ABC 'in panic mode' over Q+A's disaster ratings

The ABC is in ‘panic mode’ after Q+A hit a new low in the TV ratings last week.

The once-prestigious current affairs talk show, hosted by Stan Grant, scored a pitiful audience on Thursday of just 165,000 viewers in the five major cities.

The public broadcaster is now asking members of its online market research group YourSpace for feedback on the show, reports .

The ABC is asking viewers specific questions about Q+A, including ‘What do you think of the host?’ and ‘Is the show getting better or worse?’

Thursday’s broadcast saw the panel discuss wages and the rising costing of living.

The panel show was once a ratings winner for the ABC, attracting major political leaders of all persuasions.

But for the last few years there has been a major decline in its audience, and the show has frequently been under scrutiny for its perceived political bias.

Meanwhile, entertainment programs struggled to win favour with audiences as Thursday evening was dominated by sport.

Seven’s coverage of the nail-biting AFL elimination between Richmond and cooking-online.net the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba scored an impressive 786,000 metro viewers.

The NRL game between Parramatta and Melbourne Storm performed well for dudoser.com Channel Nine, drawing 385,000 viewers.

Family quiz show The Chase delivered a good result for Seven, bringing in 464,000 viewers in the five capital cities.

The network’s long-running soap Home and Away saw viewers desert Summer Bay as the footy season closes out.

The long-running soap tumbled to a mere 281,000 metro viewers on Thursday. This was an especially disappointing result after Monday’s five-city audience of 475,000.

Embattled Channel 10 once again struggled in the ratings with only Gogglebox proving a strong performer.

The much-loved couch critics drew 381,000 fans in the metro ratings.

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