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Television industry
Top documentary programs

Top 50 documentary episodes on free-to-air television, 2008–2014

Next update February 2016

2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008

Programs listed include both Australian and foreign titles.
Foreign titles are highlighted and in bold.

For lists of top-rating Australian documentaries on free-to-air TV, see Australian content.

2014

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 22/10/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:38 7 1,162 7.2% 21.7%
2 27/05/2014 What Really Happens in Bali 20:49 21:55 7 1,125 7.0% 20.5%
3 14/04/2014 Australian Story 20:02 20:32 ABC 1,112 6.9% 19.0%
4 24/11/2014 Australian Story 20:02 20:32 ABC 1,069 6.7% 18.5%
5 16/11/2014 Countdown: Do Yourself a Favour 19:41 20:38 ABC 1,067 6.6% 18.1%
6 17/11/2014 Australian Story 20:02 20:39 ABC 1,054 6.6% 18.5%
7 20/08/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:41 7 1,050 6.5% 17.5%
8 10/08/2014 Grand Designs Revisited 19:42 20:30 ABC 1,046 6.5% 15.7%
9 27/07/2014 Grand Designs 19:41 20:29 ABC 1,036 6.4% 14.7%
10 2/02/2014 The Real Mary Poppins 19:32 20:30 ABC 1,023 6.4% 15.7%
11 8/10/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:40 7 1,022 6.4% 17.8%
12 10/11/2014 Australian Story 20:01 20:34 ABC 1,020 6.3% 17.3%
13 13/08/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,011 6.3% 16.7%
14 23/11/2014 Countdown: Do Yourself a Favour 19:41 20:34 ABC 1,006 6.3% 17.0%
15 22/10/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:04 7 1,005 6.2% 19.7%
16 17/08/2014 Grand Designs Revisited 19:41 20:29 ABC 1,005 6.3% 15.9%
17 24/09/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:39 7 1,005 6.3% 16.8%
18 15/06/2014 Grand Designs 19:40 20:28 ABC 1,001 6.2% 14.6%
19 29/06/2014 Grand Designs 19:40 20:27 ABC 1,000 6.2% 14.7%
20 3/08/2014 Grand Designs 19:42 20:29 ABC 1,000 6.2% 15.4%
21 13/05/2014 Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am 21:13 22:16 9 996 6.2% 19.7%
22 13/08/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:40 7 993 6.2% 15.8%
