HD Ratings for NZ On Air Shows

Despite the avalanche of new Kiwi shows over the past few weeks, none can touch warhorse Country Calendar for sheer numbers.

I haven’t seen specific demographics for last week but Nielsen data released by NZ On Air for October 30 – November 5 shows the farming lifestyle hit score 200,000 more viewers than the next most popular NZOA-funded series.

The November 1 broadcast, which was a repeat, averaged 572,400 viewers aged 5+ compared to 346,200 for Cold Case’s season two premiere two days later.

In third place was the premiere of Black Hands, which averaged 335,100, followed by Grand Designs NZ’s 232,500 and Match Fit’s 201,300.

Both GDNZ and Match Fit end their runs this week while bowing out next week with a two-hour send-off will be Westside.

Its November 2 broadcast averaged 154,900 viewers while the season final of 7 Days could muster only 120,000 viewers.

Mean Mums also ended its run last week, with only 117,100 viewers — although this was better than Taskmaster NZ’s 97,000.

Rounding out the top 10 was a 9am broadcast of Q + A With Jack Tame with 76,300 viewers.

Note that these figures include +1 channel viewership and not time-shifted viewing, which, when coupled with a programme’s key commercial demographic appeal, will have a bigger bearing on its prospects than 5+.

For instance, Taskmaster NZ’s October 28 broadcast won its 8.30 slot in the 18-49 and 18-39 demos, and was competitive in the 25-54 demo (where it lost by just one-tenth of a rating point to TVNZ 1’s Location Location Location).

Nonetheless, the 5+ figures broadly indicate a programme’s reach with viewers generally.