The ABC's new political thriller The Code 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.

The ABC's new drama, set in Canberra and the outback, rated in the top 10 on its debut.

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.