MKR Returns to Rule

Monday’s season premiere of My Kitchen Rules NZ proved the evergreen appeal of the seasoned culinary contest by winning the 7.30 hour in the critical 25-54 demographic.

It drew 87,479 adults in this demo (4.26 rating/27.43 share) — nearly 55,000 more than Three’s latest Aussie import, My Mum, Your Dad (1.60 rating/9.35 share).

MKR also pipped TVNZ 1 warhorse Fair Go (82,828 viewers, 4.04 rating/25.59 share).

But the bigger loser was stablemate The Casketeers, which shed 27,000 of its lead-in viewership (2.72 rating/17.65 share).

TVNZ 1’s dated newcomer Last Woman on the Planet could round up only 25,340 adults (1.23 rating/9.82 share), partly because it overlapped the final half-hour of MKR.

Three’s Married at First Sight UK fared better at 8.30, with 33,657 viewers (1.64 rating/10.44 share).

While MKR lead-out Police Rescue Australia dominated from 9.00, with 47,380 (2.31 rating/20.21 share), TVNZ 1 still easily led the night because of its unassailable trifecta of The Chase, 1 News at 6pm and Seven Sharp.

TVNZ 1’s peak-demo share was 28.66, TVNZ 2’s 20.65 and Three’s 16.98.