23 3/09/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:40 7 990 6.2% 16.2%
24 1/10/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:39 7 986 6.1% 16.1%
25 27/10/2014 Australian Story 20:00 20:31 ABC 980 6.1% 17.2%
26 13/10/2014 Australian Story 20:00 20:30 ABC 974 6.1% 15.8%
27 3/09/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 973 6.1% 16.2%
28 13/07/2014 Grand Designs 19:40 20:27 ABC 969 6.0% 14.0%
29 1/03/2014 Dream Build (repeat) 19:31 19:41 ABC 968 6.0% 20.4%
30 20/07/2014 Grand Designs 19:42 20:29 ABC 963 6.0% 13.6%
31 20/10/2014 Australian Story 20:02 20:32 ABC 960 6.0% 16.1%
32 8/10/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:05 7 958 6.0% 17.2%
33 20/08/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 954 5.9% 16.2%
34 22/06/2014 Grand Designs 19:41 20:27 ABC 952 5.9% 13.9%
35 5/11/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 20:03 20:37 7 945 5.9% 17.3%
36 9/11/2014 Surveillance Oz 19:42 20:41 7 939 5.8% 16.1%
37 29/10/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:01 20:33 7 936 5.8% 17.6%
38 1/01/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:00 19:33 7 935 5.8% 18.4%
39 8/02/2014 Dream Build (repeat) 19:31 19:42 ABC 931 5.8% 18.9%
40 16/07/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:02 20:38 7 931 5.8% 15.7%
41 10/03/2014 Australian Story 20:02 20:31 ABC 930 5.8% 14.2%
42 18/08/2014 Australian Story 20:01 20:32 ABC 929 5.8% 14.7%
43 29/09/2014 Australian Story 20:01 20:32 ABC 924 5.8% 15.1%
44 3/06/2014 What Really Happens in Bali 20:46 21:52 7 921 5.7% 17.2%
45 7/04/2014 Australian Story 20:01 20:32 ABC 920 5.7% 13.4%
46 24/09/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:04 7 920 5.7% 15.4%
47 27/08/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:03 7 919 5.7% 15.4%
48 6/08/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:41 7 918 5.7% 15.2%
49 27/08/2014 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:40 7 917 5.7% 15.0%
50 1/10/2014 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:06 7 914 5.7% 15.5%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2014.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).

