Nine News ratings rise despite 60 Minutes scandal

Channel Nine’s evening news programs Nine News at 6:00pm and Nine News at 6:30pm have risen in ratings over the past three months, despite fall-out from 60 Minutes’ failed child abduction operation in April.

While Channel Seven remains ahead in the daily ranks, Channel Nine has seen an increase in viewers since the arrest of the 60 Minutes’ crew in Beirut, Lebanon on April 7.

Across Australia’s five metropolitan cities, Nine News increased its ratings by 485,000 viewers, while Nine News at 6:30pm gained 113,000 viewers during the week of the arrest.

The weeks following saw the news programs plateau before Nine News rose again to 7,297,000 (aggregate across five major cities) in the first week of May, making a total increase of 408,000 viewers since April 7 and bringing the daily average to 1,042,429 viewers.