HD Ratings: Train Thriller Tops Zombie Sensation

After a slow start, TV3’s runaway train thriller proved unstoppable in the ratings on Monday.

The re-run of Unstoppable out-rated TV2’s penultimate fourth-season episode of The Walking Dead in all the key demographics except household shoppers with kids despite the network’s 8.30 comedy block delivering Dead a full-steam-ahead lead-in.

Averaging 5.4% – 6.1% over two hours, it was derailed by Super Fun Night (8.0% – 14.5%) and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (6.1% – 8.7%) but largely overtook The Walking Dead (5.7% – 10.1%).

TV2 had a strong start to the night, with Shortland Street (14.3% – 22.0%), The Middle (10.0% – 13.1%) and Trophy Wife (8.6% – 13.0%).

TV one’s MasterChef NZ also was competitive, with 6.3% – 10.9%, and topped TV3’s Road Cops (4.9% – 7.4%) and, except among adults 18-39, The GC (5.1% – 7.2%).

Person of Interest at 8.30 averaged 3.9% – 11.8%, and was most popular with adults 25-54 and HHS.

But lead-out The Following could muster only 1.1% – 4.6%.

TV2 posted the biggest rises in ratings and channel shares over the previous Monday, and TV3 also was up in all the key demos, while the night was exceptionally competitive in the 25-54 demo, with TV One having the edge.

Monday’s peak-hour HD channel ratings and shares were:

• Adults 18-49: TV One, 6.7 rating/21.8 share; TV2, 8.1 rating/26.5 share; TV3, 6.3 rating/20.7 share
• Adults 18-39: TV One, 5.6 rating/18.7 share; TV2, 8.7 rating/29.1 share; TV3, 6.7 rating/22.5 share
• Adults 25-54: TV One, 7.9 rating/23.4 share; TV2, 7.9 rating/23.3 share; TV3, 7.1 rating/20.9 share
• HHS: TV One, 10.0 rating/25.8 share; TV2, 11.9 rating/31.0 share; TV3, 7.0 rating/18.1 share.