Malpractice More Steady Than Sturdy

TVNZ 1’s new nightly medical thriller Malpractice is struggling to gain traction with viewers in the key 25-54 demographic.

Monday’s episode averaged 37,978 viewers (1.85 rating/12.57 share), which was 6,000 fewer than the previous week’s final of World’s Most Dangerous Roads.

It finished behind Three’s Married at First Sight UK (41,657 viewers, 2.03 rating/14.04 share) but ahead of TVNZ 2’s Fire Country (27,815, 1.36 rating/9.94 share).

TVNZ 1 is stripping Malpractice 8.30 through to Thursday. Sunday’s premiere drew similar numbers, with 38,208 viewers and a 1.86 rating/18.34 share, to beat MAFS but not TVNZ 2’s movie Jumanji.

However, it couldn’t capitalise on the massive post-election coverage lead-in from 1 News (217,380 viewers, 10.61 rating/56.78 share), Hyundai Country Calendar (182,658 viewers, 8.90 rating/49.00 share) and Sunday (113,713 viewers, 5.54 rating/32.79 share).

Programmers would have been banking on this bumper viewership to get Malpractice off to a flying start, particularly given 1 News’ advantage over Three’s Newshub Live at 6pm (93,099 viewers, 4.54 rating/23.60 share).

TVNZ 1’s peak demo share was 38.67, Three’s 15.15 and TVNZ 2’s 12.44.

TVNZ 1’s Monday share was 31.06, Three’s 18.14 and TVNZ 2’s 13.93.

The night’s most popular shows in the 25-54 demo were 1 News, Seven Sharp, The Chase (5.30), Fair Go, Newshub Live at 6pm, Shortland Street, Celebrity Treasure Island, The Project, The Casketeers and House Rules NZ.