TVNZ reveals its biggest shows of 2017

A scene from Filthy Rich, which has failed to break into TVNZ's top-rated shows this year.

Ahead of today's new season launch, TVNZ has revealed its biggest shows of 2017.

And it makes for interesting reading.

By far, TVNZ 1's biggest show of 2017 was its August 31 election special, with huge numbers tuning in for the Leaders Debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.

TVNZ 1's other highest-rating shows so far this year include One News at No. 2, Country Calendar at No. 3, Fair Go at No. 4 and Coast New Zealand at No. 5.

On TVNZ 2, Shortland Street topped the list, followed by Shortland Street: Inside an Icon, a 25th anniversary special examining the local soap's history.

Motorway Patrol was at No. 3, Sensing Murder at No. 4 and Police Ten 7 at No. 5.

Home and Away, Coronation Street and MasterChef Australia topped TVNZ OnDemand's rankings, while the film Collateral Damage topped Duke's ratings for the year.

Interestingly, the second season of TVNZ's controversial show Filthy Rich doesn't feature on TVNZ 1's list.

Nor does What Next?, a highly publicised special that saw John Campbell return to television to join forces with Nigel Latta for a week-long prediction of the future.

The first season of Survivor NZ doesn't feature in TVNZ 2's top 10 list either, but it did scoop a spot in the top 10 of streams on TVNZ On Demand, sitting at No. 7.

Other shows that made it into the network's top 10 were Mrs Brown's Boys (No. 10 on TVNZ 1), Pets Make You Laugh Out Loud (No. 8 on TVNZ 2), and drama show Queen Sugar (No. 9 OnDemand).

TVNZ launches its new season at a glitzy event in Auckland tonight, announcing all the shows it hopes will rate well with viewers over the following 12 months.

Here are the lists in full (top five shows on each channel in 5+ age bracket between January-August).

TVNZ 1
1. One News Vote 2017: Leader's Debate
2. One News
3. Country Calendar
4. Fair Go
5. Coast New Zealand

TVNZ 2
1. Shortland Street
2. Shortland Street: Inside an Icon
3. Motorway Patrol
4. Sensing Murder
5. Police Ten 7

TVNZ Duke
1. Collateral Damage
2. Wild Card
3. John Wick
4. Star Trek: Into Darkness
5. Rambo III

TVNZ OnDemand (streams)
1. Home and Away
2. Coronation Street
3. MasterChef Australia
4. Neighbours
5. My Kitchen Rules