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Popular game show Wheel of Fortune lived up to its name last month, helping to spin One News to ratings success.
A holiday for teen soap Home and Away saw One News steal viewers from rival TV3 in the state broadcaster's key viewership of 25- to 54-year-olds. Although TV3 was still on top among 18- to 49-year-olds, One News gained more ground with all viewers aged 5 and over - winning a 44 per cent share against 3 News' 26 per cent.
Media watchers said the channels were still "neck and neck" when it came to news. But Wheel's success and a strong news team had helped One News to claw back viewers in the past year - gaining ground among TV3's younger, urban viewers.
TV3's decision to give Home and Away a break over the July school holidays has seen TV One bounce back in what was once a weak time slot for the channel, just before the news.
Media strategist Michael Carney said One News had lost viewers in the past with poor programming in the 5.30pm slot, making room for clever moves by TV3.
Martin Gilman, CEO of Total Media, said 3 News had been the rising star of the past few years and while it was still doing well this year, it had probably slipped in quality, while One News had picked up its act.
Mr Gilman said TV3's news brand was not helped by its low-rating breakfast show, Sunrise, which was "almost getting rigor mortis".
Viewers tended to switch to TV One during events of national importance, so the channel would probably stay on top during the Olympics and the election.
TV3 chief operating officer Rick Friesen said the news audience tended to slide when Home and Away was off-air, though he said viewership held up well this time.
AGB Nielsen figures for the half hour before the news showed TV3 dropped from having 46 per cent of weekday viewers in its key demographic of 18- to 49-year-olds a year ago to having under 37 per cent last month. TV One benefited, almost doubling its share of the same viewers to just under 25 per cent.
Mr Friesen rubbished suggestions 3 News might be suffering from sliding ratings for Campbell Live, saying the news had picked up almost as soon as Campbell Live started. However, while the soap audience boosted the numbers watching 3 News, it was difficult to keep them for Campbell Live. "They tend to switch off at 7pm."
Mr Carney said Campbell Live was suffering from the "big murders" on competing show Shortland Street. July figures for the 7pm show indicate more than half of all viewers are watching our national soap.