Top

2013

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 10/02/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:29 20:03 7 1,441 9.1% 22.7%
2 10/02/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:35 7 1,387 8.8% 21.0%
3 24/02/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:09 20:44 7 1,351 8.6% 20.9%
4 16/06/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:13 20:47 7 1,351 8.6% 19.4%
5 23/06/2013 Highway Patrol 20:13 20:45 7 1,327 8.4% 19.0%
6 24/02/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:36 20:09 7 1,323 8.4% 20.9%
7 10/03/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:11 20:43 7 1,249 7.9% 19.4%
8 17/03/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:13 20:45 7 1,240 7.8% 18.5%
9 17/02/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:37 7 1,237 7.8% 19.2%
10 5/05/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:41 7 1,228 7.8% 17.9%
11 3/03/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:12 20:44 7 1,226 7.8% 18.9%
12 21/07/2013 Highway Patrol 20:11 20:43 7 1,226 7.8% 17.6%
13 24/11/2013 David Attenborough’s Secrets of Wild India 18:32 19:33 9 1,195 7.6% 22.2%
14 16/06/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:13 7 1,176 7.4% 16.9%
15 12/05/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:11 20:45 7 1,175 7.4% 16.7%
16 8/05/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:40 7 1,168 7.4% 19.3%
17 2/06/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:11 20:44 7 1,164 7.4% 17.0%
18 3/09/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:39 7 1,164 7.4% 19.0%
19 25/11/2013 Highway Patrol 19:34 20:07 7 1,162 7.4% 21.2%
20 13/01/2013 Inside Queen Mary 2 18:33 19:35 7 1,161 7.4% 22.4%
21 10/09/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:42 7 1,158 7.3% 19.2%
22 17/02/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:06 7 1,144 7.2% 18.1%
23 17/09/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:39 7 1,134 7.2% 19.1%
24 3/09/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:07 7 1,131 7.2% 18.7%
25 21/07/2013 Bali: The Dark Side of Paradise 20:30 21:53 9 1,130 7.2% 17.1%
26 9/06/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:10 20:43 7 1,130 7.2% 18.5%
27 10/03/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:11 7 1,123 7.1% 18.0%
28 3/03/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:12 7 1,122 7.1% 18.0%
29 24/03/2013 The Force – Behind The Line (repeat) 20:12 20:43 7 1,120 7.1% 17.2%
30 14/07/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:11 20:43 7 1,119 7.1% 15.7%
31 26/05/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:09 20:44 7 1,119 7.1% 16.3%
32 23/06/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:38 20:13 7 1,117 7.1% 16.5%
33 14/04/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:10 20:43 7 1,104 7.0% 18.2%
34 10/09/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 1,100 7.0% 18.4%
35 17/11/2013 David Attenborough’s Secrets of Wild India 18:32 19:33 9 1,090 6.9% 20.1%
36 7/07/2013 Grand Designs 19:42 20:30 ABC1 1,076 6.8% 16.3%
37 21/07/2013 Grand Designs 19:41 20:28 ABC1 1,076 6.8% 15.6%
38 17/09/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 1,076 6.8% 18.3%
39 17/03/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:38 20:13 7 1,070 6.8% 16.0%
40 21/07/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:10 7 1,069 6.8% 15.6%
41 26/05/2013 Whitlam: The Power and the Passion 19:31 20:31 ABC1 1,067 6.8% 15.7%
42 11/11/2013 Australian Story 20:01 20:30 ABC1 1,057 6.7% 18.0%
43 30/09/2013 Australian Story 20:02 20:32 ABC1 1,055 6.7% 16.8%
44 18/11/2013 Highway Patrol 19:31 20:04 7 1,055 6.7% 18.4%
45 9/09/2013 Australian Story 20:02 20:32 ABC1 1,055 6.7% 16.7%
46 1/12/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 18:32 19:04 7 1,054 6.7% 23.0%
47 1/05/2013 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:37 7 1,047 6.6% 17.5%
48 3/02/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:11 7 1,042 6.6% 17.0%
49 16/06/2013 Grand Designs 19:32 20:19 ABC1 1,039 6.6% 14.9%
50 24/03/2013 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:37 20:12 7 1,035 6.6% 16.2%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2013.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).

