HD Ratings: Les Mis Not So Miserable

Les Miserables’ ratings improved in its second week, averaging 4.4% of TVNZ 1’s 25-54 viewership compared to 2.6% for its premiere.

There was an even bigger jump in the 18-49 and 18-39 demographics, which leapt from 1.9% to 3.5% and from 1.5% to 3.4% respectively.

In the other core commercial demo, household shoppers with kids, viewership improved from 1.8% to 2.9%.

But the BBC drama’s gains, off the back of a stronger lead-in (the return of Sunday after its Easter hiatus), didn’t benefit lead-out MotherFatherSon, which averaged 25-54 and 18-49 averages (0.9% and 0.7% respectively).

In the Sunday movie battle, TVNZ 2’s re-run of Avengers: Age of Ultron topped Three’s premiere of The Great Wall in all the key demos, although the two were competitive in the 25-54 race (3.9%  vs 3.8%).

Three’s Dancing With the Stars dominated at 7.00, averaging 7.8% of 25-54s (vs My Kitchen Rules’ 6.0%), 6.7% of 18-49s (vs 4.5%) and 6.2% of 18-39s (vs 4.0%).

But MKR triumphed with HHS/k, averaging 8.9% vs DTWS’ 8.3%.

Prime’s major new local documentary series, Anthems: New Zealand’s Iconic Hits, averaged 1.2% of 25-54s and 1.1% of 18-49s, which was up sharply on the channel’s Easter Sunday music specials and the previous series to screen in the slot, Pilgrimmage: Road to Santiago.

Three won the tightly contested night with the biggest 18-49 and 18-39 shares, TVNZ 1 with 25-54s and TVNZ 2 with HHS/k.

On Saturday, TVNZ 1 dominated with 25-54s, despite a line-up of repeats (Country Calendar, Coast NZ) and dire UK reality (Dinner Date) — but Manifest bombed in its new 9.30 Saturday slot.

Otherwise, TVNZ 2 ruled with its movies, Angry Birds and Captain America: Civil War, while Three’s Star Wars season opened poorly, with averages of 1.0% – 2.8%.

On Friday, TVNZ 2’s network movie premiere of Pete’s Dragon won its slot with 25-54s and HHS/k but Sky’s Super Rugby coverage scored with 18-49s and 18-39s.