HD Ratings: 1 News Still #1

The COVID-19 blockbuster ratings for 1 News at 6pm continued on Sunday, with the news hour drawing twice as many viewers as Three’s Newshub Live in the core commercial demographics.

It averaged 13.9% of 25-54 year-olds and 10.4% of 18-49s vs 6.6% / 5.1% for Newshub.

The bulletin’s popularity helped lead-outs Hydunai Country Calendar to average 10.3% / 8.0% and Sunday 5.3% / 4.2% to both win their slots.

Three’s The Block NZ out-rated TVNZ 2’s MasterChef Australia in the key demos while the 8.30 movies seesawed: TVNZ 2’s The Bourne Supremacy averaged 3.9% / 2.4% vs 3.7% / 2.7% for Three’s The Equalizer, which ran longer.

TVNZ 1’s Kiwi dramas finished third in their slots, although The Panthers improved slightly on the previous week’s dismal premiere, with 1.2% of 25-54s and 1.0% of 18-49s.

Lead-in One Lane Bridge shed more than half the audience of its Sunday lead-in, averaging just 2.2% of 25-54s and 1.9% of 18-49s.

TVNZ 1’s Saturday dramas again dive-bombed, with Anne Boleyn averaging just 0.7% / 0.4% and It’s a Sin 0.2% / 0.1%.

But the network’s Tipping Point: Lucky Stars won the 7.00 hour, with 5.9% / 4.0% on the back of 1 News’ 13.8% / 10.7%, while lead-out Jamie’s Easy Meals for Every Day averaged 3.2% / 2.4% to win its slot.

Three’s movie Homefront out-rated TVNZ 2’s The Spy Next Door.

TVNZ 1 dominated Friday with 1 News, Seven Sharp, The Repair Shop and The Great British Sewing Bee all sewing their slots.