HDTV Ratings: Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy's Ron Perlman

TV3’s primetime gamble on its new high-octane HD drama, Sons of Anarchy, paid off last night when the premiere blitzed the competition.

This “Easy Rider meets The Sopranos“ drew 9% of the network’s core audience, 18-49 year-olds, although it did slip from a peak of 10.5% to a low of 7.6% during the hour.

TV2’s action drama Human Target scored a 5.6 rating and TV One’s Real Life documentary a 4.2 rating.

With 25-54 year-olds, the demographic TV3 will start chasing next year, Sons of Anarchy was even more popular, with a 9.2 rating.

The new Wednesday HD combo of Survivor: Nicaragua and Sons of Anarchy is proving far more muscular than Lie to Me and its running mates, SVU and documentaries.

If Sons of Anarchy’s ratings go the distance, don’t be surprised if next year TV3 pairs the second season with the new Underbelly.

Early reviews from the NZ Herald have been divided, with Linda Herrick giving it the thumbs-up and Deborah Hill Cone the thumbs-down.