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Among teens,
'O.C.' shows its true grit

Behind Fox's strong Thursday growth in the demo

By Toni Fitzgerald

    Week after week, CBS’s “Survivor: Palau” has slammed Fox’s “The O.C.” among adults 18-49, regularly doubling the latter’s audience in their Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot.
   It makes you wonder why Fox moved the very buzz-worthy show, which performed nearly one-third better among 18-49s in its post-“American Idol” Wednesday 9 p.m. slot last season.
   Here’s one very good reason: Teens. “Survivor” may be dominant among the slightly older set, but among teens and college-aged viewers, “The O.C.” is the bigger draw.
   It’s built a solid presence for Fox on Thursday nights where the network barely had a pulse last year. Fox’s season average for Thursday nights, which also includes DOA 9 p.m. shows “Point Pleasant” and “North Shore,” is up 17 percent over last season’s 2.3 to a 2.7.
   Among female teens, Fox is up 25 percent on the night to a 3.0, just 0.4 behind CBS’s dominating lineup on the same night.
   All of the credit goes to “The O.C.”
   Last week’s original episode averaged a 4.5 among teens, compared with a 4.0 for “Survivor: Palau.” Among 12-24s, “The O.C.” averaged a 4.6 to the CBS show’s 4.0. And among college-aged kids 18-24, “The O.C.’s” advantage was the biggest, 0.7 rating points, with the latter averaging a 4.7.
   Is “Survivor” stealing some rating points from “The O.C.?” Minimally. In the three weeks before “Survivor: Palau’s” season premiere Feb. 17, “The O.C.” averaged a 4.63 among 12-24s and a 4.83 among 18-24s.
   So the show’s ratings have dipped slightly since “Survivor” came back. But considering where Fox was a year ago on this night, when “Tru Calling” averaged less than half those ratings, you can probably expect “The O.C.” to stay put.
   Elsewhere among young viewers last week, Fox swept the top three spots among nearly every demographic with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday editions of “American Idol.” Only among 2-11s did an “Idol” fall below the top three, and even so, the Tuesday edition was the most-watched show in that demo.
   Not surprisingly, Fox finished first among teens for the week by a large margin, averaging a 3.5 rating and 12 share. ABC, CBS and UPN tied for second at 1.5/5, followed by the WB at 1.2/4 and NBC at 1.1/4.
   Fox was also first among 12-34s in a week full of reruns on the Big Four networks. Fox averaged a 4.3/13, followed by CBS at 2.4/8, NBC at 2.3/7, ABC at 2.2/7, UPN at 1.4/4 and the WB at 1.2/4.
  Only 10 broadcast shows made the top 30 among 9-14s, but six of them finished in the top 10. The season premiere of “South Park” on Comedy Central ranked No. 22 among teens but didn’t make the top 30 in any other demo.
   The season finale of MTV’s “Real World” ranked 10th among 18-24s, one of only three non-Fox shows in the top 10.

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-49
Week Ending March 13, 2005

 

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

11.7

15.23

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

11.7

15.13

3

CSI

CBS

10.4

13.56

4

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07/2005

FOX

10.1

13.06

5

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

8.1

10.57

6

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

7.7

9.94

7

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

7.6

9.89

8

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

7.3

9.52

9

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

6.7

8.65

10

HOUSE

FOX

6.6

8.58

11

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

6.3

8.24

12

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP1-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

5.9

7.60

13

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

5.8

7.53

14

24

FOX

5.6

7.26

15

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

5.5

7.19

16

LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT

NBC

5.4

6.99

17

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP2-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

5.1

6.67

18

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09/2005

FOX

5.0

6.48

19

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CBS

4.9

6.30

20

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

4.8

6.28

21

CONTENDER 3/10(S)-03/10/2005

NBC

4.7

6.15

22

CROSSING JORDAN

NBC

4.5

5.87

23

BLIND JUSTICE

ABC

4.5

5.85

24

THAT '70S SHOW

FOX

4.2

5.50

25

BOSTON LEGAL

ABC

4.2

5.44

27

ACCORDING TO JIM SP-3/8(S)-03/08/2005

ABC

4.2

5.39

28

LOST

ABC

4.1

5.31

29

FOX NASCAR NEXTEL CUP

FOX

4.1

5.28

30

EXTRM MAKEOVER:HM ED-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

4.1

5.28

31

ALIAS

ABC

4.0

5.20

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-34
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

11.2

7.30

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

10.8

7.07

3

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07/2005

FOX

9.1

5.96

4

CSI

CBS

8.1

5.31

5

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

6.7

4.38

6

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

6.6

4.32

7

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

6.6

4.29

8

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

6.3

4.11

9

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

5.6

3.68

10

HOUSE

FOX

5.5

3.61

11

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

5.3

3.47

12

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09/2005

FOX

5.3

3.44

13

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP1-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

4.9

3.23

14

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

4.9

3.18

15

CONTENDER 3/10(S)-03/10/2005

NBC

4.8

3.14

16

SIMPSONS

FOX

4.8

3.13

17

THAT '70S SHOW

FOX

4.5

2.97

18

O.C.

