HD Ratings: Wentworth Locks Up Monday

The return of Aussie prison drama Wentworth captivated enough viewers on Monday night to win all the commercial demographics for TV2.

The season three premiere averaged 4.5% – 8.2% opposite TV1’s Criminal Minds (3.0% – 4.7%) and TV3’s Shark Tank (2.2% – 4.0%).

Wentworth seesawed over the hour but in each of the key demos finished with more viewers than it started.

Last year’s season two premiere rated slightly higher but had a stronger lead-in — Cougar Town — than Reno Rumble (4.8% – 7.0%), which won the 7.30 hour only among household shoppers with kids.

TV1’s Border Security International and The Force won the other key demos while TV3’s MasterChef NZ finished third off the back of continuing dire ratings for Story (1.9% – 3.7%) — although Seven Sharp was down, too (3.8% – 6.5%).

At 9.30, TV2’s season finale of Tabatha Takes Over (3.9% – 8.1%) was untouchable, leaving TV1’s Castle (2.0% – 3.6%) and Odyssey (1.9% – 3.0%) to scramble for a distant second.

But the strength of TV1’s 6.00-8.30 line-up helped it to win the night in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos while TV2 topped the 18-39 and HHS/k votes: