Hours of
first-release local and imported drama broadcast by commercial free-to-air
networks, 5 pm to midnight, 1998
Next update to be advised
Hours broadcast1
Seven
Nine
Ten
Total
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Movies: features & telemovies
-
111.2
12.5
145.7
10.0
65.1
22.5
322.0
Mini series
4.4
13.2
4.0
16.5
4.7
0.5
13.1
30.2
Drama serials
115.0
-
38.5
-
192.3
9.8
345.8
9.8
Drama series
82.0
301.4
83.5
192.5
14.0
298.9
179.5
792.8
Situation comedy
2.0
97.5
2.5
142.6
-
-
4.5
240.1
Sketch comedy (comedy variety)
6.0
-
-
23.5
16.0
-
22.0
23.5
Total
209.4
523.3
141.1
520.7
237.0
374.3
587.5
1,418.3
Share of hours broadcast (%)1
Seven
Nine
Ten
Total
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Local
Import.
Movies: features & telemovies
-
15.2%
1.9%
22.0%
1.6%
10.6%
1.1%
16.1%
Mini series
0.6%
1.8%
0.6%
2.5%
0.8%
0.1%
0.7%
1.5%
Drama serials
15.7%
-
5.8%
-
31.5%
1.6%
17.2%
0.5%
Drama series
11.2%
41.1%
12.6%
29.1%
2.3%
48.9%
8.9%
39.5%
Situation comedy
0.3%
13.3%
0.4%
21.5%
-
-
0.2%
12.0%
Sketch comedy (comedy variety)
0.8%
-
-
3.5%
2.6%
-
1.1%
1.2%
Total
28.6%
71.4%
21.3%
78.7%
38.8%
61.2%
29.3%
70.7%
Source: Australian Broadcasting Authority,Compliance Trends &
Issues No.6, 1999.
Notes:
Three-city average (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane), including programs
funded by the Commercial Television Production Fund. Any discrepancies
in the totals are due to rounding. Drama has been categorised using
ACNielsen program categories; the ACNielsen drama category of ‘comedy
variety’ correlates with the ABA’s sketch comedy category.
1. ‘Hours broadcast’ refers to first-release drama broadcast
between 5 pm and midnight.
FREE-TO-AIR TV 
