Channel Nine’s Christmas nightmare: ‘Coding error’ caused Carols by Candlelight’s ratings to plummet

Channel Nine’s Christmas nightmare: How a ‘coding error’ caused Carols by Candlelight’s ratings to plummet at the last minute – leaving Seven’s Carols in the Domain victorious

Channel Nine won this year’s Christmas ratings week, but a ‘coding error’ has cast a shadow on the network’s triumph.    

Nine’s Carols by Candlelight broadcast drew an impressive 971,000 metro viewers on Christmas Eve, but by Sunday but by Sunday the number was re-calculated to 542,000 viewers.   

With its original ratings, Nine would have easily won against Seven’s Carols in the Domain (634,000).  

Oh no! Nine’s Carols by Candlelight broadcast drew an impressive 971,000 metro viewers on Christmas Eve, but by Sunday but by Sunday the number was re-calculated to 542,000 viewers. Pictured: Carols By Candlelight’s Eddie McGuire and co-host Livinia Nixon

After the re-calculation, however, Seven was able to triumph of Nine and win entertainment program of the week. 

As reported by TV Tonight, the reason for Nine’s sudden change in ratings is because a replay of the program on Christmas Day was ‘apparently not coded separately’. 

This meant that a ratings average was taken of both showings, causing the number to fall.  

Unfortunate: After the re-calculation, Seven was able to triumph of Nine and win entertainment program of the week. Pictured: Carols in the Domain's Larry Emdur and co-host Kylie Gillies

Unfortunate: After the re-calculation, Seven was able to triumph of Nine and win entertainment program of the week. Pictured: Carols in the Domain’s Larry Emdur and co-host Kylie Gillies 

It comes after Nine and Seven were forced to make changes to their annual Christmas variety shows thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following a recent escalation of cases in Sydney both Carols by Candelight and Carols in the Domain were filmed without a live audience for the first time ever.  

Sydney’s upcoming New Year’s Eve fireworks will also be affected by New South Wales’ recent rise in COVID-19 cases.  

Making adjustments: Following a recent escalation of cases in Sydney both Carols by Candelight and Carols in the Domain were filmed without a live audience for the first time ever. Pictured: Livinia Nixon

Making adjustments: Following a recent escalation of cases in Sydney both Carols by Candelight and Carols in the Domain were filmed without a live audience for the first time ever. Pictured: Livinia Nixon  

On Saturday, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that Sydneysiders would be watching New Year’s Eve fireworks from home this year, rather than the Sydney foreshore.

‘The actual display itself, the seven minutes of fireworks at midnight, will be happening no matter what,’ Ms Berejiklian said.

‘But I’ll certainly be watching it from home and we encourage everybody else to do that as well.’

Access to vantage points will be available for frontline workers to watch the fireworks, with the rest of the city cut off from harbour-side view points.  

Fireworks in the pandemic: On Saturday, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that Sydneysiders would be watching New Year's Eve fireworks from home this year, rather than the Sydney foreshore

Fireworks in the pandemic: On Saturday, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that Sydneysiders would be watching New Year’s Eve fireworks from home this year, rather than the Sydney foreshore