The fourth and final instalment of Live Aid: When Rock ‘N’ Roll Took On The World, took over audiences last night, claiming the most watched entertainment program of the evening.
More than 1.8 million viewers tuned in to rewatch Bob Geldof and Bono (Paul Hewson) stage Live 8, a series of global concerts around the world, aimed at pressuring the G8 leaders to tackle the root causes of poverty in Africa.
The program which pulled in a total TV national average audience of 699,000 viewers, utilised interviews and archival footage to retell the story of how music and mass mobilisation was used to attempt to shift political will.
Following the 11 live concerts, G8 leaders pledged to double 2004 levels of aid to poor nations from US $25 billion (Which is equal to AUD $38 billion in todays economy) to US $50 billion (AUD $76 billion) by 2010. Numbers that the leaders fell short off. It’s reported total aid went up by around US $40 billion (AUD $61 billon) rather than US $50 billion, and aid to Africa went up by US $10-$15 billion per year (AUD $15-23), rather than US $25 billion.
The series celebrates the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, celebrating the story of how two rock stars inspired the largest global music events in history and sparked a remarkable social movement.
On Seven, the Supercars grand final in Adelaide was its most watched entertainment program of the night. Over 1.2 million people watched on as Chaz Mostert became the first-ever winner of the Repco Supercars Finals Series. The dramatic Sunday bp Adelaide Grand Final raked in a total TV national average audience of 498,000.
For 10, Big Brother kept up its strong ratings, taking the eighth most popular program of the night and the most popular for 10. It had pulled a national reach of 1,091,000 and an average audience of 667,000.
On Saturday, sport dominated the ratings with Seven benefiting from the WAFL and Supercars grand finals. Over one million people tuned in as North Melbourne won its 27th consecutive game and the one that matters the most—the grand final. The supercars also had over one million viewers as the first day of the bp Adelaide Grand Final kicked off.
Over on Nine, a re-run of the 2023 hit Barbie movie was the most watched entertainment program. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling helped Nine rake in a national reach of 1.3 million and an average audience of 285,000.
Friday night tells a different story all together. It wasn’t music or sport that grasped the nation, it was Better Homes & Gardens. The program on Seven had a total TV national reach of 1,482,000 and an average audience of 612,000.
