But it's somewhat a Pyrrhic victory, with ratings off
By Toni Fitzgerald Sep 10, 2009
The summer will end much the same as the regular season did for the Big Four broadcast networks, with Fox out ahead and everyone seeing big losses except for CBS.
With less than two weeks before the regular season kicks off, Fox is poised to win its fourth summer in the past five years with an average 1.8 adults 18-49 rating, off 14 percent from a 2.1 last year.
That’s according to Nielsen data analyzed by NBC, not including sporting events.
CBS will finish second at 1.6, even to last summer, followed by NBC, down 17 percent from a 1.8 to a 1.5.
ABC will place last with its worst-ever summer average, a 1.3, down 13 percent from last summer.
The CW and MyNetworkTV will tie for fifth place among English-language broadcasters, each with a 0.4 average, both behind Univision.
NBC won last summer handily thanks to the Olympics. This summer Fox, which has won five straight regular-season crowns, reclaimed the top spot.
With a lineup of mostly aging shows, Fox’s declines aren’t surprising, but it still delivered the most consistent lineup of any network.
Its Sunday cartoons repeat better than the average scripted series, and though “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Hell’s Kitchen” were off from last year, they were still regular top-five finishers.
CBS stayed steady mainly because it continues to have the least amount of original content.
Its only new reality show “There Goes the Neighborhood” bombed, but the consistency of CBS reruns such as “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Mentalist,” plus veteran “Big Brother,” balanced out “Neighborhood’s” poor numbers.
NBC once again had one of the summer’s top shows in “America’s Got Talent,” but it also launched a number of new programs, all of which drew low ratings. Scripted series “Merlin” and “The Listener” performed particularly poorly, and the return of “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here” after a six-year hiatus quickly fizzled.
ABC had the most disappointing, though commendably ambitious, summer, airing a large amount of original programming. Reality shows such as “Superstars” and “Crash Course” stalled at launch, and the returning “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” saw ratings plunge.
The network was also hurt by low ratings for its reruns, most of which are serialized dramas, which don’t repeat well. Thursday repeats of “Grey’s Anatomy,” for example, managed just a 0.7 and 1.0 last week, well behind reruns of CBS’s non-serialized dramas that same night.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Sept. 6:
Among adults 18-49, ABC was first with a 1.5 average rating and a 5 share, followed by Fox and CBS at 1.4/5, NBC at 1.4/4, Univision at 1.2/4, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.5/2, CW 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. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 3.4; 2. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent – Tuesday” 3.2; Tie-3. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent – Wednesday,” CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” and ABC’s “Wipeout” and “Saturday Night Football” 2.7.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent - Tuesday” 12.81 million; 2. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent - Wednesday” 12.39 million; 3. CBS’s “NCIS” 10.10 million; 4. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” 8.46 million; 5. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 8.34 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Aug. 16): 1. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 1.50 million (up 32 percent); 2. CBS’s “Big Brother-Thursday” 1.35 million (up 37 percent); 3. CBS’s “Big Brother-Tuesday” 1.19 million (up 33 percent); 4. CBS’s “Big Brother-Sunday” 1.10 million (up 32 percent); 5. ABC’s “Wipeout 0.88 million (up 27 percent).
Show on the rise: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” NBC, Monday 9 p.m. A repeat episode averaged a 1.3 among 18-49s, up 30 percent from a 1.0 the previous week.
Show on the decline: “Shaq Vs.,” ABC, Tuesday 9 p.m. Last week’s episode of Shaq’s reality series posted a 1.3 among 18-49s, down 24 percent from the previous week’s 1.7.
