Big Win for Minor Parties’ Gabfest

Thursday’s 7.00 multi-party debate on TVNZ 1 scored 135,171 viewers in the critical 25-54 demographic while 96,833 stayed for the 8.30 analysis.

The debate averaged a 6.59 rating/38.07 share and the analysis, a 4.72 rating/28.81 share — with both improving on what normally screens in these slots.

Three took early action to limit the damage by doubling-up low-rating episodes of The Traitors UK while TVNZ 2’s counter-programming fared reasonably well with steady week-on-week viewership.

Travel Guides (Australia) averaged 68,283 adult viewers (3.33 rating/18.27 share) and Down for Love, 53,433 (2.60 rating/15.49 share).

There was a huge fall-off from the debate analysis to Would I Lie to You?, which drew only 37,194 viewers (1.81 rating/13.57 share) compared to nearly 60,000 the previous week.

At 9.30, TVNZ 2’s Night Coppers dominated, with 32,322 viewers (1.57 rating/13.00 share) vs 16,830 (0.82 rating/7.74 share) for TVNZ 1’s Coronation Street.

TVNZ 1’s peak demo share was 36.38, TVNZ 2’s 16.16 and Three’s a shockingly low 9.6.

Three had a much better night on Wednesday, although the 7.30 return of Paddy Gower Has Issues wasn’t enough to topple TVNZ 2’s Celebrity Treasure Island or TVNZ 1’s The Celebrity Chase.

Three laid the ground for Issues the previous week, when its leaders’ debate, which he moderated in the same slot, drew 124,780 viewers (6.08 rating/32.42 share) and the post-debate analysis 123,172 (6.00 rating/32.67 share).

But Issues could muster only 45,879 viewers (2.24 rating/14.23 share) against 76,286 for CTI (3.72 rating/24.31 share) and 60,511 for TCC (2.95 rating/20.54 share).

Three also finished third at 8.30, when Married at First Sight UK trailed TVNZ 2’s Taskmaster UK and TVNZ 1’s Location Location Location Australia.

Coro St won the 9.30 hour for TVNZ 1 while TVNZ 2’s Taskmaster Australia led Three’s Newshub Late.

TVNZ 1’s peak demo share was 27.91, Three’s 17.87 and TVNZ 2’s 17.60.

Viewer appetite for TVNZ 1’s Eat well for Less NZ? continued with Tuesday’s episode commanding 99,388 viewers (4.84 rating/30.20 share) — 25,000 more than CTI and 50,000 more than Three’s House Rules NZ.

But that didn’t stop TVNZ 1 viewers switching over to Taskmaster UK at 8.30, which drew nearly 10,000 more 25-54s than Paramedics while MAFS couldn’t top 26,000.

TVNZ 1’s peak demo share was 31.39, TVNZ 2’s 18.19 and Three’s 17.02.