HD Ratings: Manifest Nosedives on Take-off

TVNZ 1’s Manifest (8.30 Mondays) got off to a bumpy start last week but fared better on TVNZ 2, suggesting the Lost-style drama should have been scheduled on the latter from the outset.

The first hour of the double-episode averaged 2.7% of TVNZ 1’s core commercial demographic, 25-54 year-olds, on the back of The Casketeers’ 4.1%.

The second hour averaged 1.8%.

Competition was fierce, with TVNZ 2’s network move premiere of Rogue One averaging 4.0% from 7.30-10.15 and Three’s Married at First Sight Australia averaging 7.1% from 7.30-9.00.

Rogue One opened stronger than MAFS but the latter led after the first quarter-hour and mostly was 2-3 points ahead.

However, Rogue One dominated against MAFS lead-out The Rookie, which averaged 3.3% of 25-54s, while 10.00 drama Designated Survivor’s 0.8% average suggests it may not survive for much longer.

Its TVNZ 2 rival, The Walking Dead averaged 1.5%.

Meanwhile, TVNZ 2’s repeat of Manifest on Wednesday improved sampling of the drama and out-rated its Monday broadcast in all the core demos except 25-54 and 18-54.

The biggest gains were in the 18-39 and household shoppers with kids demos: the former averaged 2.8% (vs 1.0% Monday) and the latter, 5.8% (vs 4.1%).

There wasn’t as steep a fall-off in viewership over the two hours on TVNZ 1 but that would be because the second episode began at 9.30 on TVNZ 1 and at 10.30 on TVNZ 2.

Programmers will be on the edge of their seats tonight hoping the TVNZ 2 exposure boosts TVNZ 1’s broadcast.