HDTV Ratings: February 15

After a week of new-season setbacks, TV3 had a ratings reprieve with Wednesday’s return of HD bikie drama, Sons of Anarchy.

The movie-length season-four premiere out-rated TVNZ’s HD competition: Harry’s Law on TV One and The Walking Dead on TV2.

It averaged a 7.6 rating/24.1 share of 25-54 year-olds, compared to Harry’s 5.0 rating/16.3 share and Dead’s 5.6 rating/18.4 share.

It narrowly lost to Dead in the 18-49 and 18-39 demographics but edged ahead with household shoppers.

Anarchy’s ratings, however, were dwarfed by TV2’s powerhouse comedy block.

Two and a Half Men averaged a 16.8 rating/54.3 share of 18-39s, 2 Broke Girls a 16.8/52.0 share, The Big Bang Theory a 15.8/44.9 share and Happy Endings a 10.6/31 share.

The line-up generated similarly high ratings (but lower shares) among TV One’s 25-54 viewership, leaving its HD shows, SPCA Rescue and Winners & Losers, to rate slightly better than TV3’s X-Factor Australia: they averaged 6.1% and 6.4% respectively compared to the latter’s 6.0%.