HD Ratings: Rave Reviews But Not Ratings for Rake

Rake’s charms have won over critics more than viewers.

The Wednesday night newcomer had a disastrous debut, averaging only 1.7% – 3.3% of the major demographics (adults 18-39, 18-49, 25-54, household shoppers with kids).

Despite acclaim by The Dominion Post (“a treasure“) and The NZ Herald (“funny, clever and silly“), TV One’s decision to schedule it 8.30 midweek was the new season’s most baffling strategic move.

The series already has aired on Rialto Channel and after years of dumbing down its primetime schedule, where did the network suddenly expect a literate, discerning drama audience to spring from?

Rake’s flop is a shame and probably signals the last chance TV One will take in primetime this season with an edgy drama series.

It would have been better scheduled after Offspring at 9.30 Sunday, where might have had time to build an audience instead of being steamrolled by TV2’s movie, 17 Again (8.8% – 11.6%) and, to a lesser extent, TV3’s Hustling America (3.5% – 8.8%).

TV One’s other new Wednesday drama, Hostages, averaged 1.3% – 3.2% for its second episode against 5.0% – 7.1% for TV2’s Tabatha Takes Over and 3.9% – 7.3% for TV3’s Sons of Anarchy.

TV3’s schedule held up early in the evening, too, when The Block: All Stars averaged 8.5% – 16.3% to beat or be competitive with the first hour of 17 Again.

It was also well ahead of TV One’s The Inspectors (2.6% – 6.5%) and Meet the Frockers (1.4% – 4.0%).

But The Block took a tumble on Thursday and Friday against rising interest in TV2’s The Bachelor Australia.

Thursday’s episode averaged 5.2% – 9.4%, and was beaten by The Bachelor Australia in the 18-39 demo and neck-and-neck in the 18-49 demo; Friday’s episode averaged 4.5% – 9.4% and the outcome was the same — only among HHS and adults 25-54 was it in front.

TV One’s Friday HD broadcast of the HSBC World World Series rated lower than Coronation Street in the same slot (2.3% – 5.2%) and didn’t fare much better Saturday (1.2% – 5.4%).

However, Hannibal had a better night on TV3, averaging 2.6% – 3.5% on the back of CSI: NY’s 3.2% – 5.2%.

But the night’s big winner was Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which averaged 5.3% – 8.2%.