Story boosts TV3 ratings but can't touch Seven Sharp

Toni Street and Mike Hosking of Seven Sharp and Heather du Plessis-Allan and Duncan Garner of Story.

More than 290,000 New Zealanders tuned into watch the debut episode of Story on TV3 last night but it remained well behind rival Seven Sharp.

293,000 Kiwis watched Duncan Garner and Heather du Plessis-Allan on TV3, while 475,000 tuned into Mike Hosking and Toni Street on TV One, according to Nielsen.

The launch of Story saw a minor impact on Seven Sharp ratings, with around 35,000 fewer viewers tuning in than last Monday.

The ratings were closer in the target demographic of 25-54, with Story attracting 115,000 viewers versus Seven Sharp, which saw 144,000 tune in.

Story marks the return of current affairs to TV3 after Campbell Live was cancelled in May due to falling ratings, despite a rallying of support - and ratings - in its final weeks.

The final episode of Campbell Live saw a record 532,000 viewers tune in.

Last night's ratings were higher than Campbell Live's average monthly ratings for all of 2014.

Since then, a series of reality programmes has screened in the 7pm slot, with disappointing results. Last Monday, Come Dine With Me saw just 134,000 viewers tune in.

Herald reviewer Duncan Greive was positive about the debut episode of Story, commending its "agenda-setting journalism".

"I've a hunch fears that with Campbell Live's demise went the end of 7pm current affairs will prove greatly exaggerated," he wrote.