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 6
Network
Households
People 2+
Adults 18-49
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
CBS
3.9
4490
7
2.0
5930
6
1.4
1880
5
NBC
3.7
4270
7
2.0
5700
6
1.4
1780
4
ABC
2.9
3390
5
1.6
4660
5
1.5
1920
5
FOX
2.4
2730
4
1.3
3830
4
1.4
1850
5
UNI
1.7
1950
3
1.1
3210
3
1.2
1640
4
MNT
0.9
1060
2
0.5
1440
1
0.5
660
2
CW
0.7
840
1
0.3
990
1
0.4
490
1
TEL
0.5
600
1
0.4
1030
1
0.5
650
2
TF
0.5
610
1
0.4
1100
1
0.5
630
2
ION
0.4
470
1
0.2
620
1
0.2
270
1
AZA
0.1
110
0
0.1
160
0
0.1
100
0
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 145 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 6
Network
Households
People 2+
Adults 18-49
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
Rtg%
(000)
Shr
CBS
6.1
7020
10
3.3
9700
9
2.5
3250
7
FOX
4.7
5400
8
2.7
7870
7
2.9
3770
8
ABC
4.6
5280
8
2.5
7230
7
2.3
3000
7
NBC
4.2
4820
7
2.3
6720
6
2.2
2930
6
UNI
1.9
2140
3
1.3
3690
3
1.5
1930
4
CW
1.1
1220
2
0.6
1600
1
0.7
880
2
MNT
1.0
1130
2
0.5
1580
1
0.5
680
2
TEL
0.6
660
1
0.4
1150
1
0.5
670
1
ION
0.4
480
1
0.2
630
1
0.2
210
0
TF
0.4
420
1
0.2
720
1
0.3
420
1
AZA
0.1
120
0
0.1
180
0
0.1
110
0
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 145 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 6
#
PROGRAMS
Net
HOUSEHOLDS
PERSONS 2+
Rtg%
Shr
(000)
#
Rtg%
(000)
1
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-TUE
NBC
7.7
13
8901
1
4.4
12814
2
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
7.5
12
8643
2
4.2
12393
3
NCIS
CBS
6.6
12
7630
3
3.5
10098
4
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
5.6
9
6388
4
2.9
8457
5
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
CBS
5.4
9
6239
4
2.9
8343
6
CSI:
MIAMI
CBS
5.3
9
6054
6
2.7
7887
7
MENTALIST, THE
CBS
5.1
9
5830
8
2.6
7734
7
NCIS 10PM SPECIAL(S)
CBS
5.1
9
5825
11
2.5
7413
9
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
5.0
8
5779
11
2.5
7299
10
BIG BROTHER 11-TUE
CBS
4.9
8
5650
6
2.7
7786
11
DATELINE FRI
NBC
4.8
9
5512
14
2.4
7116
12
CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL(S)
ABC
4.7
8
5371
11
2.5
7387
13
CSI: NY
CBS
4.6
8
5245
19
2.3
6603
13
PRIMETIME: CRIME
ABC
4.6
8
5314
14
2.4
6963
15
60 MINUTES
CBS
4.5
10
5183
14
2.4
7046
15
AMERICAGOT TALENT:RECAP
NBC
4.5
8
5129
14
2.4
6957
17
CSI
CBS
4.4
7
5108
19
2.3
6802
17
DATELINE NBC-MON
NBC
4.4
8
5089
22
2.2
6340
17
HELL'S KITCHEN
FOX
4.4
8
5055
8
2.6
7631
20
BIG BROTHER 11-THU
CBS
4.2
7
4799
19
2.3
6810
20
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL
ABC
4.2
9
4832
14
2.4
7081
20
WIPEOUT
ABC
4.2
7
4809
8
2.6
7618
23
LAW & ORDER:SVU-WED 9PM
NBC
4.0
7
4630
23
2.1
6080
24
AMERICAGOT TALENT-TUE 8P
NBC
3.9
7
4437
24
2.0
5985
25
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT
NBC
3.8
6
4310
26
1.9
5494
Source: Nielsen Media Research
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Adults 18-49
Week Ending September 6
Rank
Program
Net
Rtg%
(000)
1
HELL'S KITCHEN
FOX
3.4
4483
2
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-TUE
NBC
3.2
4270
3
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
2.7
3540
3
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
CBS
2.7
3526
3
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL
ABC
2.7
3536
3
WIPEOUT
ABC
2.7
3539
7
BIG BROTHER 11-TUE
CBS
2.6
3438
8
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
2.4
3137
9
BIG BROTHER 11-THU
CBS
2.3
3021
10
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE MON
UNI
2.2
2953
11
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE THU
UNI
2.1
2730
11
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE TUE
UNI
2.1
2744
11
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE WED
UNI
2.1
2759
11
PRIMETIME: CRIME
ABC
2.1
2742
15
CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL(S)
ABC
2.0
2662
16
BIG BROTHER 11-SUN
CBS
1.9
2521
16
CSI:
MIAMI
CBS
1.9
2463
16
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE FRI
UNI
1.9
2487
16
