Throng

Official data detailing August’s viewing behaviour shows 3 News has lost to ONE News in its own target demographic for the first time since the Beijing Olympics.

The average audience across the month of August 2010 shows that ONE News had 205,190 viewers aged 18-49 watching the main 6pm bulletin every evening compared to 198,650 viewers in the same age group watching 3 News.  July data showed ONE and 3 News were neck and neck with ONE News just slightly behind in TV3’s own target demographic.

The last time ONE News beat 3 News in 18-49 age group was in August 2008 (during the Beijing Olympics).

Total viewership data for all news and current affairs television programmes during August on FTA is detailed below.

AVERAGE TELEVISION NEWS VIEWERSHIP FOR AUGUST 2010

The makers of TV3 consumer show Target have copped a $38,000 fine from the Broadcasting Standards Authority for an inaccurate hidden camera trial.

It has been found that the show breached standards of fairness and accuracy in an episode which looked at chicken sandwiches in a Ponsonby cafe.

Cafe Cezanne was a target of a hidden camera trial in which the show claimed to have found a chicken sandwich which tested positive for faecal coliforms. As it turns out the sample taken was incorrectly labelled and it was discovered that it didn’t come from Cafe Cezanne at all.

The episode screened in June 2009 and although TV3 including an apology in the next episode the cafe owners didn't feel this was adequate and lodged a formal complaint to TVWorks.

Owners Rod Williams and Jackie Wilkinson claimed Target delivered a “false and defamatory allegation” regarding the sandwich.

Inadvertently, TV3's target has revealed the address of the house used for many hidden camera challenges.

Look familiar?

7:30pm - Tuesday, January 26 on TV 3

3's award winning show Target returns for a new season with more consumer information and its trademark hidden camera item. Target premieres Tuesday, January 26th at 7:30pm on 3.

Presented by Jeanette Thomas and Brooke Howard-Smith, Target provides useful consumer information in an entertaining and educational style.

"It's the start of a new decade and the start of a new series of Target," says producer Simon Roy.

Returning in the series' 12th season are all the show's favourite segments as well as Target's trademark hidden camera item, exposing good and bad work practices.

"This segment shows viewers just what trades people get up to in your home when you're not around," explains Roy about the segment which in the past has landed more than one trades company in hot water.

The latest news numbers show Sunrise lost a quarter of its audience in November while NZI Business and Breakfast continued to edge ahead.

AGB NMR data shows Sunrise had just under 30,000 viewers watching on average each morning in October compared to just over 22,000 viewers on average each morning in November – a drop of 25%.

Tonight and Nightline audiences have remained fairly static but Campbell Live’s audience has dropped again (by almost 20,000 from October) and was beaten on more than a third of the days in November by a late night news programme.

See November viewer numbers for all News and Current Affairs programmes on TV One and TV3 below.

(Source: AGB NMR (Measurement: All people 5 years and over - average daily audience nationwide)

TELEVISION NEWS VIEWERSHIP FOR NOVEMBER 2009

7:30pm - Tuesday, November 10 on TV 3

After another series of exposing dodgy practices, 3's award-winning consumer affairs series Target concludes its 11th season on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30pm on 3.

Fronted by Jeanette Thomas and Brooke Howard-Smith, over the season Target has provided useful consumer information in an entertaining and informative style, and kept viewers informed of shady practices and products around the country.

The Hidden Camera segment has provided insightful evidence of good and bad work practices, and busted more than a few dodgy workmen this season.

Inefficient tillers, handymen, taxi drivers, car valets and motels at popular holiday spots have all been put under the spotlight by the Target team.

Target has had an interesting year when it comes to courting controversy.  After a botch up with contaminated food samples, one Ponsonby cafe was put on the brink of bankruptcy. Now, last week's episode of Target about copyright infringement has the Creative Freedom Foundation calling foul as the clearly biased story misrepresented the facts to the watching audience.

Target's episode on illegal downloads, 'Shame On You', presented one side of an ongoing debate about copyright infringement online - that of NZFACT and RIANZ. For the past few years these groups have lobbied to be able to accuse New Zealanders and have them punished without a trial.

Brooke Howard Smith knows what consumers he dosen't like, Read more