|
|
| Broadcast recap | |
|
|
|
| Broadcast recap | |
Death of sitcoms
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Likely as not, they will fail to attract viewers. It’s almost as if the networks haven’t been paying attention to Nielsen ratings the past few years.
Those ratings make clear that most viewers want family comedies like CBS’s “Two and a Half Men,” which is a huge hit on network television and in syndication. They do not want quirky shows.
That's according to a Magna analysis of comedy ratings over the past several years.
Magna points to hit family sitcoms in syndication like “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “George Lopez” that are continuing to pull in strong audiences years after leaving network TV.
Yet the bulk of network sitcoms are in the mode of Fox’s canceled “Arrested Development.” While the show was adored by critics, and served to up Fox’s profile with upper-income, well-educated TV viewers, it failed to draw a mass audience to the network.
This edgy approach to TV sitcoms goes a long way in explaining network TV’s years-long sitcom drought.
Last fall, there were 22 sitcoms on network TV, down from 50 in 2003, according to Magna.
That decline has led to much talk of the death of the sitcom, but the reality is that comedies are more popular than ever, just not on network TV.
On average, adults 18-34 spend 2.89 hours each week watching sitcoms, up from 2.58 hours in the early 1990s, according to Magna. But 18-34s spend only 0.17 hours watching network sitcoms, down from 1.47 hours in 1993.
That additional viewing of sitcoms is on cable and in syndication.
Even older adults have veered away from broadcast comedies. Adults 50-64 this season are watching 0.20 hours of network sitcoms each week, down from 1.2 hours 15 years ago.
The other reason network comedies aren’t doing well is competition. And while much of it is shows in reruns, like “Seinfeld” and “Friends,” there's more and more original comedies, such as TBS’s “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” and “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” two of the highest-rated comedies on cable TV.
Neither is anything close to being quirky. These are straight-up family sitcoms that harken back to the 1970s with laugh tracks, simple storylines and broadly drawn characters.
Last week on network TV, the highest-rated sitcom among 18-49s was “Two and a Half Men,” with a 5 rating. That show’s lead-out, “Rules of Engagement,” about two couples, one married, one engaged, was the second-highest rated comedy with a 4.1.
***
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended May 10:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with a 3.2 average rating and a 10 share, followed by CBS at 2.7/8, ABC at 2.6/8, NBC at 2.0/6, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 0.8/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.5/2, Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, Fox was first with a 2.6 average rating and a 9 share, followed by ABC at 2.1/7, CBS at 1.7/6, Univision at 1.6/5, NBC at 1.5/5, CW at 1.0/3, Telemundo at 0.5/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.4/2, Telefutura at 0.3/1, and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, Fox was first with a 3.8 rating and a 10 share, followed by CBS at 3.6/10, ABC at 3.2/8, NBC at 2.5/7, Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.8/2, MyNetworkTV and Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura and Ion at 0.2/1, and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): Tie-1. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” and “American Idol – Tuesday” 8.1; 3. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 5.4; 4. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” 5.0; 5. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 4.8.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 23.57 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol – Tuesday” 23.41 million; 3. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 20.28 million; 4. CBS’s “NCIS” 16.72 million; 5. CBS’s “The Mentalist” 16.68 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended April 19): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Tuesday” 3.19 million (up 26 percent); 2. NBC’s “The Office” 3.03 million (up 43 percent); 3. Fox’s “House” 2.86 million (up 39 percent); 4. ABC’s “Lost” 2.72 million (up 42 percent); 5. Fox’s “American Idol - Wednesday” 2.43 million (up 22 percent).
Show on the rise: “CSI: Miami,” CBS, Monday 10 p.m. The second show in the franchise increased 21 percent week-to-week among viewers 18-49, from a 3.3 rating to a 4.0.
