TVNZ 1 Debate a Big Ratings Leader

Huge audiences turn to TVNZ for 1News Your Vote 2023 Leaders’ Debate

More than a million New Zealanders tuned into the first live Leaders’ Debate between Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon on TVNZ 1 last night.

Moderated by Political Editor Jessica Mutch McKay, Tuesday evening’s face-off was the first time voters got to see the leaders of the country’s biggest parties going head-to-head in a primetime debate.

The 90-minute programme reached 1.09 million TV viewers across the broadcast, with an average audience of 682,600 (AP5+) and a share of 54.9%*.

An additional 71,779 accounts were reached on TVNZ+ with those livestreaming the debate last night**.  (The full broadcast is available to stream on the platform.)

The combined reach for the 1News Your Vote 2023 Leaders’ Debate and the Post Analysis programme on TVNZ 1 was 1,141,800 AP5+***.

TVNZ continued their winning streak with entertainment alternatives across the line-up drawing big audience numbers last night.

Together, TVNZ 1, 2 and DUKE achieved a massive 62% overnight audience share across the peak schedule (6pm – 10.30pm)****.

*Source: Nielsen TAM; Overnight data; 19/09/23; 1 News Your Vote 2023 Leaders’ Debate; AP 5+; TVNZ 1*; Avg Audience (000’s, %); Cume Reach (000’s, %) Share from parent channel.

** Source: Google Analytics; AP

*** Source: Nielsen TAM; Overnight data; 19/09/2023; AP 5+; TVNZ 1*; 1 News Your Vote 2023 Leaders’ Debate, 1 News Your Vote 2023 Post Analysis; Cume Reach (000’s, %)

**** Source: Nielsen TAM; Overnight data; AP 5+; TVNZ (Released); Peak Only; Share %