HD Ratings: Puny Men Still Strong Enough

Two and a Half Men returned for its final season on Wednesday, after first screening on TVNZ Ondemand.

While the double-episode premiere averaged only 5.7% – 7.8% of the major demographics, and rated below 6.0% in three of the four, that still was enough to beat the competition in the 18-39 and household shopper demos.

But it shed more than half of lead-in Shortland Street’s viewership and lost to The Block: Glasshouse (5.9% – 7.6%) in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

TV2’s Friends With Benefits dominated post-8.30, with a 4.0% – 5.4% average to top TV3’s The Break-Up (2.8% – 3.2%).

But TV1’s The Island With Bear Grylls averaged a competitive 3.0% – 5.8% and won the hour with adults 25-54.

On Tuesday, TV2’s 7.30 SD re-run of The Karate Kid (6.2% – 9.0%) walloped its HD crime drama rivals.

TV1’s Person of Interest mustered only 2.0% – 4.1% and Fat Tony & Co 1.3% – 2.0%.

TV3 fared better with NCIS (3.5% – 5.2%) and NCIS: Los Angeles (3.1% – 4.6%).