Lomas on Top Again

David Lomas Investigates again won the 7.30 Wednesday hour in the key 25-54 demographic — albeit narrowly.

Three’s lost-and-found hit averaged 76,455 viewers (3.73 rating/25.32 share) vs 73,936 (3.60 rating/24.98 share) for TVNZ 1’s season premiere of The Celebrity Chase.

The previous week it lost to the final of Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Bad; TVNZ 2’s Hunted Australia averaged merely 20,674 viewers (1.01 rating/7.35 share).

Lomas lead-out Love It or List It Australia went on to win the 8.30 hour with 54,985 (2.68 rating/22.30 share).

TVNZ 1’s Maori Language Week special Hongi to Hangi and Everything In-Between averaged 39,910 viewers (1.94 rating/15.15 share) and TVNZ 2’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, 16,386 (0.80 rating/7.70 share).

Three’s Newshub Late won its 9.30 slot while 7.00 gabfest The Project out-rated TVNZ 2’s Shortland Street but not TVNZ 1’s Seven Sharp.

TVNZ 1’s had the night’s biggest peak demo share (32.29), followed by Three (24.97); TVNZ 2’s sunk to dismal 9.97.

On Tuesday, TVNZ 1’s Eat Well for Less NZ? slipped on its season premiere but still won the 7.30 hour with 74,254 adults (3.62 rating/22.40 share) while TVNZ 2’s Taskmaster (69,347, 3.38 rating/19.23 share) crushed Three’s House Rules NZ (41,071, 2.00 rating/14.00 share).

TVNZ 1’s Origins drew twice as many 25-54 year-olds (54,020) as Three’s Accused and TVNZ 2’s NCIS: Hawai’i finished second (42,256).

Three and TVNZ 2 had comparable peak demo shares of 17+ but TVNZ 1 steamed ahead with 31.93.