HDTV Ratings: November 26-29

A Night at the Classic’s HD premiere on TV One suffered the same fate as the previous Kiwi comedy to screen after Mrs Brown’s Boys on Thursdays, Auckland Daze: viewership more than halved over the half-hour slot.

The comedians’ showcase averaged 3.2% – 5.5% of key demos off the back off Boys’ 7.1% – 11.4%.

But whereas Classic opened with 7.9% of TV One’s target audience, 25-54 year-olds, it closed with only 2.8%, and the decline was just as steep in the other demos.

It was a strong night for TV3, with The X Factor USA averaging 9.3% – 10.1% and lead-out Rove LA, 5.1% – 5.8% while TV One’s Person of Interest ended its Thursday re-runs season with 2.9% – 4.7%.

Criminal Minds’ last 8.30 Wednesday airing rated a similarly dismal 2.3% – 4.8% opposite The Big Bang Theory’s 12.3% – 13.4% and Cougar Town’s 8.5% – 10.5%.

Lead-out Revolution could muster only 4.9% – 6.0% and its HD stablemate, The Walking Dead, 3.4% – 3.9%.

TV2’s 9.30 HD drama on Tuesday, Body of Proof, is rating much better, 5.6% – 11.6%, thanks to having The Mentalist as its lead-in (9.7% – 14.1%).

Monday’s edition of The Block Australia was the week’s most popular instalment (6.9% – 8.5%) but couldn’t stop Homeland slipping back to 4.1% – 6.3%, with lead-out Nurse Jackie averaging only 2.0% – 2.7%.

TV2’s competition, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, respectively averaged 7.9% – 12.1% and 4.3% – 7.4% while TV One’s HD newcomer High Country Rescue landed with a heroic 6.7% – 12.0% and Unforgettable bowed out with 1.4% – 4.4%.