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RELEASE OF AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTIONS

TV ratings: Documentaries

Top-rating Australian documentaries on television, 1998–2009

Next update to be advised

Five-city metro average: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
Sydney: 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

2009

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line	7	1,499	10.3
2	Find My Family	7	1,488	10.2
3	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line (Monday)	7	1,480	10.2
4	The Zoo	7	1,475	10.1
5	RSPCA Animal Rescue	7	1,433	9.8
6	Surf Patrol	7	1,415	9.7
7	Triple Zero Heroes	7	1,389	9.5
8	Last Chance Surgery	7	1,378	9.5
9	Air Ways	7	1,369	9.4
10	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line (repeat)	7	1,359	9.3
11	Highway Patrol	7	1,353	9.3
12	The Force: Behind The Line	7	1,346	9.2
13	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line (Wednesday) (repeat)	7	1,285	8.8
14	Bondi Rescue	10	1,267	8.7
15	Recruits	10	1,224	8.4

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2009, program average.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.
World's Strictest Parents has not been included as a documentary in the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) Australian content compliance results for 2009 so it has not been included in this listing although it was included in Screen Australia's report Documentary production in Australia, 2010, published earlier.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2008

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Find My Family	7	1,803	12.7
2	The Zoo (Tuesday)	7	1,688	11.9
3	Border Security: Australia's Front Line	7	1,610	11.3
4	The Force: Behind the Line	7	1,598	11.2
5	Schapelle Corby: The Hidden Truth	9	1,589	11.2
6	Border Security: Australia's Front Line (repeat)	7	1,580	11.1
7	RSPCA Animal Rescue	7	1,578	11.1
8	RSPCA Animal Rescue (repeat)	7	1,561	11.0
9	Find My Family – Reunions	7	1,519	10.7
10	The Force: Behind the Line (repeat)	7	1,469	10.3
11	The Farmer Wants a Wife	9	1,403	9.9
12	Bondi Rescue	10	1,390	9.8
13	Bondi Rescue (repeat)	10	1,364	9.6
14	Surf Patrol	7	1,363	9.6
15	Schapelle Corby: The Hidden Truth (Part 2)	9	1,280	9.0

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2008, program average.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2007

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	The Force: Behind the Line (Monday)	7	1,845	13.1
2	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line	7	1,828	13.0
3	RSPCA Animal Rescue	7	1,709	12.2
4	Medical Emergency	7	1,695	12.1
5	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line (repeat)	7	1,558	11.1
6	Surf Patrol	7	1,454	10.3
7	RSPCA Animal Rescue (Wednesday)	7	1,396	9.9
8	RPA	9	1,372	9.8
9	Missing Persons Unit	9	1,298	9.2
10	Constructing Australia – The Bridge	ABC	1,245	8.9
11	Medical Emergency (Wednesday)	7	1,242	8.8
12	Bondi Rescue (repeat)	10	1,226	8.7
13	RPA Where Are They Now?	9	1,222	8.7
14	The Sounds of Aus	ABC	1,221	8.7
15	The Return of the 707	7	1,210	8.6

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2007, program average.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2006

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line	7	2,119	15.2
2	Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler?	ABC	1,782	12.8
3	Border Security (Wednesday)	7	1,569	11.2
4	Missing Person Unit	9	1,336	9.6
5	Medical Emergency (Sunday)	7	1,181	8.5
6	RPA	9	1,165	8.3
7	The ABC of Our Lives: 50 Years of Television	ABC	1,157	8.3
8	Bondi Rescue	10	1,064	7.6
9	The World Around Us – Survival in the Bush with Malcolm Douglas (Part 2)	7	1,055	7.6
10	The Good, the Bad and the Ugg Boot	ABC	1,023	7.3
11	The Floating Brothel	ABC	1,006	7.2
12	Dynasties	ABC	998	7.1
13	My Favourite Australian Story	ABC	944	6.8
14	Life At 1	ABC	940	6.7
15	Peking to Paris	ABC	932	6.7

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2006, program average.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2005

