By Jenny Forsyth
The gap is closing between Sunday night news rivals 60 Minutes and 20/20 after an impressive run from the TV3 underdog.
AC Nielson television ratings show 20/20 had a bigger general audience in June and has beaten the TV One show most months this year in its target category,
the 18-49 age group.
The two hour-long current-affairs shows went head to head in the 7.30 pm time slot last November and 60 Minutes ratings have dropped since then.
While the TV One heavyweight has consistently more viewers than its TV3 opposition, 20/20 has edged closer than it was last year.
TV3 current-affairs associate director Melanie Reid said: "There's no doubt that 7.30 pm is the perfect time slot for current affairs so it has helped our ratings to move from 6.30 pm.
"The main strength of 20/20 is it consistently delivers strong stories like the Vietnam War cover-up and the death of a woman after a face peel, and the public is responding to that. It also helps that 20/20 follows Target, which has really grabbed viewers."
Executive producer of 20/20 Terence Taylor added: "We're quietly pleased but we can't be looking over our shoulders at our competition all the time. We've got to just keep focusing on good stories."
Keith Slater, executive producer of 60 Minutes, said recent 20/20 ratings did not alarm him.
"While 60 Minutes has had some drops and 20/20 has had the odd time they've done well, 60 Minutes does consistently well. One swallow does not a summer make."
Slater, who was 20/20's executive producer last year, added: "20/20 can do as it wishes. We'll keep our eye on the ball and keep producing good New Zealand stories.
"60 Minutes will not be making changes in format or approach.
"Our main strengths are consistency and credibility, and I'm convinced that because 60 Minutes has more local content, it will continue to be favourably received by the New Zealand public."
