Television viewing in NZ hits record level

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-14 18:07

WELLINGTON -- New Zealanders watched on average three hours and eight minutes of television a day last year, the New Zealand Television Broadcasters Council said Wednesday.

This equates to an increase of almost 9 percent on the previous year and was the highest level of television viewership achieved in New Zealand since records began.

Chief executive Rick Friesen said big sports events, such as the Olympics, drew increased viewer numbers, and people are also choosing home entertainment because of financial pressure.

Some of the most popular New Zealand shows last year included Outrageous Fortune and Dancing With The Stars.

On average, 35.6 percent of the entire population was watching television during the peak viewing period of 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., an increase of 4.7 percent over 2007. On average 2,452,600 people tuned in to television at some point each evening, up from 2,360, 400 in 2007.