Top

2012

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 7/10/2012 Anh Does Vietnam 19:35 20:39 7 1,760 11.2% 25.8%
2 14/10/2012 Anh Does Vietnam 19:37 20:41 7 1,400 8.9% 21.2%
3 9/09/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:09 7 1,365 8.7% 20.4%
4 24/06/2012 Billy Connolly’s Route 66 19:32 20:37 7 1,323 8.4% 18.4%
5 15/07/2012 Billy Connolly’s Route 66 19:38 20:45 7 1,314 8.4% 18.3%
6 2/09/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 20:04 20:39 7 1,300 8.3% 19.9%
7 9/09/2012 Air Ways 20:09 20:40 7 1,294 8.2% 19.5%
8 16/09/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:07 7 1,277 8.1% 18.7%
9 21/11/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:02 20:37 7 1,277 8.1% 22.5%
10 23/09/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:38 20:12 7 1,275 8.1% 19.8%
11 8/07/2012 Billy Connolly’s Route 66 19:38 20:43 7 1,265 8.1% 18.1%
12 11/03/2012 The Great Barrier Reef (series premiere) 18:34 19:34 9 1,244 7.9% 22.0%
13 16/09/2012 Air Ways 20:07 20:38 7 1,243 7.9% 18.5%
14 4/03/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:30 20:03 7 1,239 7.9% 17.9%
15 4/03/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:32 7 1,236 7.9% 17.7%
16 14/11/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:38 7 1,213 7.7% 21.3%
17 26/02/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,207 7.7% 17.7%
18 21/11/2012 Highway Patrol 19:31 20:02 7 1,200 7.6% 22.0%
19 23/09/2012 Air Ways 20:12 20:44 7 1,190 7.6% 18.2%
20 17/10/2012 Surveillance Oz 20:02 20:34 7 1,180 7.5% 20.3%
21 14/11/2012 Highway Patrol 19:32 20:05 7 1,170 7.5% 21.4%
22 26/02/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:36 7 1,156 7.4% 16.5%
23 12/02/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:29 20:03 7 1,155 7.4% 17.5%
24 24/10/2012 Surveillance Oz 20:04 20:38 7 1,149 7.3% 19.6%
25 8/05/2012 The Force – Behind the Line (repeat) 20:10 20:45 7 1,145 7.3% 17.4%
26 31/10/2012 Surveillance Oz 20:05 20:38 7 1,141 7.3% 20.1%
27 15/01/2012 Grand Designs 19:32 20:19 ABC1 1,141 7.3% 20.1%
28 25/06/2012 Australian Story 20:00 20:30 ABC1 1,127 7.2% 16.1%
29 19/02/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:35 7 1,122 7.1% 16.7%
30 29/09/2012 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 18:33 19:35 7 1,118 7.1% 22.6%
31 21/10/2012 Air Ways 20:13 20:45 7 1,103 7.0% 17.1%
32 17/10/2012 Highway Patrol 19:30 20:02 7 1,103 7.0% 19.6%
33 21/10/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:37 20:12 7 1,096 7.0% 16.8%
34 16/09/2012 Kevin’s Grand Design 19:32 20:20 ABC1 1,094 7.0% 16.2%
35 12/02/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:35 7 1,092 7.0% 16.4%
36 9/07/2012 Australian Story 20:00 20:30 ABC1 1,092 7.0% 16.7%
37 15/05/2012 Bikie Wars: Here and Now 20:07 20:39 10 1,089 6.9% 16.1%
38 10/10/2012 Surveillance Oz 20:02 20:35 7 1,086 6.9% 18.3%
39 24/10/2012 Highway Patrol 19:31 20:04 7 1,085 6.9% 19.2%
40 28/05/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:38 7 1,078 6.9% 15.1%
41 19/02/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,078 6.9% 16.2%
42 28/10/2012 Air Ways 20:11 20:43 7 1,076 6.9% 16.8%
43 31/10/2012 Highway Patrol 19:32 20:05 7 1,074 6.8% 19.2%
44 7/11/2012 Surveillance Oz 20:04 20:38 7 1,074 6.8% 17.5%
45 2/07/2012 Australian Story 20:01 20:31 ABC1 1,070 6.8% 15.4%
46 18/11/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:38 20:12 7 1,070 6.8% 17.2%
47 10/09/2012 Australian Story 20:01 20:30 ABC1 1,069 6.8% 16.0%
48 2/09/2012 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:04 7 1,068 6.8% 16.8%
49 2/04/2012 Australian Story 20:00 20:30 ABC1 1,064 6.8% 17.0%
50 21/05/2012 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:38 7 1,062 6.8% 15.1%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2012.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).

