The X Factor NZ is the most talked about show in TV3's history - but still trails behind TVNZ rival New Zealand's Got Talent in the ratings.
The talent series has been a hit for TV3 since it launched to an audience of more than one million in April. But
it lagged behind the 1.4 million viewers for the debut episode of New Zealand's Got Talent last September.
Social media and online engagement sets X Factor apart - the Facebook community has 109,000 fans, and up to 70,000 people post and check in regularly. Every episode trends on Twitter in New Zealand, and #xfactornz has been the top worldwide topic multiple times. Online, the fanzone at tv3.co.nz has had 6.3 million page impressions.
MediaWorks TV chief executive Paul Maher said audience engagement was a key measure of success: "(The show's) success across the board shows the power of MediaWorks' broader assets."
Meanwhile, judge Ruby Frost admits she's sick of the talk from fellow X Factor judge Daniel Bedingfield. Frost is mentoring two acts in tonight's final performances - Benny Tipene and Whenua Patuwai - against Bedingfield's protege Jackie Thomas. Bedingfield has already upset fellow judges with his hard-hitting comments.
