       113,000

27     MODERN FAMILY        Network TEN       782,000     219,000     259,000     133,000     72,000       99,000

28     MODERN FAMILY RPT         Network TEN       776,000     220,000     243,000     132,000     69,000       111,000

29     AIR WAYS  Network 7   770,000     199,000     219,000     164,000     72,000       117,000

30     THE BIG BANG THEORY -TUE      Network 9   769,000     197,000     236,000     193,000     72,000       71,000

31     FAMILY CONFIDENTIAL RPT        Network ABC1     769,000     227,000     197,000     137,000     83,000         124,000

32     ONCE UPON A TIME    Network 7   759,000     228,000     184,000     171,000     65,000       110,000

(OzTAM mainland capitals)

 

What Australia watched, Friday

Description Total         Sydney            Melbourne       Brisbane          Adelaide          Perth

  1. 1          NINE NEWS     Network 9         1,162,000        363,000           350,000           232,000           112,000           105,000
  2. 2          THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 3    Network 9         1,151,000        335,000           385,000           230,000            112,000           89,000
  3. 3          SEVEN NEWS Network 7         960,000           235,000           241,000           204,000           99,000 180,000
  4. 4          NEW TRICKS-FRI        Network ABC1  951,000           262,000           274,000           182,000           105,000           129,000
  5. 5          THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 2    Network 9         898,000           300,000           338,000           163,000            98,000 Not shown
  6. 6          TODAY TONIGHT       Network 7         871,000           242,000           223,000           164,000           81,000 161,000
  7. 7          BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS       Network 7         802,000           246,000           213,000           162,000           60,000 121,000
  8. 8          M-ROBIN HOOD          Network 7         733,000           236,000           211,000           136,000           59,000 91,000
  9. 9          ABC NEWS      Network ABC1  671,000           184,000           204,000           110,000           72,000 101,000
  10. 10        2012    Network 9         653,000           208,000           253,000           110,000           37,000 45,000
  11. 16        WAKING THE DEAD-FRI          Network ABC1  431,000           99,000 127,000           75,000 51,000 79,000

What Australians aged 16-39 watched, Thursday

Description Total         Sydney      Melbourne Brisbane    Adelaide    Perth

1       BEAUTY AND THE GEEK AUSTRALIA - THE WINNER REVEALED     Network 7   269,000     58,000       93,000         63,000       29,000       26,000

2       BEAUTY AND THE GEEK AUSTRALIA    Network 7   252,000     56,000       82,000       53,000       28,000         34,000

3       JAMIE'S 15 MINUTE MEALS  Network TEN       208,000     67,000       62,000       43,000       14,000       22,000

4       MODERN FAMILY THURS RPT     Network TEN       200,000     62,000       82,000       29,000       11,000         16,000

5       THE BIG BANG THEORY -RPT      Network 9   188,000     47,000       56,000       40,000       8,000         37,000

6       JAMIE'S 15 MINUTE MEALS EP 2  Network TEN       174,000     54,000       44,000       38,000       17,000         22,000

7       ONCE UPON A TIME    Network 7   165,000     50,000       42,000       42,000       12,000       18,000

8       LAW AND ORDER: SVU EP 2 RPT         Network TEN       148,000     48,000       38,000       31,000       13,000         18,000

9       THE PROJECT 6.30PM        Network TEN       147,000     29,000       63,000       26,000       12,000       18,000

10     ARIA AWARDS 2012   Network GO!       147,000     38,000       51,000       32,000       16,000       10,000

11     THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH         Network 7   146,000     44,000       43,000       37,000       12,000       10,000

12     A CURRENT AFFAIR   Network 9   135,000     34,000       45,000       30,000       7,000         19,000

 

What Australians over 55 watched, Thursday

Description Total         Sydney      Melbourne Brisbane    Adelaide    Perth

1       ABC NEWS         Network ABC1     630,000     179,000     209,000     87,000       75,000       81,000

2       SEVEN NEWS     Network 7   585,000     122,000     155,000     127,000     73,000       107,000

3       NINE NEWS         Network 9   553,000     153,000     192,000     93,000       55,000       60,000

4       TODAY TONIGHT        Network 7   509,000     128,000     125,000     92,000       60,000       104,000

5       7.30  Network ABC1     507,000     162,000     137,000     88,000       62,000       58,000

6       A CURRENT AFFAIR   Network 9   461,000     130,000     159,000     81,000       49,000       42,000

7       TEN NEWS AT FIVE    Network TEN       351,000     98,000       95,000       52,000       39,000       67,000

8       HOT SEAT Network 9   347,000     83,000       110,000     83,000       32,000       40,000

9       KITCHEN CABINET      Network ABC1     342,000     108,000     84,000       57,000       49,000       44,000

10     GETAWAY Network 9   341,000     100,000     100,000     64,000       39,000       38,000

11     REDFERN NOW Network ABC1     334,000     95,000       104,000     51,000       40,000       44,000

12     AIR WAYS  Network 7   310,000     74,000       76,000       69,000       32,000       59,000

 

