The Seven Network may have the TV ratings battle sewn up for 2008, but Nine is confident it will reclaim the mantle next year.
Official figures will not be released until Sunday, but Seven cannot lose.
Seven will easily win overall audience share, and in weekly wins, it will finish on top in 28 out of 40 weeks, this week being the last.
Nine has secured 11 and another week has been tied.
It's the second year running that Seven has won, coming largely thanks to the Beijing Olympics and popular programs including Border Security and new family drama Packed To The Rafters.
Seven's head of programming Tim Worner said the network had depth and consistency across the board.
"We're pleased that Seven is Australia's favourite network," Worner told AAP.
"We have nine of the top 10 programs on television in 2008 and we move into 2009 with the strongest line-up of programs in Seven's history."
But 2009 looks likely not to be as easy for Seven as Nine continues to win over more viewers.
Despite being second, Nine has made up much ground from 2007 when it had its worst year in 30 years.
Nine has grown its audience in breakfast TV with the Today show becoming more competitive against No.1 Sunrise, and gangland crime drama Underbelly, 60 Minutes and the US sitcom Two And A Half Men all drawing impressive audiences.
Excluding the Olympic period, Nine is also the winner in the important 25-54 and 18-49 demographics.
Nine chief executive David Gyngell said his network had won back the "trust and support of our audience and advertisers".
He was upbeat about next year, especially with programs like the anticipated Underbelly 2.
"We take nothing for granted at Nine, but we have a very strong schedule for 2009 with which to consolidate and build on our big gains of this year," Gyngell told AAP.
Meanwhile, Ten, which started the year so well thanks to the local version of So You Think You Can Dance and The Biggest Loser, had a disappointing second half.
Nevertheless it finished first in the key demographic of 16-39 for the eighth successive year.
"We remain competitive in the key 18-49 demographic, while acknowledging we can build further on what we've achieved over the past two years," Ten's programming boss David Mott said.
Much of Ten's success will be riding on whether Big Brother's replacement, reality-style cooking show Masterchef Australia, can win over viewers.
The ABC is also confident about 2009 after their best year in history thanks to Andrew Denton's Enough Rope, The Gruen Transfer, Spicks and Specks and a range of documentaries.
"In 2008 more people watched ABC TV than ever before in the network's history and I think it demonstrates the importance of the public broadcaster and the way we connect with all Australians," ABC TV boss Kim Dalton said.
