HD Ratings: TVNZ 1’s Cup Runneth Over

1 News at 6pm may have gone overboard with its America’s Cup coverage on Wednesday but viewers didn’t bail out.

The news hour averaged 11.8% of 25-54 years-olds, the network’s target audience, and 9.1% of its next most important demographic, 18-49 year-olds.

Three’s Newshub Live at 6pm exercised better news judgement with a wider focus on the day’s events but averaged only 3.9% of 25-54s and 2.9% of 18-49s.

Of course, 1 News benefitted from the network’s extensive live coverage of Emirates Team NZ’s win, with lead-in Big Race Day averaging 14.4% of 25-54s and 11.0% of 18-49s.

Another Big Race Day edition at 7.00 averaged 11.8% and 7.5% respectively of these demos.

However, viewers switched over to Three at 7.30 for Married at First Sight Australia, which drew 5.4% of 25-54s and 4.5% of 18-49s.

MAFS averaged nearly twice as many 25-54 and 18-49 viewers as TVNZ 2’s The Bachelor NZ but TVNZ 1’s Five Gold Rings proved more competitive, particularly in the 18-49 demo.

TVNZ 1’s The Royals Revealed and TVNZ 2’s Wellington Paranormal seesawed in these demos opposite the last half-hour of MAFS.

TVNZ 2’s Travel Guides NZ out-rated the second half of Royals and Three’s The Rookie in the 18-49 demo but Royals’ 25-54 viewership stayed steady.

For the second consecutive night, TVNZ 1 won all the key commercial demos.