In the archive
Australian content on television

Top-rating Australian mini-series on television,1998–2009

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

2009

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 1)	9	2,582	17.7
2	Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities	9	2,127	14.6
3	Sea Patrol	9	1,332	9.1
4	Sea Patrol (Episode 1)	9	1,284	8.8
5	Sea Patrol (Episode 2)	9	1,244	8.5
6	Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 1) (repeat)	9	801	5.5
7	Underbelly Uncut (Episode 1) (repeat)	9	761	5.2
8	East of Everything	ABC1	677	4.6
9	Underbelly Uncut (Episode 2) (repeat)	9	647	4.4
10	Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 2) (repeat)	9	629	4.3

Source: OzTAM; compiled Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2009.
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.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2008

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Underbelly	9	1,707	12.0
2	Sea Patrol II	9	1,374	9.7
3	Bed of Roses	ABC1	971	6.8
4	East of Everything	ABC1	789	5.5
5	Rain Shadow (repeat)	ABC1	648	4.6
6	Canal Road	9	424	3.0
7	East West 101	SBS	336	2.4

Source: OzTAM; compiled Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2008.
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.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008.
1. Rating is equal to TARP (Target Audience Rating Point).

2007

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Sea Patrol	9	1,523	10.8
2	Bastard Boys (Part 1)	ABC	972	6.9
3	Bastard Boys (Part 2)	ABC	915	6.5
4	Rain Shadow	ABC	911	6.5
5	Sea Patrol (Episode 13)	9	542	3.9
6	East West 101	SBS	328	2.3

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2007.
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	Answered by Fire (Part 1)	ABC	1,008	7.2
2	Tripping Over	10	913	6.5
3	Answered by Fire (Part 2)	ABC	835	6.0
4	Two Twisted	9	721	5.2

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2006.
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	Mary Bryant (Part 1)	10	1,562	11.3
2	Mary Bryant (Part 2)	10	1,328	9.6
3	Blue Murder	ABC	1,246	9.0

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2005.
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	Total people (‘000)	Rating
1	Jessica (Part 1)	10	1,583	11.6
2	Jessica (Part 2)	10	1,570	11.5
3	Through My Eyes (Part 1)	7	1,011	7.4
4	Through My Eyes (Part 2)	7	824	6.0

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2004.
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	Total people (‘000)	Rating
1	After the Deluge (Part 1)	10	1,298	9.6
2	The Shark Net (Part 1)	ABC	1,051	7.8
3	After the Deluge (Part 2)	10	1,024	7.6
4	The Shark Net (Part 2)	ABC	815	6.0
5	The Shark Net (Part 3)	ABC	809	6.0

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2003.
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	Total people (‘000)	Rating
1	The Potato Factory (Part 1) (repeat)	7	897	6.8
2	The Potato Factory (Part 2) (repeat)	7	834	6.3
3	Round the Twist	ABC	471	3.5
4	Old Tom (Australia/France)	ABC	461	3.5
5	Adventures of Sam	ABC	448	3.4

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2002.
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	Total people (‘000)	Rating
1	My Brother Jack (Part 1)	10	1,745	13.3
2	On the Beach (Part 1)	7	1,526	11.6
3	Changi (Part 1)	ABC	1,289	9.8
4	Do or Die (Part 1) (Australia/UK)	7	1,235	9.4
5	The Farm (Part 1)	ABC	1,157	8.8

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

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2001.
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.

1998–2000

Sydney television
Rank	Title	Year	Network	Rating
1	Day of the Roses (Part 2)	1998	10	31.9
2	The Potato Factory (Part 2)	2000	7	27.6
3	Tribe (Part 2)	1999	7	21.0
4	Moby Dick (Part 2) (Australia/UK)	1998	9	20.5
5	Kings in Grass Castles (Part 1) (Australia/Ireland)	1998	7	19.6
6	Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude (Part 2)	1999	ABC	17.1
7	A Difficult Woman (Part 1)	1998	ABC	15.6
8	Violent Earth (Part 1)	1999	9	12.8

Melbourne television
Rank	Title	Year	Network	Rating
1	The Potato Factory (Part 1)	2000	7	33.2
2	Day of the Roses (Part 1)	1998	10	32.0
3	Kings in Grass Castles (Part 2) (Australia/Ireland)	1998	7	23.8
4	Moby Dick (Part 2) (Australia/UK)	1998	9	20.8
5	Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude (Part 3)	1999	ABC	18.5
6	A Difficult Woman (Part 2)	1998	ABC	17.0
7	Violent Earth (Part 1)	1999	9	13.0

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

Notes:
Household viewing, 1 January to 31 December 1998–2000, based on highest-rating episode;.
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.