Married At First Sight smashes The Amazing Race finale in the ratings

Married At First Sight was a ratings hit for Nine on Sunday night, offering welcome respite after a cyber attack wreaked havoc on the network’s Sydney programming.

The social experiment drew a metro audience of 1,106,000 viewers, making it the most-watched entertainment program of the night.

The show’s national average audience was 1.447 million, taking into account the 340,000 people who tuned in across regional Australia.

Magic million: Married At First Sight was a ratings hit for Nine on Sunday night, offering welcome respite after a cyber attack wreaked havoc on the network’s Sydney programming. Pictured: Married At First Sight couple Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven

The Married At First Sight commitment ceremony easily beat the season finale of The Amazing Race Australia on Channel 10.

The Amazing Race had a five-city metro audience 618,000, which lifted to 691,000 for the winner announcement.

Jackson Dening and Brendon Crawley, known as the Tamworth Cowboys, won the show after a gruelling 24-leg race across Australia.

Popular: The social experiment drew a metro audience of 1,106,000 viewers, making it the most-watched entertainment program of the night. The show's national average audience was 1.447 million, taking into account the 340,000 people who tuned in across regional Australia

Popular: The social experiment drew a metro audience of 1,106,000 viewers, making it the most-watched entertainment program of the night. The show’s national average audience was 1.447 million, taking into account the 340,000 people who tuned in across regional Australia

The Nine Network was the target of a cyber attack on its systems on Sunday which affected its live programming out of Sydney.

The Australian broadcaster was unable to air its Weekend Today and Sunday Sport programs as a result of the disruption.

Security experts believe the ‘massive ransomware attack’ was orchestrated by Russia ahead of Monday’s episode of Under Investigation, hosted by Liz Hayes, which is set to expose Russian president Vladimir Putin’s deadly campaign of chemical assassination against his enemies in the West. 

Shut down: The Nine Network was the target of a cyber attack on Sunday which disrupted its live programming out of Sydney. Weekend Today hosts Rebecca Maddern (left), Richard Wilkins (centre) and Jayne Azzopardi (right) were unable to broadcast

Shut down: The Nine Network was the target of a cyber attack on Sunday which disrupted its live programming out of Sydney. Weekend Today hosts Rebecca Maddern (left), Richard Wilkins (centre) and Jayne Azzopardi (right) were unable to broadcast

Retaliation: Security experts believe the 'massive ransomware attack' was orchestrated by Russia ahead of Monday's episode of Under Investigation, hosted by Liz Hayes, which is set to expose Russian president Vladimir Putin's deadly campaign of chemical assassination

Retaliation: Security experts believe the ‘massive ransomware attack’ was orchestrated by Russia ahead of Monday’s episode of Under Investigation, hosted by Liz Hayes, which is set to expose Russian president Vladimir Putin’s deadly campaign of chemical assassination

In a note to staff, Nine’s director of people and culture Vanessa Morley told all employees across the country to work from home until further notice.

‘Our IT teams are working around the clock to fully restore our systems which have primarily affected our broadcast and corporate business units,’ she wrote.

‘Publishing and radio systems continue to be operational.’

Ms Morley said office workers can expect to ‘experience disruption to the Nine IT network’, although emails did not appear to be impacted.

Controversial leader: Putin, a former KGB officer, is pictured here during a meeting with Novgorod Region Governor Andrei Nikitin at the Moscow Kremlin on March 24

Controversial leader: Putin, a former KGB officer, is pictured here during a meeting with Novgorod Region Governor Andrei Nikitin at the Moscow Kremlin on March 24

Nine’s National Rugby League coverage, 6pm news bulletins and Sunday evening coverage including 60 Minutes and Married At First Sight went ahead as planned after the company enacted ‘several contingencies’.

However, some viewers did experience glitching when trying to watch Married At First Sight on Nine’s streaming service, 9Now.

Earlier, the Australian media giant – the owner of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers – said it was responding to ‘technical issues’.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers described the situation as ‘serious’.

‘These are very concerning reports,’ he told reporters in Springwood, Brisbane. ‘What we’re hearing about here is a serious, and sophisticated, targeted attack on a media organisation.’

Contingencies: Nine's Sunday evening programming, including 60 Minutes and Married At First Sight, went ahead as planned after the company enacted 'several contingencies'. Pictured: Married At First Sight star Bryce Ruthven

Contingencies: Nine’s Sunday evening programming, including 60 Minutes and Married At First Sight, went ahead as planned after the company enacted ‘several contingencies’. Pictured: Married At First Sight star Bryce Ruthven

'Stopped playing': However, some viewers did experience glitching when trying to watch Married At First Sight on Nine's streaming service, 9Now

‘Stopped playing’: However, some viewers did experience glitching when trying to watch Married At First Sight on Nine’s streaming service, 9Now

Back on: While technical issues continue, it was business as usual for Nine on Monday morning

Back on: While technical issues continue, it was business as usual for Nine on Monday morning