What Australia watched, Wednesday

Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

1 SEVEN NEWS 7 1,068,000 306,000 218,000 239,000 108,000 197,000
2 NINE NEWS 9 998,000 280,000 284,000 251,000 90,000 93,000
3 HOME AND AWAY 7 996,000 307,000 233,000 199,000 97,000 159,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT 7 978,000 294,000 224,000 190,000 104,000 165,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC1 967,000 290,000 280,000 157,000 102,000 139,000
6 THE BIG BANG THEORY 9 855,000 263,000 230,000 219,000 54,000 89,000
8 QI ABC1 792,000 233,000 212,000 172,000 78,000 97,000
10 HOT PROPERTY 9 679,000 219,000 204,000 147,000 43,000 66,000
11 GRIMM 7 671,000 245,000 128,000 136,000 68,000 95,000
12 BIG FAT GYPSY WEDDINGS 9 671,000 201,000 238,000 107,000 54,000 71,000
16 GRIMM-EP.2 7 592,000 231,000 121,000 100,000 69,000 71,000
17 GLEE TEN 569,000 181,000 162,000 95,000 66,000 65,000
18 A MOODY CHRISTMAS ABC1 551,000 156,000 163,000 97,000 50,000 85,000
22 THE GOOD WIFE TEN 509,000 126,000 172,000 106,000 58,000 46,000
28 PROBLEMS ABC1 325,000 90,000 93,000 62,000 31,000 48,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday

Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

1 WINNERS & LOSERS 7 1,172,000 352,000 300,000 234,000 116,000 169,000

2 SEVEN NEWS 7 1,078,000 255,000 262,000 228,000 123,000 210,000

3 NINE NEWS 9 1,064,000 312,000 358,000 242,000 78,000 74,000

4 HOME AND AWAY 7 982,000 298,000 210,000 228,000 103,000 143,000

5 A CURRENT AFFAIR 9 964,000 297,000 314,000 209,000 75,000 69,000

7 FIFTY YEARS OF BOND CARS: A TOP GEAR SPECIAL 9 957,000 255,000 295,000 221,000 95,000 91,000

9 ONCE UPON A TIME 7 838,000 259,000 198,000 196,000 67,000 118,000

18 GREY'S ANATOMY-TUE 7 586,000 147,000 173,000 135,000 62,000 69,000

32 NEIGHBOURS ELEVEN 283,000 63,000 76,000 52,000 40,000 53,000

 

What Australia watched, Monday

Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

1 NINE NEWS Network 9 1,389,000 429,000 492,000 262,000 127,000 79,000

2 SEVEN NEWS Network 7 1,198,000 304,000 289,000 229,000 136,000 240,000

3 A CURRENT AFFAIR Network 9 1,147,000 317,000 385,000 258,000 116,000 71,000

4 ABC NEWS Network ABC1 1,077,000 289,000 325,000 193,000 129,000 141,000

5 TODAY TONIGHT Network 7 1,005,000 265,000 230,000 203,000 113,000 194,000

9 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: A GRAMMY SALUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON Network 7 792,000 230,000 217,000 174,000 70,000 100,000

10 FAMILY CONFIDENTIAL Network ABC1 765,000 227,000 195,000 137,000 83,000 124,000

13 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 2 Network 9 715,000 192,000 248,000 137,000 85,000 52,000

16 MEDIA WATCH Network ABC1 661,000 209,000 200,000 108,000 64,000 80,000

18 MODERN SPIES Network ABC1 629,000 171,000 184,000 113,000 61,000 100,000

19 Q&A Network ABC1 620,000 206,000 186,000 98,000 68,000 62,000

24 CAN OF WORMS - BEST OF LIVE Network TEN 491,000 148,000 125,000 111,000 50,000 57,000

25 NEW GIRL MON Network TEN 485,000 139,000 127,000 106,000 48,000 64,000

 

What Australia watched, Sunday

Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth

1 SUNDAY NIGHT 7 1,378,000 349,000 369,000 301,000 134,000 224,000

2 NINE NEWS SUNDAY 9 1,332,000 400,000 481,000 220,000 128,000  102,000

3 60 MINUTES 9 1,302,000 349,000 427,000 272,000 118,000 137,000

4 SEVEN NEWS - SUN 7 1,167,000 318,000 252,000 268,000 129,000 200,000

5 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA SESSION 2 9 1,135,000 309,000 398,000 176,000 135,000 117,000

6 AIR WAYS 7 893,000 226,000 265,000 190,000 90,000 122,000

8 BONES 7 824,000 225,000 249,000 161,000 95,000 95,000

9 MODERN FAMILY TEN 785,000 220,000 260,000 133,000 72,000 100,000

11 MICHAEL PALIN'S BRAZIL ABC1 739,000 197,000 228,000 133,000 83,000 98,000

14 HOMELAND TEN 711,000 193,000 230,000 137,000 63,000 88,000

16 SUMMER WITH THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY 9 674,000 204,000 249,000 113,000 59,000 48,000

17 WALLANDER ABC1 610,000 160,000 175,000 121,000 72,000 82,000

19 MERLIN TEN 529,000 126,000 158,000 122,000 55,000 68,000

29 M-THE BOURNE IDENTITY 7mate 247,000 58,000 81,000 40,000 36,000 32,000

(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

 

This is the daily update of The Sun-Herald's Who We Are column by David Dale, who teaches Communications at UTS, Sydney. He is the author of The Little Book of Australia - A snapshot of Who We Are (Allen and Unwin). For continuing conversation about Australian attitudes, bookmark The Tribal Mind.