HD Ratings: Cops Gives Way to Slop

TV3 is replacing 7pm weeknight re-runs of Road Cops with Come Dine With Me NZ.

The HD local version of the cringing UK cooking show that’s fit for daytime folder only will debut on June 15, the network unexpectedly announced this afternoon.

The Guy Williams-hosted series revolves around amateur cooks competing to be the ultimate dinner party host.

It seemingly has been brought forward to plug the weeknight slot until a Campbell Live successor is launched.

The ratings for Road Cops have been steadily diminishing and with 3News’ ratings in freefall and the network’s reputation in tatters, TV3 clearly feels it has nothing left to lose by scheduling reality drivel that shouldn’t screen later than 5.30 (where it would be a more effective lead-in to the news than a lead-out).

TV1’s line-up is getting a big boost from a growth in Seven Sharp’s viewership following Campbell Live’s axing.

Monday’s Border Patrol averaged 7.6% – 13.2% of the commercial demographics and Code: 1, 5.6% – 9.7%.

This helped the season premiere of ageing procedural Criminal Minds to average 4.2% – 7.8% and its stablemate, Forever, 2.7% – 6.8%.

Both dramas rated extraordinarily well in the 25-54 and household shoppers-with-kids demos.

Indeed, Criminal Minds’ 25-54 rating was only 0.1 point behind TV2’s Monday night crowdpleaser, The Mysteries of Laura, which averaged 6.6% – 10.7% off the back of My Kitchen Rules’ mega-ratings (11.0% – 16.2%).

TV3’s The Embassy (2.1% – 3.4%) was hammered and must be close to being closed down, as it did lead-out Dancing With the Stars no favours: its first genuine results show of the season averaged only 3.1% – 5.3%.

A casualty of this was the conclusion to the excellent Catching Milat, by far the best of the 8.30 dramas but the lowest rating (2.7% – 5.4%).

As a result, TV3 distantly trailed both of its TVNZ rivals: