Averages a 3.3/9 in 18-49s, just ahead of CBS
By Toni Fitzgerald Sep 30, 2009
It was tight, a lot tighter than last year, but ABC pulled off the opening week win among adults 18-49 for the fifth straight season, barely edging CBS.
The network had three of the week's top five new series debuts and also tied for the No. 1 scripted series overall.
But it remains to be seen whether the network can maintain that margin over the coming weeks, with several of its veteran shows seeing big year-to-year declines.
ABC averaged a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating and 9 share, according to Nielsen, with No. 2 CBS close behind at 3.2/9. Last year ABC's margin of victory was 0.5.
Fox placed third last week with a competitive 3.1/9 while NBC was fourth at 2.7/8. The CW, which targets 18-34s, was a distant sixth behind Univision, with a 1.0/3 to the latter's 1.5/4.
ABC was down from the same week last year, when it averaged a 3.8/10 to start the season. Blame the losses in large part on veteran shows like "Dancing with the Stars," "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters," which all saw double-digit declines compared with last year's premieres.
But the network did have the biggest crop of first-year successes. The debuts of "FlashForward," "Cougar Town" and "Modern Family" all averaged a 4.0 or above. By comparison, last year no new show on any network drew better than a 3.8 in the first week of the season.
Still, ABC will need those new shows to continue to perform well, along with "Grey's Anatomy," which tied Fox's "House" as the week's No. 1 scripted debut. "Grey's" averaged a 6.7 for its two-hour premiere, but that number will likely be down this week, as last season ended on a cliffhanger and many people were tuning in to see if George and/or Izzie died. (George did.)
If "Grey's" and the new shows slide, CBS should move into first place. The network had a very strong first week, with veteran shows "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory" both hitting series highs and "NCIS: Los Angeles" tying with "Cougar" for the second-best new scripted show debut.
Most promising of all, CBS was actually up from the same week last year, from a 3.1/8.
Fox was the other Big Four broadcast up from last year, when it averaged a 3.0/8 and finished fourth.
The network's numbers will slide after this week, because the "House" premiere was two hours, but with "The Cleveland Show" the season's top new scripted program and "Family Guy" finishing fourth overall for the week, Fox could be on track for its most competitive fall in years.
NBC, as expected, saw ratings fall 18 percent compared to last year with the lower-rated "The Jay Leno Show" taking over for scripted programming at 10 p.m. But the network also saw some disappointing results, with "Heroes" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" posting their lowest-ever premiere numbers in new timeslots.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Sept. 27:
Among adults 18-49, ABC was first with a 3.3 average rating and a 9 share, followed by CBS at 3.2/9, Fox third at 3.1/9, NBC fourth at 2.7/8,Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 1.0/3, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.4/1, Ion at 0.2/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.8; Tie-2. Fox’s “House” and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 6.7; 4. Fox’s “Family Guy” 5.2; 5. Fox’s “The Cleveland Show” 4.9.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. CBS’s “NCIS” 20.60 million; 2. CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” 18.73 million; 3. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 17.79 million; 4. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 17.47 million; 5. Fox’s “House” 17.16 million.
T
op five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Sept. 6): 1. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 1.1 increase (up 29 percent); 2. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance 15 Best” 1.1 increase (up 46 percent); 3. CBS’s “Big Brother-Sunday” 1.0 increase (up 43 percent); 4. CBS’s “Big Brother-Thursday” 0.9 increase (up 35 percent); 5. CBS’s “Big Brother-Tuesday” 0.9 increase (up 31 percent).
Show on the rise: “NCIS,” CBS, Tuesday 8 p.m. The Navy drama posted a 4.8 among 18-49s in its premiere, up 33 percent from a 3.6 for last season's premiere and a series high.
Show on the decline: “Heroes,” NBC, Monday 8 p.m. The premiere posted just a 2.8 among 18-49s, off 44 percent from a 5.0 for last season’s premiere.
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27
Network
Households
People 2+
Adults 18-49
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
CBS
7.3
8430
12
4.0
11770
11
3.2
4150
9
ABC
7.1
8130
12
3.8
11040
10
3.3
4380
9
NBC
4.8
5540
8
2.6
7560
7
2.7
3510
8
FOX
4.3
4990
7
2.5
7350
7
3.1
4060
9
UNI
1.9
2160
3
1.3
3660
3
1.5
1920
4
CW
1.5
1670
2
0.7
2170
2
1.0
1350
3
MNT
0.9
980
1
0.5
1360
1
0.4
550
1
TEL
0.5
520
1
0.3
880
1
0.4
550
1
ION
0.4
500
1
0.2
630
1
0.2
240
1
TF
0.4
500
1
0.3
840
1
0.4
520
1
AZA
0.1
130
0
0.1
200
0
0.1
130
0
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 149 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27
Network
Households
People 2+
Adults 18-49
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
CBS
7.3
8430
12
4.0
11770
11
3.2
4150
9
ABC
7.1
8130
12
3.8
11040
10
3.3
4380
9
NBC
4.8
5540
8
2.6
7560
7
2.7
3510
8
FOX
4.3
4990
7
2.5
7350
7
3.1
4060
9
UNI
1.9
2160
3
1.3
3660
3
1.5
1920
4
CW
1.5
1670
2
0.7
2170
2
1.0
1350
3
MNT
0.9
980
1
0.5
1360
1
0.4
550
1
TEL
0.5
520
1
0.3
880
1
0.4
550
1
ION
0.4
500
1
0.2
630
1
0.2
240
1
TF
0.4
500
1
0.3
840
1
0.4
520
1
AZA
0.1
130
0
0.1
200
0
0.1
130
0
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 149 million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average of pre-TSV and Live+SD data.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27
#
PROGRAMS
Net
HOUSEHOLDS
PERSONS 2+
Rtg%
Shr
(000)
#
Rtg%
(000)
1
NCIS
CBS
12.4
20
14242
1
7.1
20600
2
DANCING WITH THE STARS
ABC
11.3
17
12981
3
6.1
17794
2
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
CBS
11.3
17
12976
2
6.4
18730
4
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
ABC
10.9
18
12493
6
5.8
17034
5
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
NBC
10.7
17
12335
4
6.0
17469
6
DANCING W/ THE STARS-9/22(S)
ABC
10.1
16
11638
9
5.3
15367
7
DANCING W/STARS RESULT SP(S)
ABC
10.0
17
11457
9
5.3
15356
8
HOUSE
FOX
9.8
15
11304
5
5.9
17156
9
CSI
CBS
9.7
15
11177
7
5.5
16009
10
60 MINUTES
CBS
9.6
17
11066
13
5.1
14884
10
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
9.6
15
11002
8
5.4
15841
12
MENTALIST, THE
CBS
9.5
16
10970
11
5.2
15067
13
CSI: NY
CBS
9.2
16
10625
11
5.2
15062
13
GOOD WIFE, THE
CBS
9.2
16
10556
15
4.7
13714
15
CSI:
MIAMI
CBS
9.0
15
10330
14
4.9
14195
16
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
ABC
8.6
13
9932
15
4.7
13643
17
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
8.5
12
9760
15
4.7
13629
18
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
NBC
8.2
14
9367
18
4.6
13347
19
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
CBS
7.9
11
9023
19
4.4
12956
20
MODERN FAMILY
ABC
7.8
13
9001
20
4.3
12605
21
FLASHFORWARD
ABC
7.7
13
8903
20
4.3
12467
22
COUGARTOWN
ABC
7.1
11
8150
23
3.9
11280
23
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
CBS
6.7
11
7755
22
4.0
11664
24
BROTHERS & SISTERS
ABC
6.4
11
7317
30
3.2
9378
24
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P
ABC
6.4
10
7348
24
3.6
10419
1
NCIS
CBS
12.4
20
14242
1
7.1
20600
2
DANCING WITH THE STARS
ABC
11.3
17
12981
3
6.1
17794
Source: Nielsen Media Research
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Adults 18-49
Week Ending September 27
Rank
Program
Net
Rtg%
(000)
1
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
NBC
6.8
8901
2
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
ABC
6.7
8848
2
HOUSE
FOX
6.7
8862
4
FAMILY GUY
FOX
5.2
6900
5
CLEVELAND
FOX
4.9
6485
5
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
NBC
4.9
6460
7
NCIS
CBS
4.8
6351
8
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
CBS
4.7
6149
8
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
ABC
4.7
6185
10
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
4.5
5879
11
COUGARTOWN
ABC
4.4
5767
11
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
4.4
5738
11
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
CBS
4.4
5835
14
CSI:
MIAMI
CBS
4.3
5705
14
SIMPSONS
FOX
4.3
5602
16
MODERN FAMILY
ABC
4.2
5568
17
CSI
CBS
4.1
5381
17
DANCING WITH THE STARS
ABC
4.1
5360
19
CSI: NY
CBS
4.0
5328
19
FLASHFORWARD
ABC
4.0
5328
21
OFFICE
NBC
3.9
5153
22
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
NBC
3.7
4883
22
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
CBS
3.7
4830
24
AMERICAN DAD
FOX
3.6
4787
24
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
CBS
3.6
4793
24
MENTALIST, THE
CBS
3.6
4748
Source: Nielsen Media Research
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED) Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 20
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+ (000)
1
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE M-F
UNI
23.0
5341
2
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR MON
UNI
17.1
3818
3
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
UNI
16.8
3691
4
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
UNI
16.4
3706
5
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
UNI
12.9
2937
6
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
UNI
12.3
2645
6
CRISTINA MON
UNI
12.3
2614
8
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
UNI
11.0
2359
9
VIVA EL SUENO SUN
UNI
10.6
2160
10
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
UNI
10.3
2254
11
QUIEN TIENE RAZON? EE SUN
UNI
9.7
1999
12
HORA PICO SUN
UNI
8.2
1787
13
BETTY LA FEA M-F
TF
7.2
1610
14
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
UNI
6.5
1531
15
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
TF
5.4
1464
16
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
TEL
5.1
1151
17
VICTORINOS M-F
TEL
4.4
1025
18
NINOS RICOS M-F
TEL
3.9
890
19
ESCANDALO TV ED ESP 09/20(S)-09/20/2009
TF
3.7
811
20
ROMPIENDO LOS LIMITES SUN
TF
3.4
934
20
12 CORAZONES M-F
TEL
3.4
699
22
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F
TF
3.3
756
22
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-THU
TF
3.3
649
24
MARAV MUNDO DISNEY 9/20(S)-09/20/2009
TEL
2.9
717
24
VEREDICTO FINAL M-F
TF
2.9
517
24
FUTBOL ESTELAR
TEL
2.9
701
Source: Nielsen Media Research
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 20
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+(000)
1
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
NBC
11.5
2115
2
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
NBC
8.0
1456
3
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
NBC
5.8
1051
3
JAY LENO SHOW-MON
NBC
5.8
1048
5
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
4.3
800
6
EMMY AWARDS(S)-09/20/2009
CBS
4.0
764
6
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 2
NBC
4.0
714
8
JAY LENO SHOW-TUE
NBC
3.6
647
9
JAY LENO SHOW-WED
NBC
3.5
595
10
AMERICAGOT TALENT 9/14(S)-09/14/2009
NBC
3.3
603
Source: Nielsen Media Research
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 20
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+(000)
1
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
NBC
19.8
4063
2
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
NBC
14.2
2890
3
CBS NFL NATL POST GAME
CBS
13.4
2611
4
60 MINUTES
CBS
10.2
1861
5
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
NBC
10.2
2087
6
ABC MON MOVIE OF WK-9/14
ABC
8.5
1566
7
JAY LENO SHOW-MON
NBC
7.8
1441
8
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
7.0
1285
9
NCIS
CBS
6.6
1274
10
CSI: NY
CBS
6.5
1141
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 27
