KEY POINTS:
More viewers tuned in to watch the pivotal fourth afternoon of the first test between South Africa and Australia than watched any stage of the corresponding test between New Zealand and the West Indies.
In a figure that surely underlines the disparity in the quality of the cricket played in the Dunedin test, highlighted by poor weather and a soggy outfield, the audience hit a peak of 81,500 on the Saturday afternoon.
On the Sunday evening of the first test at the WACA, when South Africa were embarking on their eventual record run-chase, 84,200 New Zealanders tuned in to watch.
A research analyst said that was a "really high" number for non-New Zealand participation.
AGB Nielsen Media Research figures showed that New Zealand fared better in the second test at Napier. On the Sunday afternoon, 112,500 viewers tuned in, while New Zealand's futile run chase on the Tuesday afternoon hooked in 98,500 viewers.
There appears to be an element of glee in seeing Australia lose, too. During the second test at the MCG, which South Africa also won, viewers peaked at 67,800 and there were several instances when more than 50,000 tuned in to Sky, again good figures considering there was no local interest.
However, in the third test at the SCG, which Australia dominated and eventually won, viewing peaked at a fraction more than 50,000.
In New Zealand, Twenty20 proved once more that it is the game that engages the masses. Two of the three highest figures of the summer so far came in the two T20 internationals - 137,600 and 122,200 respectively - with the West Indies run chase at Christchurch in the second ODI, a game that was essentially a T20 game anyway due to the four-hour rain break, attracting 125,400.
Despite the fact that the first test between New Zealand and the Windies utterly failed to catch the imagination, New Zealand still wins out when it comes to games that are on simultaneously, even allowing for channel surfing.
For example, on the Saturday of the second test at Napier, 98,200 viewers were watching the middle session, while just 16,400 were watching the corresponding opening session at Perth.
