Ten’s The Bachelor continues strong start but The Hotplate remains ratings winner

The new season of The Bachelor continued to charm audiences last night although it was Channel Nine’s The Hotplate that continued its roll at the top of the TV pile last night.

The cooking show, which could be pulled off air after today if Seven Network is successful in a court action, had an audience of 913,000, although that was down on Tuesday night’s 942,000, as both reality shows battled it out in the 7.30pm slot.

Channel Ten’s dating show had 805,000 viewers according to OzTam overnight metro ratings, 40,000 fewer than its record launch night last Wednesday, but topped every advertising demographic with The Hotplate third in all but the 25-54 group, where it came second.

Despite dropping Restaurant Revolution from its schedule Seven managed a competitive evening with Border security in the 7.30pm slot picking up 753,000 viewers and Criminal Minds at 8.30pm grabbing 615,000.