medialifemagazine.com
ABC nabs first week of the new season
By Toni Fitzgerald
Sep 30, 2009 - 7:08:00 AM
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
|
COUGAR
TOWN
|
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
|
COUGAR
TOWN
|
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
|
AMERICA
GOT 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
|
AMERICA
GOT 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
|
AMERICA
GOT 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 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL-09/20/2009
|
NBC
|
NY GIANTS AT
DALLAS
|
15.1
|
25
|
17340
|
24817
|
|
2 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL-09/20/2009
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
14.5
|
29
|
16676
|
23879
|
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE-09/20/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
9.6
|
22
|
11024
|
15411
|
|
4 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL-09/20/2009
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
8.5
|
19
|
9775
|
13965
|
|
5 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT-09/20/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
6.3
|
13
|
7254
|
10153
|
|
6 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2-09/19/2009
|
CBS
|
TENNESSEE
AT
FLORIDA
|
4.3
|
10
|
4915
|
6620
|
|
7 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL-09/19/2009
|
ABC
|
TEXAS
TECH AT
TEXAS
|
4.1
|
8
|
4759
|
6673
|
|
8 |
NASCAR SPRINT CUP-SUN-09/20/2009
|
ABC
|
NEW HAMPSHIRE
|
3.2
|
7
|
3695
|
5044
|
|
9 |
ABC
COLLEGE
FTBL GM-LATE-09/19/2009
|
ABC
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
3.1
|
8
|
3604
|
4754
|
|
10 |
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL-09/19/2009
|
NBC
|
MICHIGAN
STATE
AT NOTRE DAME
|
2.7
|
7
|
3100
|
4001
|
|
11 |
US OPEN TEN-MON-FINAL-09/14/2009
|
CBS
|
MEN'S FINAL
|
2.3
|
5
|
2608
|
3391
|
|
12 |
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDWN-09/18/2009
|
MNT
|
|
2
|
4
|
2347
|
3401
|
|
13 |
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-09/19/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
1.4
|
3
|
1576
|
2101
|
|
14 |
BIG SHOTS: TITANS AT TEE-09/20/2009
|
FOX
|
|
1.1
|
2
|
1263
|
1622
|
|
15 |
LPGA WORLD CHAMPSHP-SUN-09/20/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.8
|
2
|
867
|
1035
|
|
16 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN-09/20/2009
|
UNI
|
QUERETARO
VS
AMERICA
|
0.7
|
1
|
812
|
1426
|
|
17 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/15/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
650
|
812
|
|
18 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/16/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
637
|
708
|
|
19 |
| | |
