Over 2.6 million New Zealanders tuned in to watch series three of MasterChef New Zealand which concluded last night on TV ONE.

This year the Kiwi cooking show has been a consistent ratings achiever, with an average 590,000 Kiwis aged 5-plus watching every week, a nine per cent increase on season two and a fourteen per cent increase on season one.
In last night’s series finale Auckland marketer Chelsea Winter was named MasterChef 2012, after completing four gruelling challenges alongside fellow finalist Ana Schwarz.

The special two-hour episode topped the ratings in TV ONE’s 25- 54 target demographic, achieving a massive 19.4 per cent, making it the highest rating episode of any show on TV ONE to date this year.

Head of TV ONE and TV2, Jeff Latch says the results reflect the public’s increasing appetite for the show.
“MasterChef New Zealand has proven yet again that audiences love big, bold and entertaining locally-made television.

“The series is fast becoming a Kiwi classic, and with MasterChef NZ four about to go into production, is certain to remain so.”

Source: Nielsen TAM, Overnights/Consolidated