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line	7	1,822	13.2
2	Mythbusters – Jaws Special	7	1,730	12.5
3	Graham Kennedy: The King of Television	9	1,605	11.6
4	RPA	9	1,531	11.1
5	Border Security: Australia’s Front Line	7	1,236	8.9
6	The World Around Us – Backyard Killers	7	1,068	7.7
7	Australian Story	ABC	1,055	7.6
8	The World Around Us – Australia’s Deadliest Destinations 7	7	1,037	7.5
9	Outback House	ABC	1,020	7.4
10	The World Around Us – Australia’s Deadliest Destinations 2	7	962	7.0
11	Dynasties	ABC	957	6.9
12	The World Around Us – Australia’s Deadliest Destinations 6	7	947	6.9
13	Frank Hurley: The Man Who Made History	ABC	943	6.8
14	The World Around Us – Treasures of the Australian Savannah (Part 1)	7	926	6.7
15	The Op Shop Ladies of Emerald Hill	ABC	923	6.7

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2005, program average.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2004

Rank	Title	Network	Sydney Households (‘000)	Rating
1	Australian Story – Into the Forest (Part 1)	ABC	274	18.2
2	Dynasties – Durack Dreaming (The Duracks)	ABC	265	17.6
3	Wild Australasia – Island Arks	ABC	250	16.6
4	RPA (series)	9	242	16.1
5	The World Around Us – Greece is the Word (Part 1)	7	238	15.9
6	From the Heart – The Kimberley	ABC	224	14.9
7	Our Boys: Filipe	ABC	204	13.5
8	Family Story – Taylor Made	ABC	204	13.6
9	Colour of War: The Anzacs – The War That Never Ends	9	203	13.5
10	Richard Morecroft Goes Wild – Dolphins: Deep Thinkers?	ABC	201	13.4
11	Shipwreck Detectives – Pacific Graveyard (Part 1)	ABC	200	13.3
11=	In Search of the Lost Railwayman	7	200	13.3
13	Moulin Rouge Girls – Fight the Feather	ABC	194	12.9
14	Kimberley Cops – End of the Road	ABC	191	12.7
15	Hell on Ice	ABC	181	12.1

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All Sydney metro households, 1 January to 31 December 2004.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2003

Rank	Title	Network	Sydney Households (‘000)	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	289	19.4
2	Australian Story – The Trouble With Charlie	ABC	274	18.4
3	Dynasties – The Kidman Family	ABC	228	15.3
4	Platypus: World's Strangest Animal	ABC	210	14.1
5	A Case for the Coroner (Part 1)	ABC	202	13.5
6	Love is in the Air (Part 1)	ABC	198	13.3
7	Plumpton High Babies – Nowhere Else to Go	ABC	191	12.8
8	Family Foibles – Upstairs Downstairs	ABC	190	12.7
9	Police Training Academy – The Ties That Bind	ABC	186	12.5
10	The Dalton Sisters	ABC	174	11.7
11	Unfit to Command	ABC	167	11.2
12	From the Heart – The Reef	ABC	166	11.1
13	Outlawed: The Real Ned Kelly	ABC	161	10.8
14	Treasure Hunt	ABC	157	10.5
15	Big Country Revisited – Keepers of the Light	ABC	157	10.5

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All Sydney metro households, 1 January to 31 December 2003.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2002

Rank	Title	Network	Sydney Households (‘000)	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	300	20.7
2	Australian Story – A Big Hand for Ruth	ABC	278	19.2
3	Young Talent Time Tells All	10	204	14.1
4	Dynasties – The Myers of Melbourne	ABC	200	13.9
5	The Murdochs	ABC	188	13.0
6	Glenn Ridge's Outback	9	179	12.4
7	Alien Underworld	ABC	178	12.3
8	Kimberley Cops – Gone From Diggers	ABC	175	12.1
9	A Big Country Revisited – Mario II Pescatore	ABC	172	11.9
10	Croc Country (Part 4)	ABC	171	11.8
11	Deadly Rivals – Strictly Latin	ABC	166	11.5
12	Cricket in the ‘70s: The Chappall Era (Part 2)	ABC	163	11.3
13	The World Around Us – Animal Weapons	7	162	11.2
14	Australia's Island Gems	9	153	10.6
15	The Crocodile Hunter (series)	10	139	9.6

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All Sydney metro households, 1 January to 31 December 2002.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2001

