David Bird
15-04-05, 01:45 PM
NOTHING beat SBS in the TV ratings on Wednesday night, but in glum news for the public broadcaster, that nothing was a blank screen on Channel 7.
After a mystery technical snarl sent Seven off the air, viewers remained staunch. And its 48 minutes of beige, blank, soundless screen was preferred over SBS and, at times, the ABC.
At 9.09pm, viewers of the Blue Heelers episode Killing Time found themselves doing just that.
And at 9.30, when Air Crash Investigation was scheduled, the only thing down was Seven, still.
For Melbourne viewers, though, Seven's impromptu version of Blankety Blanks wasn't the worst thing on.
SBS's Dateline program tracking a volunteer doctor through the Congo had 105,000 fewer Melbourne viewers than Seven's non-event. And the ABC's acclaimed new comedy Nighty Night could have gone to bed early. It drew 35,000 fewer viewers than Seven's ad, sound and vision-free offering.
Even at its lowest point, the blank screen had 88,000 fans - more than anything SBS ran all day.
But SBS spokesman Mike Field said he wouldn't be losing any sleep about that and described his disrupted opposition as "poor buggers".
"We never go head-to-head with them. We are a very distinct offering," he said.
Mr Field said loyalty and human nature explained Blue Heelers fans hanging on so staunchly.
Seven's managing director Ian Johnson was surprised how many viewers the ratings recorded.
Normal service did not resume in Melbourne until 9.57pm.
The second and third parts of Blue Heelers will be shown back-to-back on Wednesday from 8.30pm.
By Terry Brown
April 15, 2005
Source (http://entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,12862725-10229,00.html)
After a mystery technical snarl sent Seven off the air, viewers remained staunch. And its 48 minutes of beige, blank, soundless screen was preferred over SBS and, at times, the ABC.
At 9.09pm, viewers of the Blue Heelers episode Killing Time found themselves doing just that.
And at 9.30, when Air Crash Investigation was scheduled, the only thing down was Seven, still.
For Melbourne viewers, though, Seven's impromptu version of Blankety Blanks wasn't the worst thing on.
SBS's Dateline program tracking a volunteer doctor through the Congo had 105,000 fewer Melbourne viewers than Seven's non-event. And the ABC's acclaimed new comedy Nighty Night could have gone to bed early. It drew 35,000 fewer viewers than Seven's ad, sound and vision-free offering.
Even at its lowest point, the blank screen had 88,000 fans - more than anything SBS ran all day.
But SBS spokesman Mike Field said he wouldn't be losing any sleep about that and described his disrupted opposition as "poor buggers".
"We never go head-to-head with them. We are a very distinct offering," he said.
Mr Field said loyalty and human nature explained Blue Heelers fans hanging on so staunchly.
Seven's managing director Ian Johnson was surprised how many viewers the ratings recorded.
Normal service did not resume in Melbourne until 9.57pm.
The second and third parts of Blue Heelers will be shown back-to-back on Wednesday from 8.30pm.
By Terry Brown
April 15, 2005
Source (http://entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,12862725-10229,00.html)