NZ Television Ratings
Nielsen TAM 2025/26 — linear TV channel audiences, BVOD growth, demographic reach, and fact-checks on what ThinkTV tells buyers.
Data sources & caveat: Statistics on this page combine independently-measured survey data (Nielsen TAM / ThinkTV) and publisher-reported figures. Publisher figures and independent survey data use different methodologies and may not be directly comparable — where differences exist they are noted. Exact Nielsen TAM subscriber data is available to accredited media buyers. Always verify data with your agency or directly with the research organisations before making investment decisions.
Linear TV channels — weekly reach ranking
Weekly reach = number of different people who watched at least one minute in a given week. All channels, national 18+.
| # | Channel | Owner | Weekly reach | Monthly reach | Age skew | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TVNZ 1 | TVNZ (Crown) | 2,050,000 | 2,800,000 | 35–65+ | National broadcaster; highest reach channel in NZ |
| 2 | TVNZ 2 | TVNZ (Crown) | 1,420,000 | 2,100,000 | 25–54 | Strong 25–49 audience; entertainment focus |
| 3 | Three | Sky Network TV | 1,180,000 | 1,750,000 | 30–54 | Sky acquired Three in Aug 2025; investment in local content continues |
| 4 | TVNZ Duke | TVNZ (Crown) | 420,000 | 680,000 | 18–44 | Male-skewed niche channel; companion buy with TVNZ 1/2 |
| 5 | Sky Sport (various) | Sky Network TV | 380,000 | 620,000 | 25–54 male | Subscription; reaches paying Sky households only |
| 6 | Prime | Sky Network TV | 340,000 | 540,000 | 45–65+ | FTA; older skew; strong in regional NZ |
| 7 | Bravo | Sky Network TV | 210,000 | 380,000 | 25–44 female | Subscription; female-skewed lifestyle content |
Reach figures are estimates from publicly reported ThinkTV/Nielsen data. Exact TAM subscriber data available to accredited media buyers.
BVOD (Broadcast Video on Demand)
Broadcaster-owned streaming platforms. Sold separately from linear TV but often packaged together. Higher CPMs than linear; better targeting and completion rates.
TV reach by age group
Percentage who watched linear TV in a given week, average daily viewing minutes, and BVOD reach. The older the audience, the more dominant linear TV is.
| Age group | Linear TV weekly reach | BVOD weekly reach | Avg daily minutes (linear) | Buyer note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | ~44% | ~51% | 78 min | Streaming-first generation. Linear reach below national average but BVOD growing fast |
| 30–44 | ~61% | ~47% | 142 min | Core commercial audience; highest BVOD+linear combined reach |
| 45–54 | ~74% | ~38% | 196 min | Strong linear loyalty; news programmes dominate |
| 55+ | ~87% | ~22% | 312 min | Heaviest linear viewers; drives breakfast and evening primetime |
Fact-checking supplier claims
What ThinkTV and individual broadcasters say vs what Nielsen TAM data shows.
"Total TV reaches 8 in 10 New Zealanders every week" (ThinkTV)
ThinkTV's '8 in 10' figure includes linear broadcast TV plus BVOD (TVNZ+, ThreeNow) and some co-viewing streaming data. Linear broadcast TV alone reaches approximately 3.1M/week (~67% of adults 18+). Adding BVOD brings the combined reach closer to the claimed figure — but these are different buying environments with different CPMs and measurement methodologies. A media seller presenting 'TV = 8 in 10' without unpacking this distinction is misleading you.
"TV delivers the lowest CPM of any channel" (ThinkTV / TVNZ)
At volume, broadcast TV buying CPMs can reach sub-$20 for broad audiences. But effective CPMs accounting for wastage (older audiences, wrong demographics) often run $30–$60+. BVOD CPMs are $25–$60 but with far better targeting. The 'lowest CPM' claim is most true for campaigns targeting 50+ and least true for anyone targeting 18–39s, where TV's reach is weakest.
"The average New Zealander watches 3.5 hours of TV per day" (ThinkTV)
Nielsen TAM 2025 puts total TV viewing at ~216 minutes/day across all adults 18+. This figure is heavily skewed by 55+ viewers (who watch 300+ minutes/day). Adults 18–39 average well under 90 minutes/day of linear TV. Using a total-adult average in planning for younger targets overstates the channel's relevance.
"TVNZ 1 is New Zealand's most watched channel" (TVNZ)
True per Nielsen TAM. TVNZ 1 consistently leads weekly reach among all free-to-air channels. The Six O'Clock News remains the highest-rated regular NZ programme.
Super Media view
Television remains the most powerful reach builder for broad audiences in NZ — but the picture is more nuanced than TV sellers present. The headline "8 in 10 NZers weekly" mixes linear broadcast with BVOD, which are sold, priced, and measured differently. For planning purposes, treat them as separate buys.
For audiences 45+, linear TV is still the dominant video channel by a wide margin. For 18–39s, BVOD and social video (YouTube, TikTok, Facebook) now collectively outperform linear. A TV-heavy plan targeting under-40s is almost certainly inefficient.
The Sky acquisition of Three (August 2025) is worth monitoring. Three's investment in NZ local content has historically been variable — under Sky ownership this may improve, which would grow the channel's audience. Watch GfK/Nielsen data closely across 2026.
Agency rebates from TVNZ and Sky/Mediaworks TV are the highest of any channel in NZ media. If your agency recommends weighting TV heavily without a clear demographic rationale, ask them to disclose their commercial arrangements.