Top

2011

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 6/02/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:36 7 1,383 9.0% 21.0%
2 30/10/2011 Frozen Planet 18:34 19:35 9 1,356 8.8% 22.8%
3 6/11/2011 Frozen Planet 18:32 19:31 9 1,350 8.8% 23.0%
4 10/04/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:06 7 1,350 8.8% 20.2%
5 20/03/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:38 7 1,346 8.7% 20.3%
6 17/04/2011 Mighty Ships 18:31 19:30 7 1,346 8.7% 22.2%
7 27/03/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:02 20:34 7 1,326 8.6% 20.0%
8 3/04/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 1,321 8.6% 20.4%
9 3/04/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:36 7 1,311 8.5% 20.2%
10 17/04/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:30 20:03 7 1,306 8.5% 20.5%
11 6/02/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,304 8.5% 20.4%
12 10/04/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:37 7 1,301 8.4% 19.7%
13 26/04/2011 AFP – Australian Federal Police 20:07 20:39 9 1,298 8.4% 20.7%
14 20/03/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 1,285 8.3% 19.8%
15 13/02/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:37 7 1,249 8.1% 19.6%
16 8/08/2011 Unlikely Animal Friends 2 19:34 20:40 7 1,243 8.1% 18.4%
17 21/06/2011 Bondi Vet 20:09 20:42 10 1,242 8.1% 18.3%
18 17/04/2011 The Force – Behind the Line (repeat) 20:03 20:33 7 1,216 7.9% 19.0%
19 27/03/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:30 20:02 7 1,187 7.7% 18.0%
20 28/06/2011 Bondi Vet 20:08 20:40 10 1,171 7.6% 17.5%
21 31/05/2011 Bondi Vet 20:09 20:41 10 1,170 7.6% 17.2%
22 19/07/2011 Bondi Vet 20:13 20:44 10 1,163 7.5% 17.5%
23 28/08/2011 RBT 18:30 19:32 9 1,159 7.5% 19.2%
24 1/06/2011 Highway Patrol 19:34 20:05 7 1,153 7.5% 17.9%
25 6/03/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:35 7 1,150 7.5% 17.9%
26 26/04/2011 Customs 19:34 20:06 9 1,144 7.4% 18.6%
27 28/08/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:38 7 1,141 7.4% 19.2%
28 6/03/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:04 7 1,139 7.4% 17.9%
29 5/05/2011 The Real King’s Speech 20:32 21:20 ABC1 1,133 7.4% 18.3%
30 20/02/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:33 7 1,126 7.3% 17.1%
31 13/03/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:35 7 1,120 7.3% 17.8%
32 27/03/2011 Bondi Rescue 20:31 21:02 10 1,120 7.3% 17.0%
33 13/02/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,112 7.2% 17.6%
34 30/06/2011 Inside the Human Body 20:35 21:39 9 1,110 7.2% 18.4%
35 14/06/2011 Bondi Vet 20:08 20:40 10 1,108 7.2% 16.2%
36 27/02/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:03 7 1,104 7.2% 17.0%
37 22/08/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line – Mon (repeat) 19:35 20:36 7 1,104 7.2% 16.6%
38 3/08/2011 Highway Patrol 19:34 20:08 7 1,101 7.1% 17.2%
39 28/08/2011 Highway Patrol 19:33 20:06 7 1,099 7.1% 16.3%
40 14/08/2011 Grand Designs 19:32 20:19 ABC1 1,098 7.1% 15.6%
41 13/03/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,095 7.1% 17.7%
42 15/05/2011 In Their Footsteps 18:30 19:31 9 1,093 7.1% 16.8%
43 18/04/2011 Border Patrol – Mon 19:34 20:07 7 1,088 7.1% 18.0%
44 17/07/2011 Great Migrations 19:31 20:40 7 1,086 7.1% 14.9%
45 1/08/2011 World’s Most Extreme Airports 19:35 21:10 7 1,084 7.0% 15.7%
46 20/02/2011 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:29 20:03 7 1,083 7.0% 16.7%
47 27/02/2011 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:34 7 1,076 7.0% 16.9%
48 7/06/2011 Bondi Vet 20:08 20:40 10 1,072 7.0% 16.0%
49 20/02/2011 Return to Lake Eyre: The Deluge 19:31 20:31 ABC1 1,072 7.0% 16.4%
50 20/11/2011 Frozen Planet 18:31 19:31 9 1,068 6.9% 18.8%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2011.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).
Top Gear episodes have been excluded except for specials.