FOX

4.5

2.92

19

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

4.2

2.74

20

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP2-3/13(S)-03/13

ABC

4.1

2.68

21

CONTENDER 3/7(S)-03/07

NBC

4.1

2.67

22

24

FOX

4.1

2.67

23

LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT

NBC

3.9

2.57

24

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

3.4

2.24

25

ALIAS

ABC

3.3

2.19

26

SUPERNANNY

ABC

3.3

2.19

27

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CBS

3.3

2.18

28

JOEY

NBC

3.3

2.16

29

BOSTON LEGAL

ABC

3.3

2.13

30

WILL & GRACE

NBC

3.2

2.12

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Adults 18-24
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

8.0

2.24

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

7.7

2.14

3

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07

FOX

6.5

1.81

4

CSI

CBS

5.4

1.52

5

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

5.1

1.41

6

O.C.

FOX

4.7

1.31

7

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.6

1.27

8

HOUSE

FOX

4.5

1.26

9

SIMPSONS

FOX

4.1

1.14

10

REAL WORLD XV

MTV

4.1

1.14

11

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

4.1

1.13

12

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09

FOX

4.0

1.13

13

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

4.0

1.12

14

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP1-3/13(S)-03/13

ABC

3.9

1.09

15

THAT '70S SHOW

FOX

3.8

1.07

16

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

3.7

1.02

17

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

3.7

1.02

18

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP2-3/13(S)-03/13

ABC

3.4

0.94

19

SIMPSONS-SUN 9P

FOX

3.2

0.89

20

GILMORE GIRLS - WB

WB

3.0

0.84

21

CONTENDER 3/7(S)-03/07/2005

NBC

3.0

0.84

22

AMERICA'S NXT TOP MODEL 4

UPN

2.8

0.79

23

APPRENTICE 3

NBC

2.8

0.77

24

THEY WANTED FAMOUS FACE

MTV

2.7

0.76

24

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

2.7

0.76

26

CONTENDER 3/10(S)-03/10/2005

NBC

2.7

0.75

27

RWRR CHALLENGE INFERNO II

MTV

2.6

0.73

28

24

FOX

2.6

0.73

29

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

2.6

0.71

30

THAT '70S SH SP-3/11 930P(S)-03/11/2005

FOX

2.5

0.69

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
People 12-24
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

7.9

4.16

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

7.4

3.87

3

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07

FOX

6.0

3.16

4

CSI

CBS

5.2

2.73

5

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

5.1

2.68

6

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

4.8

2.49

7

SIMPSONS

FOX

4.7

2.47

8

O.C.

FOX

4.6

2.41

9

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09

FOX

4.2

2.22

10

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

4.0

2.09

11

HOUSE

FOX

4.0

2.08

12

THAT '70S SHOW

FOX

3.7

1.93

13

REAL WORLD XV

MTV

3.6

1.88

14

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

3.6

1.88

15

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP1-3/13(S)-03/13

ABC

3.5

1.83

16

SIMPSONS-SUN 9P

FOX

3.4

1.80

17

CSI: MIAMI

CBS

3.0

1.59

18

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP2-3/13(S)-03/13

ABC

2.9

1.53

19

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

FOX

2.8

1.49

20

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

FOX

2.7

1.43

21

GILMORE GIRLS - WB

WB

2.7

1.42

22

AMERICA'S NXT TOP MODEL 4

UPN

2.6

1.38

23

LAW AND ORDER:SVU

NBC

2.5

1.32

24

24

FOX

2.5

1.32

25

THEY WANTED FAMOUS FACE

MTV

2.5

1.32

26

RWRR CHALLENGE INFERNO II

MTV

2.4

1.28

26

AMAZING RACE: 7

CBS

2.4

1.28

28

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

2.4

1.27

29

VIVA LA BAM

MTV

2.4

1.25

30

TWO AND A HALF MEN

CBS

2.4

1.24

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Teens 12-17
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

7.8

1.92

2

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

7.1

1.73

3

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07/2005

FOX

5.5

1.35

4

SIMPSONS

FOX

5.4

1.33

5

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

5.2

1.27

6

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

5.0

1.22

7

CSI

CBS

4.9

1.21

8

O.C.

