Channel Seven's Australian Open men's final has won the weekend ratings battle, beating off Ten's launch of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Nine's final Twenty20 international between Australia and India, and Ten's X-Files reboot.
Network Seven won the Sunday night ratings with 33.7% of the audience, followed by Network Nine (28.1%) and Ten (20.2%).
An average metro audience of 1.619 million viewers tuned in to watch Novak Djokovic equal Roy Emerson's record of six Australian Open titles after defeating Andy Murray 6-1, 7-5, 7-6. Viewers were down 14% on last year's final audience of 1.88 million.
Angelique Kerber's upset 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Serena Williams on Saturday was watched by an average metro audience of 1.53 million, making it the highest rating women's final since 2011.
The opening night of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here was the second top show on Sunday, up 13% on last year, with an average metro audience of 1.34 million viewers. Aside from the tennis, it was the the top rating show for under 55s.
Ten’s chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey describes it as "a very positive start for the series, which offers viewers great family entertainment and a clear alternative. Last night was just the beginning and we’re looking forward to the rest of this exciting and hilarious show”.
The launch of season two of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here last night saw 11 celebrities from all walks of life skydive or canoe into the African jungle. Shortly after the rabble entered Ten announced that one of Australia’s greatest sports stars, international cricketer Shane Warne, will also join the show tonight.
The 11 celebrities competing for the coveted title of King or Queen of The Jungle are singer Havana Brown; singer-songwriter Anthony Callea; former AFL player Brendan Fevola; bachelorette Laurina Fleure; Australian Idol contestant Dean Geyer; champion Ironwoman Courtney Hancock; legend of rugby league Paul Harragon; dancer, choreographer, director, television presenter and producer Bonnie Lythgoe; actress Val Lehman; comedian Akmal Saleh and TV host Jo Beth Taylor.
Warne is reported to be earning up to $3 million for his stay in the jungle, and is an even bigger name in the cricketing world than last year's winner Andrew Flintoff. The show will run for six weeks with a $100,000 prize up for grabs for the winner's charity of choice. Should Warne win it, it is unclear which charity he will choose after recently shutting down the Shane Warne Foundation over funding speculation.
Also on Sunday, India's thrilling last ball win over Australia in the T20 international was watched by an average audience of 1.03 million, while the re-boot of the X-Files attracted a metro audience of 909,000.
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