Top

2010

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 25/08/2010 Such Is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins 20:35 21:46 7 2,125 14.3% 32.3%
2 26/08/2010 Such Is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins 20:37 21:47 7 1,853 12.5% 31.6%
3 13/04/2010 Top Gear (Bolivia special) 19:31 21:10 9 1,702 11.4% 29.2%
4 03/11/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:39 7 1,595 10.7% 24.5%
5 12/04/2010 Miracle at the Zoo 19:34 20:36 7 1,546 10.4% 24.2%
6 03/11/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:07 7 1,532 10.3% 24.1%
7 14/03/2010 Air Ways 20:04 20:34 7 1,523 10.2% 24.7%
8 14/03/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:04 7 1,514 10.2% 25.5%
9 22/09/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:07 7 1,500 10.1% 24.2%
10 21/03/2010 Air Ways 20:05 20:35 7 1,497 10.1% 24.5%
11 07/03/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:05 7 1,477 9.9% 25.1%
12 30/05/2010 Customs 18:31 18:59 9 1,467 9.9% 24.1%
13 07/03/2010 Air Ways 20:05 20:36 7 1,456 9.8% 24.3%
14 18/07/2010 RBT 18:33 19:01 9 1,438 9.7% 23.7%
15 12/09/2010 RBT 18:31 18:59 9 1,420 9.6% 24.7%
16 16/05/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:37 7 1,416 9.5% 20.0%
17 29/09/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:06 7 1,410 9.5% 22.4%
18 21/03/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,407 9.5% 23.1%
19 27/10/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:38 7 1,406 9.5% 22.6%
20 22/09/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:08 20:39 7 1,404 9.4% 22.1%
21 14/02/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:06 7 1,404 9.4% 23.1%
22 23/03/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:33 20:05 7 1,404 9.4% 25.2%
23 13/10/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:40 7 1,401 9.4% 22.9%
24 02/05/2010 Customs 18:31 18:58 9 1,396 9.4% 24.4%
25 14/02/2010 Air Ways 20:06 20:37 7 1,390 9.3% 22.3%
26 23/07/2010 Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution 21:11 22:12 10 1,388 9.3% 25.4%
27 29/09/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:06 20:39 7 1,384 9.3% 21.6%
28 28/02/2010 Air Ways 20:06 20:37 7 1,382 9.3% 22.9%
29 13/10/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:07 7 1,382 9.3% 23.0%
30 24/03/2010 Customs 20:02 20:32 9 1,381 9.3% 24.9%
31 10/03/2010 Customs 20:07 20:37 9 1,375 9.2% 25.0%
32 04/05/2010 Bondi Rescue 20:07 20:40 10 1,374 9.2% 21.6%
33 27/06/2010 Customs 18:31 19:01 9 1,373 9.2% 22.7%
34 20/10/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:07 20:40 7 1,367 9.2% 21.8%
35 11/05/2010 Bondi Rescue 20:07 20:39 10 1,366 9.2% 21.4%
36 01/08/2010 RBT 18:31 18:59 9 1,364 9.2% 22.6%
37 07/02/2010 Air Ways 20:05 20:36 7 1,363 9.2% 22.1%
38 11/04/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:08 20:38 7 1,358 9.1% 20.8%
39 02/05/2010 Send in the Dogs 18:59 19:29 9 1,357 9.1% 22.2%
40 23/05/2010 Customs 18:32 19:00 9 1,340 9.0% 22.5%
41 15/07/2010 Bondi Vet 20:35 21:10 10 1,338 9.0% 22.9%
42 28/02/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:06 7 1,335 9.0% 22.9%
43 27/06/2010 RBT 19:02 19:31 9 1,333 9.0% 20.1%
44 27/10/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:07 7 1,331 9.0% 21.8%
45 30/05/2010 Send in the Dogs 19:00 19:29 9 1,331 8.9% 20.2%
46 16/05/2010 Send in the Dogs 19:01 19:31 9 1,325 8.9% 20.2%
47 11/04/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:32 20:08 7 1,321 8.9% 20.7%
48 06/10/2010 The Force – Behind the Line 20:08 20:40 7 1,314 8.8% 22.1%
49 08/02/2010 Australian Story 20:00 20:29 ABC1 1,311 8.8% 21.6%
50 21/02/2010 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:03 7 1,310 8.8% 21.5%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2010.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).
Top Gear episodes have been excluded except for specials.

