Campbell Live supporters vote with remotes

John Campbell. Photo / Greg Bowker

Since the April 9 announcement the show was being reviewed, supporters have voted with their remote controllers raising the low-ratings programme to the highest level in years, according to a Herald-DigiPoll survey.

The current affairs programme has outperformed competitor Seven Sharp in the 25 to 54 demographic.

When asked what they thought TV3 should do with the 7pm weekly slot to lift ratings and advertising revenue, 40.2 per cent agreed the channel should leave Campbell Live as it was because it was "serious journalism".

Of the 750 people interviewed by telephone, 23 per cent said broadcaster Mediaworks should keep the show, but give John Campbell a co-host to "make it more fun".

The suggestion John Campbell should have a 60-minute weekly show, but not at prime time, was supported by 16 per cent of those asked, while 10 per cent thought the show should be dropped so Mediaworks could make more money.

In the five days before April 9, 66,760 people aged 25 to 54 watched the show, with 194,760 viewers overall. In the following three days, ratings increased by 70 per cent (to 113,800) and 58 per cent (to 308,000) respectively.

Last week

Campbell Live

out-rated TVNZ's Seven Sharp among 25 to 54-year-old viewers, with an average of 131,120 people in the demographic that is used by television bosses to lure advertisers, compared with the 123,340 who tuned in to

Seven Sharp

.

Meanwhile, among all viewers aged 5 and older, Seven Sharp was the clear winner of the ratings battle for the 7pm weeknights slot - with an average of 479,020 people tuning in last week, while 355,180 watched Shortland Street and 336,560 flicked to TV3 for Campbell Live.

Campbell Live shared its ratings with fans on social media over the past few weeks, a Facebook post on Saturday reading: "Morning everyone ... We don't know how long our review will take but your continued support is keeping us motivated and going ..."

The Herald-DigiPoll has a margin of error of 3.6 per cent.

Solid support for TV frontman as mayor

John Campbell may be struggling to hold down his current job, but a Herald DigiPoll survey suggests he could have a chance at becoming Auckland's mayor.

When asked who they preferred of seven potential candidates, 21 per cent of people chose the veteran broadcaster, though more - 27 per cent - were keen on having Labour MP Phil Goff.

A quarter of those polled either did not know or didn't want to say.

Of the 750 people surveyed over the phone, only 8 per cent said they'd like to see Len Brown continue to wear the mayoral chains, while 7 per cent were keen to see John Banks heading the council again.

Disgraced National MP Maurice Williamson would get 5 per cent of the vote, according to the poll, on par with current deputy mayor Penny Hulse, while only 3 per cent would vote for councillor Cameron Brewer.

Big gap in breakfast viewers

TV3's Paul Henry has maintained consistently low ratings when compared with TV One's Breakfast which airs at the same time.

Between April 28 and May 4, Paul Henry's average audience aged 25 to 54 was 11,500 - more than 75 per cent lower than Breakfast's.

In the five plus category, 37,500 tuned in - more than 80 per cent fewer than the average number of Breakfast viewers. Over five days from April 27 to May 1, an average of 47,120 people aged 25 to 54 watched Breakfast and in the 5-plus demographic, the average audience was 199,560.

Paul Henry is aired on TV3 and RadioLive simultaneously, and launched on April 7 to an audience of 19,700 25 to 54-year-olds.