KEY POINTS:
Some people may be familiar with expression "flogging a dead horse" but it appears TVNZ executives are oblivious to the phrase.
After ditching the relatively successful NZ Idol series, the state broadcaster chose to replace the series with Pop's Ultimate Star.
The reality competition sees former "stars" from NZ Idol, Pop Stars and So You Wanna Be a Pop Star compete to become Pop's Ultimate Star.
However, ratings for the series confirm what many already suspected; that nobody is interested in seeing a bunch of has-beens and never-weres sing for their supper.
AGB Nielsen ratings reveal the Sunday night show, which was hailed as the channel's flagship entertainment programme by TVNZ, is being out performed by both TV One's Mucking In, and The Simpsons and My Name is Earl on TV3.
The series, which began screening in May this year, has drawn on average 248,000 national viewers per week over the past four weeks.
After premiering to 284,000 viewers, the ratings plummeted to just 197,600 viewers the following week.
Compared to NZ Idol, which drew on average 497,600 viewers per week over a 16-week run, the show is a flop.
In a desperate bid to bolster viewer numbers, TVNZ has decided to can the Wednesday night elimination show, merging the half hour programme into Sunday night's 90-minute show.
Tomorrow night's programme, at 7.30pm, will be the final mid-week show.