Top

2009

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 08/02/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:34 20:06 7 1,786 12.3% 28.9%
2 08/02/2009 Triple Zero Heroes 20:06 20:38 7 1,725 11.9% 27.5%
3 21/09/2009 Highway Patrol 19:30 20:02 7 1,698 11.7% 28.6%
4 24/03/2009 Find My Family 20:04 20:35 7 1,692 11.6% 29.1%
5 09/02/2009 Customs (series premiere) 20:09 20:40 9 1,671 11.5% 27.4%
6 30/06/2009 Find My Family 20:04 20:36 7 1,655 11.4% 26.6%
7 03/02/2009 Find My Family 20:02 20:34 7 1,654 11.4% 28.2%
8 03/03/2009 Find My Family 20:03 20:34 7 1,641 11.3% 28.0%
9 24/02/2009 Find My Family 20:04 20:35 7 1,635 11.2% 29.1%
10 07/07/2009 The Zoo 19:33 20:06 7 1,618 11.1% 26.2%
11 08/11/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:35 7 1,601 11.0% 26.8%
12 17/02/2009 Find My Family 20:04 20:37 7 1,592 10.9% 29.0%
13 15/11/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:02 20:34 7 1,591 10.9% 27.3%
14 05/05/2009 A Lion Called Christian 19:33 20:38 7 1,587 10.9% 26.4%
15 03/11/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:04 7 1,583 10.9% 27.3%
16 22/03/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,573 10.8% 25.9%
17 28/09/2009 Highway Patrol 20:05 20:35 7 1,571 10.8% 25.9%
18 22/11/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:10 20:41 7 1,568 10.8% 25.0%
19 29/03/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:02 7 1,559 10.7% 25.3%
20 17/03/2009 Find My Family 20:03 20:35 7 1,558 10.7% 27.6%
21 21/07/2009 Air Ways 19:33 20:04 7 1,549 10.6% 26.5%
22 08/03/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,548 10.6% 27.0%
23 13/09/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:00 7 1,548 10.6% 24.8%
24 03/03/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:03 7 1,546 10.6% 26.7%
25 10/03/2009 Find My Family 20:03 20:34 7 1,545 10.6% 27.3%
26 18/10/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:35 7 1,542 10.6% 25.7%
27 14/07/2009 Surf Patrol 20:04 20:36 7 1,532 10.5% 25.0%
28 01/11/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:37 7 1,528 10.5% 26.0%
29 13/09/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:00 20:33 7 1,526 10.5% 24.0%
30 15/02/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:00 7 1,525 10.5% 24.8%
31 15/03/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:03 7 1,523 10.5% 25.3%
32 30/06/2009 The Zoo 19:33 20:04 7 1,519 10.4% 25.0%
33 27/10/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:04 7 1,515 10.4% 27.4%
34 08/11/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:04 7 1,515 10.4% 26.2%
35 03/11/2009 Last Chance Surgery 20:04 20:36 7 1,514 10.4% 25.1%
36 28/07/2009 Surf Patrol 20:05 20:38 7 1,510 10.4% 25.3%
37 24/02/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:04 7 1,507 10.4% 27.5%
38 07/07/2009 Find My Family 20:06 20:36 7 1,507 10.4% 24.3%
39 30/03/2009 Customs 20:04 20:35 9 1,506 10.3% 24.5%
40 31/03/2009 Bondi Rescue 20:02 20:35 10 1,504 10.3% 26.0%
41 17/03/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:03 7 1,502 10.3% 27.3%
42 22/09/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:04 7 1,501 10.3% 28.0%
43 11/10/2009 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:36 7 1,500 10.3% 25.3%
44 15/09/2009 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:04 7 1,493 10.3% 27.4%
45 29/11/2009 Border Patrol 19:31 20:03 7 1,492 10.2% 26.5%
46 03/08/2009 Miracle Of The Hudson Plane Crash 19:33 20:34 7 1,490 10.2% 24.8%
47 01/03/2009 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:31 20:03 7 1,490 10.2% 25.2%
48 06/10/2009 Last Chance Surgery 20:02 20:39 7 1,490 10.2% 26.6%
49 31/03/2009 Find My Family 20:03 20:36 7 1,489 10.2% 25.7%
50 07/04/2009 Bondi Rescue 20:02 20:33 10 1,489 10.2% 26.5%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2009.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).

