Monday, 12 September 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 delivers Maori Television biggest ever audience

More New Zealanders than ever before tuned into Maori Television to watch coverage of last weekend’s Rugby World Cup 2011 action.

Saturday’s live coverage of the England v Argentina game, called by Te Arahi Maipi, Gavin Hastings and former All Black Kees Meeuws was the most watched Rugby World Cup 2011 game on any channel that day.

It delivered the broadcaster an average audience of 402,260 viewers three times as large as the predicted viewership for the game.

Maori Television followed it up on Sunday night with its second largest audience ever of 353,840 viewers for the live clash between South Africa and Wales, called by Maipi, Hastings and veteran sports broadcaster Keith Quinn.

Both results eclipse Maori Television’s previous highest viewership, which was recorded for the David Tua v Friday Ahununya boxing match in March 2010 (310,410 average audience).

Maori Television Rugby World Cup 2011 anchor Te Arahi Maipi says the ratings cap an awesome opening weekend for the network.

“Our Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign has got off to a great start as has the tournament itself It was a pleasure and a privilege to be calling some top rugby alongside some of the world’s best commentators.”

Scottish legend Gavin Hastings called three games over the opening weekend and says to be part of such a successful launch is “fantastic”.

“I’m proud to be playing my part. We’re trying to make it a bit different, more conversational and fun and the feedback so far is great. For me it’s a more relaxed style and I like this approach.”

Fellow commentator Keith Quinn also offers praise for the network and its anchor, Te Arahi Maipi.

“Maori Television has been very friendly and welcoming and I’m really enjoying it. Te Arahi is a very fine young broadcaster too. I sat on his arm and he didn’t make a single mistake the whole game. He picked the ebb and flow of the game nicely - he will go a long way.”

Maori Television commentators on the games:
On the All Blacks v Tonga game:
Te Arahi Maipi: “The All Blacks really backed off in the second half; they need to show they can put teams away. Hopefully we’ll see that on Friday against Japan.”

On the England v Argentina game:
Kees Meeuws: “It was a really forward-dominated game and perfect for me as I was talking about something I do for a living. If it goes to form and we meet Argentina in the quarters the All Blacks are going to need to really front up in the forwards.”

On the South Africa v Wales game:
Gavin Hastings: “I’m gutted for the Welsh, they played incredibly well. They did enough to win and in the cold light of day they’ll find it hard to bear they didn’t. The Welsh, Scottish and Irish in the past have had their chances against the bigger teams and they’ve never taken them – and this is another example. I feel very sorry for them.”

Keith Quinn: “The controversial moment was the kick that did or didn’t go over. Would it have changed the game? I don’t know. It will go into history now.”

Maori Television is the lead free-to-air broadcaster for Rugby World Cup 2011 covering all 48 games, 16 of which are live, including all the All Blacks games and all the knock-out games through to the final.

About Maori Television and Rugby World Cup 2011
Maori Television is the only free-to-air channel covering all 48 games and is putting forward New Zealand’s largest commentary team across the Maori Television (English broadcast) and Te Reo (te reo Maori broadcast) channels. The 27-strong expert team includes three former Rugby World Cup team captains and a combined total of more than 200 international test caps.

For the full Rugby World Cup 2011 coverage schedule visit www.maoritelevision.com

For further assistance, viewers can call the tune-in helpline 0800 MA TATOU (0800 62 82 868).

Maori Television Rugby World Cup 2011 commentary team
Maori Television: Te Arahi Maipi, Glen Osborne, Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, Keith Quinn, Gavin Hastings OBE, Peter FitzSimons, Mark Ella, Kees Meeuws, Pat Lam, Norm Hewitt, Tony Marsh, Karl Te Nana, Inoke Afeaki

Te Reo channel: Hemana Waaka, Julian Wilcox, Wairangi Koopu, Te Whetu McCorkindale, Tumamao Harawira, Te Kauhoe Wano, Bailey Mackey, Hohepa Mclean, Peeni Henare, Te Ori Paki, Brian Morris, Tame Te Rangi, Kotuku Tibble, Tamati Waaka

ENDS

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