The ABC’s new political thriller The Code has proved easy for viewers to decipher after it launched with better ratings than Big Brother.

The Code, a six-part drama starring Dan Spielman, Ashley Zukerman and Lucy Lawless, was eighth on OzTAM’s overnight ratings with 771,000 viewers.

It easily eclipsed the Nine Network’s reality series Big Brother which was ninth with 667,000 viewers.

The Code was one of three ABC shows to be among the most-watched programs on Sunday.

Sci-fi series Doctor Who was 10th with 644,000 viewers and ABC News was seventh with an audience of 841,000.

Nine’s renovation series The Block Glasshouse was the clear winner with 1.664 million viewers while Seven News (1.225 million) was second.

Most watched shows on Sunday:

1. The Block Glasshouse (Nine) – 1.664 million

2. Seven News (Seven) – 1.225 million

3. Nine News (Nine) – 1.220 million

4. 60 Minutes (Nine) – 1.211 million

5. The X Factor (Seven) – 1.131 million

6. Sunday Night (Seven) – 1.058 million

7. ABC News (ABC1) – 841,000

8. The Code (ABC1) – 771,000

9. Big Brother (Nine) – 667,000

10. Doctor Who (ABC1) – 644,000

* Source: OzTAM