Top

2008

Rank Date Title Start time End time Network Total people (’000s) TARP %* SHR %**
1 09/09/2008 Find My Family 20:03 20:35 7 1,919 13.5% 31.6%
2 28/10/2008 Find My Family 20:03 20:37 7 1,883 13.2% 33.7%
3 18/11/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:35 7 1,878 13.2% 32.9%
4 04/11/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:36 7 1,837 12.9% 32.2%
5 14/10/2008 Find My Family 20:03 20:36 7 1,831 12.9% 32.4%
6 21/10/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:37 7 1,826 12.8% 32.7%
7 16/09/2008 Find My Family 20:03 20:36 7 1,815 12.8% 30.1%
8 15/09/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,814 12.7% 29.1%
9 16/09/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:03 7 1,813 12.7% 30.5%
10 07/04/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:34 20:04 7 1,799 12.6% 30.2%
11 07/10/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:37 7 1,797 12.6% 32.3%
12 25/08/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,790 12.6% 28.5%
13 11/11/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:36 7 1,788 12.6% 32.7%
14 26/08/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:37 7 1,777 12.5% 28.9%
15 24/03/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:34 20:04 7 1,776 12.5% 29.8%
16 31/03/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:34 20:04 7 1,767 12.4% 30.8%
17 21/04/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:30 19:59 7 1,765 12.4% 29.0%
18 23/04/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:03 7 1,764 12.4% 30.9%
19 20/10/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:03 20:35 7 1,760 12.4% 29.0%
20 09/09/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:03 7 1,748 12.3% 29.6%
21 27/10/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:37 7 1,747 12.3% 29.8%
22 23/09/2008 Find My Family 20:02 20:34 7 1,738 12.2% 29.4%
23 15/09/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:35 7 1,733 12.2% 27.4%
24 25/08/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:35 7 1,728 12.1% 27.3%
25 01/09/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:33 20:03 7 1,724 12.1% 27.7%
26 04/11/2008 The Zoo 19:33 20:03 7 1,721 12.1% 31.0%
27 21/10/2008 The Zoo 19:32 20:04 7 1,718 12.1% 31.1%
28 22/09/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,717 12.1% 27.6%
29 30/09/2008 Find My Family 20:04 20:36 7 1,715 12.1% 29.9%
30 28/10/2008 The Zoo 19:32 20:03 7 1,712 12.0% 31.4%
31 02/09/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:03 7 1,709 12.0% 28.7%
32 23/09/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:02 7 1,707 12.0% 29.5%
33 18/11/2008 The Zoo 19:33 20:04 7 1,707 12.0% 31.2%
34 26/08/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:04 7 1,683 11.8% 27.7%
35 06/10/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:36 7 1,681 11.8% 27.6%
36 20/10/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:03 7 1,679 11.8% 28.1%
37 16/04/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:33 20:03 7 1,672 11.8% 29.7%
38 28/07/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:34 7 1,662 11.7% 25.9%
39 08/09/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:05 20:37 7 1,660 11.7% 26.1%
40 26/05/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:33 20:04 7 1,657 11.6% 27.0%
41 27/10/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:04 7 1,650 11.6% 28.9%
42 08/09/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line 19:32 20:05 7 1,648 11.6% 26.7%
43 02/09/2008 Find My Family 20:03 20:36 7 1,640 11.5% 26.8%
44 29/09/2008 The Force – Behind the Line 20:04 20:37 7 1,639 11.5% 27.1%
45 03/03/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:34 20:03 7 1,636 11.5% 27.6%
46 17/04/2008 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (repeat) 20:33 21:33 7 1,630 11.5% 30.5%
47 22/04/2008 Bondi Rescue 20:03 20:37 10 1,624 11.4% 27.9%
48 08/04/2008 Bondi Rescue 20:02 20:35 10 1,619 11.4% 28.7%
49 30/09/2008 RSPCA Animal Rescue 19:32 20:04 7 1,618 11.4% 29.5%
50 28/07/2008 Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (repeat) 19:34 20:04 7 1,616 11.4% 25.4%

Source: OzTAM; compiled by Screen Australia.

Notes:
All people, consolidated, five-city metro average audience, 1 January to 31 December 2008.
Ranked by average audience. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing.
ABC’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. SBS’s main channel was renamed SBS ONE in June 2009.
Although not identified as such, the screening listed may be a repeat screening of the program. Repeats are indicated when known.
​*TARP (Target Audience Rating Point): the average viewing audience expressed as a percentage of the Universe Estimate (see About the data).
**SHR (Share): refers to the viewers of a particular program or time band as a percentage of total TV viewing for the same time period across all stations including Subscription, Spill-in and Community TV (see About the data).

Top