HDTV Ratings: July 20

TVNZ reports Nothing Trivial’s HD premiere last night was the highest-rating debut for a new NZ drama series since the turn of the century.

The first episode drew 13.3% of 25-54 year-olds to earn a 28% channel share.

That was nearly double the rating of TV3’s Inside NZ and three points ahead of TV2’s Cougar Town, although the first quarter-hour was out-rated by TV2’s The Big Bang Theory.

However, the NZ Herald’s Greg Dixon gave the premiere the thumbs-down, dubbing it a poor man’s Slumdog Millionaire.

“Nothing Trivial has a good heart stuff.co.nz, and undoubtedly it will find an audience with viewers who watch it because they will be having their own heartachy flashbacks as these five very-Auckland Aucklanders struggle with being unlucky in love while looking for love. I wish such viewers luck.”

TV3’s Sons of Anarchy won its 9.30pm slot, with 7.2% of 25-54 year-olds and 7.9% of 18-49 year-olds, although its household shoppers with kids rating couldn’t match Drop Dead Diva’s 9.3%.

Earlier in the evening, TV2’s  HD comedy $#*! My Dad Says was tops in all the key demographics except HHS/kids, where it lost to TV One’s Animal Rescue.