Official TV Ratings Found From 1981 Royal Wedding

Thursday 28th April 2011

Official television viewing numbers from the 1981 Royal Wedding have been located today by the independent TV rating agency - Nielsen TAM.

TVNZ only has ratings data from the last 15 years and although TV ONE broadcast the Royal Wedding live via satellite from St Paul's Cathedral there are no records of how many kiwis watched Prince Charles and Lady Diana marry.

However, Nielsen TAM advised us earlier today that they had dug in to their archive and found a ratings book from the week of the Royal Wedding in 1981 that included total viewer numbers and some demographic detail.

NZ's population was just over 3 million in 1981. Nielsen TAM's ratings book shows 54% of the total population or 1.6 million viewers tuned in to watch Prince Charles and Lady Diana marry.

Nielsen TAM viewing data from Wednesday July 29, 1981:

- of all people watching television that night 94% watched the wedding

- the remaining 6% watched The Sullivans, Hammer House of Horrors and News at Ten on TV2 - the only other TV channel in 1981

- 82% of women aged over 40 watched

- 68% of men aged over 40 watched

- 68% of women aged 20-39 watched

- 49% of teenagers watched

- 48% of men aged 20-39 watched

- 15% of children aged 0-9 years were allowed to stay up late and watch

- In 1981 there was a ratings category called "housewives" - 724,000 or 78% of them watched

The live broadcast of the 1981 Royal Wedding ran from 8:45 - 11:45pm.

In 1981 there were only two TV channels - TV ONE and TV2. Ratings were collected via a diary system and transmission shut down at midnight.

30 years on, TV ONE is broadcasting the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton live via satellite from Westminster Abbey. A detailed TV guide including ceremonial timings is listed below.

ROYAL WEDDING TV GUIDE

TV ONE - FRIDAY 29TH APRIL 2011

(Includes confirmed ceremonial timings)

FRIDAY NZT

6:00pm Coverage of the Royal Wedding begins with Wendy Petrie broadcasting ONE News live from London

7:00pm Coverage continues with Mark Sainsbury outside Westminster Abbey as invited guests begin to arrive

7:30pm Wendy Petrie presents TV ONE's A Royal Wedding as general congregation continue to arrive at Westminster Abbey

8:00pm TV ONE links to the official broadcast from the BBC

From 8:50pm Governors-General and Prime Ministers of Realm Countries (including John Key), the Diplomatic Corps, and other distinguished guests arrive at the Abbey

9:10pm The Bridegroom and Prince Henry of Wales (Prince Harry) leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey (arrive at 9:15pm)

9:20pm Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace

9:20pm Carole Middleton (Mother of the Bride) leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey (arrive 9:27pm)

9:25pm Members of the Royal Family (except those listed below) leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey (arrive at 9:30pm)

9:35pm The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, The Earl and Countess of Wessex ,The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral

Timothy Laurence leave Buckingham Palace (arrive at 9:40pm)

9:38pm The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey (arrive at 9.42pm)

9:40pm The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey (arrive at 9.45pm)

9:48pm The Bridesmaids and Pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey (arrive at 9.55pm)

9:51pm The Bride, accompanied by Michael Middleton, leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey

10:00pm The Marriage Service begins

Service will be conducted by Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey

Vows will be presided over by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Sermon delivered by Right Reverend Richard Chartres

11:15pm The Carriage Procession of the Bride and Bridegroom with a Captain's Escort of the Household Cavalry, followed by The Queen's Procession with a

Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, leaves Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace

11:30pm The Bride's Carriage Procession arrives at Buckingham Palace

11:40pm Members of the Royal Family and Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Buckingham Palace

From 11:40pm Guests arrive at Buckingham Palace for the Reception

SATURDAY NZT

12:25am The Queen and the Bride and Bridegroom, together with their Families, appear on the Balcony to wave to the crowd

12:30am Fly Past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (includes the traditional kiss)

ends