australian television information archive

Rosy debut for drama series

CHANNEL 7's newest offering, Always Greener, made the highest ratings debut of any Australian drama series in the past decade.

According to OzTAM, the ensemble attracted an average of 2.64 million viewers for its Sunday night debut.

In southeast Queensland Always Greener attracted 351,851 viewers, winning its 7.30pm timeslot. It's nearest competition is Nine's McLeod's Daughters which first screened on August 8 with 1.93 million nationally and the first episode of Ten's Secret Life of Us with 1.44 million.

The most watched show on Sunday night was Nine's Our House tribute to its cast member, Shirley Strachan, who died in a helicopter crash on August 30. The show, Our House—Memories of Shirl polled 2.19 million viewers nationally.

September 11, 2001
Courier-Mail

Always Greener is Number 1!

The Seven Network's much anticipated new Australian drama Always Greener made a triumphant debut last night winning the 7.30pm timeslot and knocking off Nine's long-running 60 Minutes.

Always Greener, starring John Howard and Anne Tenney, was watched by a network average of 2,064,883 viewers and achieved a peak network audience of 2,174,000.

In comparison, Nine's 60 Minutes had a network average audience of 1,677,758 and Ten's All Aussie Adventures/Everybody Loves Raymond had a network average audience of 1,421,654.

In Sydney, Always Greener also won the 7.30pm timeslot with an average audience of 548,872 viewers. Nine's 60 Minutes came second with an average audience of 524,779 and Ten's double of All Aussie Adventures and Everybody Loves Raymond came a distant third with an average audience of 398,958.

Always Greener is the story of two families–the Taylors live in the city; the Todds live in the country. They are at major crossroads in their lives and decide to do something about it–swap houses.

The premiere episode of Seven's Always Greener was the highest rating debut episode for an Australian television drama series. It recorded higher figures than recent debutants McLeod's Daughters and The Secret Life Of Us and established timeslot winners Blue Heelers and All Saints.

The Top Ten Australian drama series debuts:

1. Always Greener (7) 2.06 million (September 10, 2001)

2. McLeod's Daughters (9) 1.89 million (August 8, 2001)

3. All Saints (7) 1.68 million (February 24, 1998)

4. Stingers (9) 1.45 million (September 29, 1998)

5. The Secret Life of Us (10) 1.44 million (July 16, 2001) 

6. Water Rats(9) 1.42 million (February 12, 1996)

7. SeaChange (ABC) 1.36 million (May 10, 1998)

8. Blue Heelers (7) 1.22 million (February 8, 1994)

9. Big Sky (10) 1.13 million (February 17, 1997)

10. Above the Law (10) 0.57 million (February 8, 2000)