HDTV Ratings: July 25

X marked the top ratings slot last night, when the free-to-air HD premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine helped TV3 to win the night.

Its popularity reinforced how vulnerable even a juggernaut broadcaster like TV2 can be without key properties like Desperate Housewives.

Last night was the first Monday of the season it didn’t have the Wisteria Lane serial to help drive its ratings – and successor The Mentalist was no match.

The season three-premiere was most popular with household shoppers with kids –12.6% — but still couldn’t beat X-Men’s 14.1%.

With TV2’s target audience of 18-39 year-olds, it rated 10.2% compared with X-Men’s 12.8%; with TV3’s target demo, 25-54 year-olds, Mentalist scored 9.9% and X-Men, 12.2%.

Mentalist lead-out Body of Proof rated 10.8% of HHS/kids, 8.1% of 25-54s and 6.3% of 18-39s (which was nearly three rating points off last week’s premiere).

TV One’s HD double-bill of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour and Castle finished third in all of the key demos.

With TV One’s 25-54 viewership, Suspect Behaviour has progressively slipped from 10.4% for the July 11 premiere to 7.4% for last night’s instalment.