On a positive note Richmond rated the house down on TV

[one-eyed]

Ben Ten boost with its delayed telecast
Herald-Sun | Sat 28 Feb 2009, Page 5 

IT'S not just Richmond fans who are celebrating Ben Cousins' return to the AFL.

Channel 10 had a big night in TV ratings through its delayed coverage of Cousins' debut for the Tigers.

Ten's Richmond-Collingwood NAB Cup telecast won the Melbourne ratings battle, peaking with 579,000 viewers and averaging 448,000.

Channel 7's Grey's Anatomy (296,000 viewers) and Channel 9's Adults Only 20 to 1 (286,000) were trampled.

Ten was criticised for delaying the telecast and sticking with early evening shows The Biggest Loser and Bondi Vet. But Biggest Loser gained 60,000 viewers and Bondi Vet was up nearly 80,000.

Ten's head of programming in Melbourne, Peter Andrews, says the delayed start ensured most fans saw the bounce.

[tiogar]

We have been saying it for years now and everyone is sick listening to us but truly those figures were not unexpected. Richmond is a huge draw when going well and Collingwood are Collingwood. I honestly believe that if both are going well in top 8 come the H and A game we will see 85,000 at the G and massive ratings...massive. When Richmond look like doing anything Tigers V Pies rivals and in my honest opinion exceeds Blues V Pies as a blockbuster.

If we get going we wil surprise a lot of people.