HD Ratings: Flying Docs Take Off at Last

After struggling to get airborne for much of its run, TVNZ 1’s RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service departed TVNZ 1’s schedule on Monday with a season high.

It averaged 4.9% of 25-54 year-olds and 3.1% of 18-49s (compared to 2.8% / 1.6% the previous week) — which was enough to win the 8.30 hour in TVNZ 1’s core commercial demo.

But TVNZ 2’s Aussie rival Beauty and the Geek Australia edged ahead in the 18-49 race.

TVNZ 2 dominated the night in this demo, with Shortland Street, First Dates and Naked Attraction winning their slots.

First Dates and Naked Attraction also attracted more 25-54s than TVNZ 1’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and 1 News Tonight while Three’s The Night Before finished a distant third.

TVNZ 1 and 2 seesawed earlier in the night, with the former’s Seven Sharp, Highway Cops and Barkley Manor proving competitive in the 25-54 stakes.

TVNZ 1 won the night’s biggest 25-54 and 18-49 shares while TVNZ 2 finished well ahead of Three.

Note: These overnight ratings exclude viewership of the networks’ +1 SD channels.