After the successful launch of Story last week, TV3 saw its 7pm ratings dive on Friday night, when it screened Lip Sync Battle against TV One's Seven Sharp.
Just 87,000 people tuned in to the celebrity sing off show, well below Story's average audience of 268,000.
That's even lower than the number of viewers who tuned into Come Dine With Me, which was considered a ratings disappointment for the network.
The previous Friday saw 121,000 viewers tune in to the final episode of CDWM.
By contrast, 477,000 viewers tuned in to rival Seven Sharp on Friday night.
Story screens four nights with programmers opting for a lighter entertainment option on Fridays.
Friday August 14 (National 5+ / 25-54)
TV One:
One News: 703,000 / 198,000
Seven Sharp: 477,000 / 119,000
Kiwi Living: 342,000 / 105,000
Coronation Street: 218,000 / 60,000
TV2:
Shortland Street: 434,000 / 242,000
The Voice Australia: 277.000 / 154,000
Take Me Out: 162,000 / 109,000
TV3:
3 News: 214,000 / 104,000
Lip Synch Battle: 87,000 / 53,000
Jono and Ben: 189,000 / 119,000
The Graham Norton Show: 238,000 / 130,000
7 Days: 226,000 / 124,000
- nzherald.co.nz