Rank	Title	Network	Sydney Households (‘000)	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	352	24.8
2	Australian Story – Shining Through: Shane Gould	ABC	237	16.7
3	The World Around Us – Trek around the Pilbara	7	235	16.5
4	The Crocodile Hunter (series) – A Handful of Elephants (episode)	10	215	15.1
5	The World Around Us – Shadow of the Shark – The Underwater Lives of Ron and Valerie (series)	7	214	15.1
6	The World Around Us – In the Bush with Malcolm Douglas and his Dog Boondie	7	212	14.9
7	Australian Story – Vanishing Point – The Barrow Creek Mystery	ABC	209	14.7
8	The World Around Us – Cherry Blossom Trail	7	205	14.4
9	Selling Australia (series) – Tourist Town (episode)	ABC	204	14.4
10	Long Way to the Top (series) – Berserk Warriors (episode)	ABC	202	14.2
11	Australian Story – Best of Friends	ABC	200	14.1
12	The World Around Us – Travel to the Lost City	7	200	14.1
13	The World Around Us – Caribbean Blue	7	200	14.0
14	The World Around Us – Into the Blue: The Real Blue Mountains	7	198	13.9
15	The Academy (series)– Everyone's Full Bottle Now (episode)	ABC	198	13.9

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All Sydney metro households, 1 January to 31 December 2001.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2000

Rank	Title	Network	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	28.9
2	Bronte’s Story	9	21.8
3	Who Killed Sallie-Anne?	7	21.6
4	Quentin: The World at My Wheels	10	19.7
5	Glenn Ridge's Outback (series) (repeat)	9	18.6
6	The World Around Us – Fire and Ice: The Many Moods of Thredbo (repeat)	7	17.6
7	The World Around Us – Cycling Mongolia	7	17.0
8	Our World – Leyland’s Australia (series)	9	16.5
9	Bondi (series)	ABC	16.4
9=	The World Around Us – Hunter Magic	7	16.4
11	Pozieres	9	16.1
12	Australian Outback Adventures – Ben Dark’s Carpentaria to Cooper Creek (repeat)	9	15.9
13	Castaways	9	15.8
14	The Human Journey (series)	ABC	15.1
14=	The World Around Us – The Great Australian Trek	7	15.1

Source: ACNielsen; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
Household viewing, 1 January to 31 December 2000.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

1999

Rank	Title	Network	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	28.2
2	Our Century (series)	9	23.8
3	Our Country (series)	9	23.2
4	Doing Time (series)	9	20.2
5	Learners (series)	7	19.3
6	The World Around Us – Magic Harbour	7	18.8
7	Our World – Call of Kakadu (repeat)	9	18.7
8	The World Around Us – Across the Roof of the World	7	18.6
9	Our World – Ben Dark’s Highways to the Top End – The Kimberley	9	18.5
10	The World Around Us – Highlands Charm	7	17.8
11	The World Around Us – Wildest Antarctica	7	17.7
12	King's School (series)	ABC	17.5
13	The World Around Us – Fire and Ice: The Many Moods of Thredbo	7	16.7
14	Around Australia with Malcolm Douglas – Survival in the Outback (Part 1) (repeat)	9	16.3
15	This Fabulous Century (series)	7	16.2

Source: ACNielsen; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
Household viewing, 1 January to 31 December 1999.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

1998

Rank	Title	Network	Rating
1	RPA (series)	9	29.0
2	Our World – Glenn Ridge: Time in the Kimberley	9	23.6
3	Our World – Nullarbor Adventure: A Breed of Their Own	9	21.9
4	Our World – Great Rail Journeys of Queensland	9	21.3
5	Our World – Africa High and Wild (series)	9	20.5
6	Our World – Deadly Australians (series) – Urban (episode) (repeat)	9	20.0
7	The World Around Us – Antarctica Alive!	7	19.9
8	Our World – Dermott Brereton: My Ireland	9	19.4
9	Our World – Bali: The Ride of Our Lives	9	19.3
10	Our World – Great Australian Train Journeys (series) – The Ghan (episode)	9	19.2
11	Our World – Australia’s Killer Creatures	9	18.8
12	The World Around Us – Blue Mountains Magic	7	18.3
13	Our World – Heartland	9	18.2
13=	The World Around Us – One Wet Season	7	18.2
14	The Crocodile Hunter (series) – Outlaws of the Outback (Part 1)	9	18.1

Source: ACNielsen; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
Household viewing, 1 January to 31 December 1998.
For series, rating is for the highest-rating episode, not an average across the series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

Free-to-air TV: Ratings: Top-rating programs: Documentaries