Fed: So You Think You Can Dance puts Ten on top

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2008
Fed: So You Think You Can Dance puts Ten on top

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - Network Ten's So You Think You Can Dance Australia has come out
on top on the first night of the television ratings period with 1.6 million people tuning
into the hit show.

The reality dance program hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte edged out Nine's coverage
of the cricket which netted 1.511 million viewers.

Seven's 6pm news brought in 1.489 million watchers to come in third.

Since attracting almost two million people to its premiere last week, So You Think
You Can Dance continued to pull in big audiences across the country all week.

Last night's two-hour-and-40-minute special episode, which showed part one of the top
100 contestants' battle to make the top 20, easily beat its rivals in the same timeslot.

Nine's cricket coverage and the movie Shrek2 grabbed 1.52 million viewers.

Seven's combination of a repeat of Kath and Kim, the US series Samantha Who? and the
return of Grey's Anatomy pulled in an average of 1.14 million to come in third.

Despite Ten winning the top spot, the Seven Network dominated the night, scoring five
shows in the top 10.

Last night also saw the return of two hit US TV shows for Seven, with Grey's Anatomy
the sixth most watched show of the night, and Brothers and Sisters 11th.

A repeat of Kath and Kim managed to pull in 1.072 million viewers and secured 12th
position for the night.

The ABC also had two shows in the top 15, with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple attracting
an average audience of 1.068 million and the ABC News drawing in 897,000 viewers.

The non-ratings period wrapped up on Saturday and Ten was the only network to increase
its audience and share in the major demographics.

Ten's audience grew four per cent in the 18-49 age group, five per cent in the 25-54
group and 3.3 per cent in the over 50 group.

The Nine Network was the worst performer.

It lost ground in all areas, including the important 18-49 demographic, where its audience
decreased by 14.6 per cent.

Seven had mixed results.

Ten's head of programming David Mott said he was confident the momentum would continue
in the ratings period, especially with shows such as Australian Idol, Big Brother, Are
You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, Good News Week and new Australian drama Out of the Blue.

"This year is going to be tougher than ever but we're confident that we'll achieve
our stated goals - grow in 18-49, deepen our appeal in 25-54, and lead in 16-39," Mr Mott
said.

AAP kaf/sco/cdh

KEYWORD: RATINGS

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