SO YOU THINK 15 BEST-9/2(S)
FOX
1.9
2487
20
DATELINE NBC-MON
NBC
1.8
2346
20
GLEE DIR CUT ENCR SP-9/2(S)
FOX
1.8
2316
20
MORE TO LOVE
FOX
1.8
2338
20
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 9/5(S)
TEL
1.8
2417
24
CRASH COURSE
ABC
1.7
2266
24
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
1.7
2297
24
LAW & ORDER:SVU-WED 9PM
NBC
1.7
2197
24
MENTALIST, THE
CBS
1.7
2280
24
NCIS
CBS
1.7
2273
Source: Nielsen Media Research
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED) Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 30
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+ (000)
1
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE M-F
UNI
21.1
4651
2
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR MON
UNI
16.7
3396
3
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
UNI
16.2
3468
4
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
UNI
16.1
3428
5
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
UNI
15.4
3116
6
CRISTINA MON
UNI
14.4
3031
7
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
UNI
13.0
2846
8
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
UNI
11.8
2487
9
VIVA EL SUENO SUN
UNI
10.7
2046
10
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
UNI
9.6
1889
11
QUIEN TIENE RAZON? EE SUN
UNI
9.3
1682
12
BETTY LA FEA M-F
TF
7.5
1577
13
HISTORIAS
PARA CONTAR8/30(S)-08/30/2009
UNI
6.5
1191
14
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
UNI
5.5
1065
15
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
TF
5.1
1278
16
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
TEL
4.7
1041
17
FUTBOL ESTELAR
TEL
4.4
956
17
VICTORINOS M-F
TEL
4.4
1103
19
NINOS RICOS M-F
TEL
4.3
958
20
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-THU
TF
3.9
833
21
CINE MILLONARIO
TEL
3.6
698
22
CONCACAF L.D.C. WED 2
TF
3.4
774
23
12 CORAZONES M-F
TEL
3.3
648
24
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
TF
3.2
718
24
VIDEOS ASOMBROSOS MDO SUN
TF
3.2
740
Source: Nielsen Media Research
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 30
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+(000)
1
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-TUE
NBC
3.0
566
1
WIPEOUT
ABC
3.0
636
3
HELL'S KITCHEN
FOX
2.9
570
3
TWO AND A HALF MEN
CBS
2.9
477
5
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
2.8
521
5
NBC NFL PRE-SEASON 8/30(S)-08/30/2009
NBC
2.8
588
7
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDWN
MNT
2.7
571
8
FAMILY GUY
FOX
2.6
567
9
AMERICAN DAD
FOX
2.3
505
9
SIMPSONS-SUN 8:30P
FOX
2.3
476
Source: Nielsen Media Research
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 30
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Rtg
P2+(000)
1
NBC NFL PRE-SEASON 8/30
NBC
9.1
1634
2
NFL PRE-SEASON
CBS
7.4
1378
3
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 3
FOX
7.2
1339
4
60 MINUTES
CBS
6.0
1063
5
BIG BROTHER 11-THU
CBS
5.8
1040
6
CSI:
MIAMI
CBS
5.7
1051
7
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-TUE
NBC
5.6
1097
8
NCIS
CBS
5.1
1009
9
AMERICAGOT TALENT-WED 9P
NBC
5.1
940
10
BIG BROTHER 11-TUE
CBS
5.0
922
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
TOP 10 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS Ranked on Households
Week ending August 30
#
PROGRAMS
Net
Households
Persons 2+
USRtg%
(000)
1
NBC NFL PRE-SEASON 8/30-08/30/2009 (CHI/DEN)
NBC
6.5
10381
2
NFL PRE-SEASON-08/28/2009 (NE/WAS)
CBS
4.1
6285
3
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 3-08/27/2009 (MIA/TB)
FOX
3.7
5796
4
BARCLAYS-SUN, THE-08/30/2009
CBS
3.2
4641
5
NFL PRE-SEASON FTBLL-08/29/2009 (SD/ATL)
CBS
2.7
4153
6
LITTLE LEAGUE-WORLD CHAMP-08/30/2009 (TAIPEI/CAL)
ABC
2.4
3872
7
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDWN-08/28/2009
MNT
1.9
3142
8
BARCLAYS-SAT, THE-08/29/2009
CBS
1.9
2748
9
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-08/29/2009 (VARIOUS)
FOX
1.6
2273
10
LITTLE LEAGUE-INTER CHAMP-08/29/2009 (TAIPEI/MEXICO)