FOX

4.5

1.11

9

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09/2005

FOX

4.5

1.10

10

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

4.0

0.98

11

SIMPSONS-SUN 9P

FOX

3.7

0.92

12

THAT '70S SHOW

FOX

3.5

0.87

13

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

FOX

3.4

0.84

14

HOUSE

FOX

3.4

0.82

15

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

FOX

3.1

0.76

16

PIMP MY RIDE

MTV

3.1

0.76

17

WITHOUT A TRACE

CBS

3.1

0.75

18

REAL WORLD XV

MTV

3.0

0.75

19

JAKE IN PROGRESS SP1-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

3.0

0.74

20

VIVA LA BAM

MTV

3.0

0.74

21

DAMAGE CONTROL

MTV

2.9

0.70

22

PUNKD

MTV

2.8

0.69

22

SOUTH PARK

CMDY

2.8

0.69

24

FAMILY GUY

TOON

2.8

0.69

25

WWE SMACKDOWN!

UPN

2.8

0.68

26

EXTRM MAKEOVER:HM ED-3/13(S)-03/13/2005

ABC

2.7

0.65

27

FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR

NAN

2.6

0.65

28

SKETCH SHOW

FOX

2.6

0.64

29

ZOEY 101

NICK

2.6

0.64

30

WWE ENTERTAINMENT

SPIKE

2.5

0.61

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 9-14
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

8.6

2.10

2

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

8.4

2.06

3

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07/2005

FOX

7.0

1.72

4

ZOEY 101

NICK

6.8

1.67

5

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

5.9

1.45

6

ROMEO!

NICK

5.7

1.40

7

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

5.4

1.32

8

UNFABULOUS

NICK

4.9

1.21

9

SIMPSONS

FOX

4.8

1.19

10

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

4.4

1.09

11

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.4

1.09

12

CSI

CBS

4.4

1.07

13

SIMPLE LIFE 3

FOX

4.3

1.06

14

AVATAR

NICK

4.3

1.05

15

THAT '70S SHW SP-3/9 830P(S)-03/09

FOX

4.1

1.01

16

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.1

0.99

17

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.0

0.99

18

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.0

0.98

19

FULL HOUSE

NAN

3.9

0.96

20

FULL HOUSE

NAN

3.9

0.95

21

DRAKE & JOSH

NICK

3.9

0.95

22

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.9

0.95

23

WWE SMACKDOWN!

UPN

3.8

0.93

24

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.8

0.93

25

DANNY PHANTOM

NICK

3.8

0.92

26

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

3.7

0.92

27

SPONGEBOB

NICK

3.7

0.90

28

S TIMMY JIMMY POWER HOUR

NICK

3.6

0.90

29

FULL HOUSE

NAN

3.6

0.89

30

NED DECLASSIFIED

NICK

3.6

0.89

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research

 

TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST & BASIC CABLE TV
Kids 2-11
Week Ending March 13, 2005

Rank

Program

Net

Rtg%

In Millions

1

AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY

FOX

7.3

2.88

2

ZOEY 101

NICK

6.2

2.46

3

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

6.2

2.46

4

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

6.1

2.42

5

SPONGEBOB

NICK

6.0

2.38

6

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.9

2.34

7

AMERICAN IDOL SP-3/7 8P(S)-03/07/2005

FOX

5.8

2.32

8

AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

FOX

5.8

2.31

9

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.7

2.25

10

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.7

2.24

11

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.5

2.18

12

AVATAR

NICK

5.5

2.16

13

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.4

2.16

14

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.4

2.14

15

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.4

2.13

16

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

5.4

2.13

17

SPONGEBOB

NICK

5.3

2.09

18

JIMMY NEUTRON

NICK

5.2

2.06

19

DANNY PHANTOM

NICK

5.1

2.04

20

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P

ABC

5.0

1.97

21

SURVIVOR: PALAU

CBS

5.0

1.96

22

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.9

1.94

23

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.9

1.93

24

AVATAR

NICK

4.8

1.89

25

SPONGEBOB

NICK

4.7

1.87

26

RUGRATS

NICK

4.7

1.87

27

FAIRLY ODD PARENTS

NICK

4.7

1.86

27

ROMEO!

NICK

4.7

1.86

29

AVATAR

NICK

4.7

1.86

30

S TIMMY JIMMY POWER HOUR

NICK

4.7

1.85

Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research


March 18, 2005 © 2005 Media Life


- Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.


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