HD Ratings: TVNZ 2 Steams Ahead With MKR

The return of My Kitchen Rules Australia is spicing up TVNZ 2’s ratings, with Tuesday’s episode topping all the core commercial demographics.

It helped the network to dominate from 7.00-11.00, with its line-up of Shortland Street, MKR, Grey’s Anatomy and Tourettes — Teenage Tics winning the biggest shares of all the key demos for the night.

Moreover, MKR was more popular than its lead-in across the board. It averaged 6.1% of 18-49 year-olds, TVNZ 2’s target audience, and 7.7% of 25-54s, vs 5.0% and 5.7% of these respective demos for Shortland Street.

The cooking hit’s bumper viewership also boosted Grey’s Anatomy’s popularity, which is rating higher in a later slot than it did at 8.30 without MKR as its lead-in.

The hospital soap averaged 3.4% of 18-49s and 3.5% of 25-54s opposite Three’s NCIS double-bill.

NCIS averaged 1.7%  and 2.3%of these respective demos, and NCIS: Los Angeles, 1.7% and 1.9% (today NCIS: LA was renewed for a sixth season following NCIS’ 17th season renewal earlier this month).

But NCIS lead-in Lost & Found continues to hold viewers, despite the tough competition from MKR.

This week’s episode averaged 6.0% of 25-54s and 4.9% of 18-49s, which was comparable to last week’s season premiere.

But TVNZ 1’s Inside Hotel Chocolat dipped sharply, averaging only 2.9% of 25-54s and 1.3% of 18-49s compared to 3.4% and 2.0% the previous week.

And hastily programming a repeat of A History of Comedy delivered more laughs than viewers: 2.3% of 25-54s and 1.2% of 18-49s.

As a result, the often top-rating 20/20 averaged only 1.7% and 1.2% of these demos.