Campbell eats away at Close Up

Both Campbell Live and Close Up's ratings have slipped from Monday night, but John Campbell's show has retained an edge over Close Up on viewers under 55 and in the Auckland region.

Nielsen Media Research ratings for Tuesday night showed Close Up continued to be watched by nearly 100,000 more viewers than Campbell Live. Close Up had 471,200 viewers, and Campbell Live 374,600.

Both lost a little of their Monday night audiences, especially among 18-to-49-year-olds. The loss was apparently to Shortland Street on TV2, which was watched by 486,400 viewers.

Close Up was feeling the impact of the new entrant. It was watched by 31.8 per cent of those watching television on Tuesday night, down from its average 40.3 per cent share over the previous four Tuesday nights - about 86,000 fewer viewers.

Campbell Live's audience share slipped from 26.6 to 25.3 per cent from Monday night, although it stayed strong in Auckland, and kept 4200 viewers ahead of Close Up among 18-to-49-year-olds, and 35,200 ahead among 25-to-54-year-olds.

TVNZ's Bill Ralston said Monday night was "the high-tide mark".

"It showed the capacity that a new programme on TV3 has to attract an audience. It was always going to have an impact, but I don't expect an escalation of those ratings."

TV3 head of news Mark Jennings said he had expected the drop from the first night, but was pleased Campbell Live had stayed strong in Auckland. He was also pleased the opening story, about drivers' licensing scams, had resulted in an arrest yesterday.

Close Up's lead was largely bolstered by viewers in the over-55 bracket, where it had 126,900 more viewers than Campbell Live.