TV3 releases results of X Factor final vote-count audit

UPDATE / Aug 8: JTV3 broadcaster MediaWorks has released the results of an audit into X-Factor voting for the final episode.

It shows shows the following totals, MediaWroks says: Jackie Thomas – 257,151; Whenua Patuwai – 197,523; and Benny Tipene – 99,302. 

The audit and recount followed a txt voting foul-up during the final (see below).

The series had an average 5+ audience of 598,000, according to Nieslen.

Today, MediaWorks also released various ondemand and social media stats clocked by the NZ On Air-subsidised series, including:

• 122,573 Facebook fans 
• 886,220 Video on Demand (VOD) streams of full episodes
• 844,945 VOD streams of individual song performances
• 48 years of total VOD viewing
• 553,976 of votes cast in the Grand Finals, via text and for free on Facebook
• 7,299,691 page impressions on The X Factor NZ website

TV3 on txt voting foul-up: X Factor votes recounted; independent audit underway

July 23: TV3 says X-Factor votes have been checked and recounted following a txt voting foul-up during the final last night.

An independent audit is under way, the broadcaster says.

"Due to an unprecedented volume of votes during last night’s Grand Final Decider, some text voters received an automated message saying that voting was closed," MediaWorks publicity manager Rachel Lorimer says.

"We can assure the people who got that message that their votes did go through and were included in those that were monitored on the night."

Telecom, Vodafone and 2degrees customers all complained via social media about erroneous "Sorry but voting lines for The X Factor NZ have closed. Your text cost 99c" messages.

"Since then, as part of our verification process, all votes have been checked and re-counted.  The overall voting is being independently audited," Ms Lorimer says.

"Once that audit is complete, we will release percentage results."

TV3 has not released total voting numbers.

"But we can say without a doubt that Jackie Thomas is the Winner of The X Factor NZ," Mr Lorimer says.

"Verification to this point confirms she was ahead both when voting paused and still further ahead when voting finally closed."

Nielsen says the final had an average 5+ audience of 560,000.

Minor glitches clouded the final show. A clip of Jacke Thomas' mentor Daniel Bedingfield using the F word as he congratuted her went viral.

Earlier, host Dominic Bowden's putative epic pause before announcing the winner was undermined within seconds as Ms Thomas' name was prematurely displayed on the screen behind him.