HD Ratings: Taskmaster Taken to Task

The popularity of TVNZ 2’s Taskmaster NZ has plummeted since season two launched two weeks ago.

The July 8 premiere averaged overnight 3.8% of 25-54 year-olds and 3.3% of 18-49s.

But last night’s episode more than halved this viewership, mustering only 1.8% of the former and 1.5% of the latter.

It still out-rated TVNZ 1’s Location Location Location in both core commercial demographics but distantly trailed Three’s LA’s Finest.

The bosum-buddy cop drama has had its ups and downs in recent weeks.

But Wednesday’s episode averaged 2.7% of 25-54s and 2.2% of 18-49s, which helped lead-out Hawaii Five-O to win the 9.30 hour with 2.4% / 1.7% averages.

That was well clear of time-slot rivals Coronation Street and Would I Lie to You?, with TVNZ 2’s panel show unable to even top 1.0% of the key demos.

TVNZ 2 was more competitive at 7.30, when MasterChef Australia level-pegged with TVNZ 1’s Beat the Chasers in the 25-54 demo (3.8% vs The Block NZ’s 3.4%) and won outright with 18-49s.

And at 7.00, Shortland Street won with 4.2% of 18-49s and was only seven-tenths of a point behind TVNZ 1’s Seven Sharp in the 25-54 race.

TVNZ 1 easily won the night’s biggest key demo shares while Three was narrowly ahead of TVNZ 2.