Show on the decline: “Flashpoint,” CBS, Friday 9 p.m. The hostage series slipped 14 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.1 to a 1.8.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK |
|||||||||
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
||||||
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
|
CBS
|
6.8
|
7730
|
12
|
3.7
|
10760
|
10
|
2.7
|
3540
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
6380
|
10
|
3.0
|
8720
|
8
|
2.6
|
3480
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.3
|
6020
|
9
|
3.0
|
8820
|
8
|
3.2
|
4160
|
10
|
|
NBC
|
4.2
|
4760
|
7
|
2.2
|
6350
|
6
|
2.0
|
2690
|
6
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2180
|
3
|
1.3
|
3720
|
4
|
1.5
|
1960
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.3
|
1470
|
2
|
0.7
|
1930
|
2
|
0.8
|
1100
|
2
|
|
MNT
|
0.9
|
1040
|
2
|
0.5
|
1450
|
1
|
0.5
|
670
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
650
|
1
|
0.4
|
1120
|
1
|
0.5
|
660
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
440
|
1
|
0.2
|
560
|
1
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
350
|
1
|
0.2
|
580
|
1
|
0.3
|
350
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
0.0
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 145
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|||||||||
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
|
|||||||||
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
||||||
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
7970
|
11
|
3.8
|
11130
|
10
|
2.9
|
3830
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.4
|
6210
|
9
|
3.1
|
9120
|
8
|
3.3
|
4380
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
6140
|
9
|
2.9
|
8420
|
7
|
2.6
|
3490
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.6
|
5250
|
8
|
2.6
|
7420
|
7
|
2.6
|
3420
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2230
|
3
|
1.4
|
3920
|
3
|
1.5
|
2040
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1410
|
2
|
0.6
|
1850
|
2
|
0.8
|
1040
|
2
|
|
MNT
|
1.0
|
1170
|
2
|
0.6
|
1650
|
1
|
0.5
|
720
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
480
|
1
|
0.2
|
620
|
1
|
0.2
|
200
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
0.2
|
650
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
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. |
|||||||||
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS BROADCAST
|
||||||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
||||
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|||
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
13.7
|
21
|
15685
|
1
|
8.1
|
23574
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
13.4
|
21
|
15319
|
1
|
8.1
|
23414
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
12.6
|
19
|
14430
|
3
|
7.0
|
20278
|
|
4
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
10.4
|
16
|
11854
|
4
|
5.8
|
16678
|
|
4
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
10.4
|
17
|
11917
|
4
|
5.8
|
16723
|
|
6
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
10.3
|
16
|
11800
|
6
|
5.4
|
15546
|
|
7
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
9.4
|
14
|
10763
|
8
|
5.0
|
14556
|
|
8
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
9.2
|
15
|
10589
|
7
|
5.1
|
14912
|
|
9
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
14
|
10176
|
9
|
4.9
|
14128
|
|
10
|
CSI:
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
14
|
9979
|
11
|
4.7
|
13718
|
|
11
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
13
|
9877
|
9
|
4.9
|
14169
|
|
12
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
8.5
|
14
|
9778
|
12
|
4.6
|
13397
|
|
13
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
7.7
|
12
|
8761
|
13
|
4.2
|
12293
|
|
13
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
7.7
|
13
|
8791
|
15
|
4.1
|
11831
|
|
15
|
COLD CASE
|
CBS
|
7.2
|
12
|
8285
|
15
|
4.1
|
11838
|
|
16
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
7.1
|
11
|
8162
|
13
|
4.2
|
12047
|
|
17
|
SURVIVOR:
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
12
|
8026
|
15
|
4.1
|
11993
|
|
18
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
6.9
|
12
|
7861
|
23
|
3.4
|
9820
|
|
18
|
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
10
|
7887
|
18
|
3.9
|
11328
|
|
20
|
MICHAEL J FOX SP-5/7(S)
|
ABC
|
6.8
|
12
|
7829
|
20
|
3.5
|
10230
|
|
21
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.6
|
11
|
7554
|
23
|
3.4
|
9968
|
|
22
|
CSI 10PM-SPECIAL(S)
|
CBS
|
6.5
|
11
|
7455
|
25
|
3.3
|
9584
|
|
23
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
6.3
|
13
|
7259
|
20
|
3.5
|
10092
|
|
24
|
BROTHERS & SISTERS
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
10
|
6898
|
33
|
3.0
|
8747
|
|
24
|
GHOST WHISPERER
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
12
|
6888
|
25
|
3.3
|
9500
|
|
24
|
NUMB3RS
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
11
|
6861
|
25
|
3.3
|
9567
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||||||
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS BROADCAST
|
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.3
|
10967
|
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.3
|
10967
|
|
3
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
7087
|
|
4
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
5.0
|
6553
|
|
5
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.8
|
6394
|
|
6
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
4.6
|
6019
|
|
7
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
5469
|
|
7
|
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5464
|
|
9
|
CSI:
|
CBS
|
4.0
|
5287
|
|
9
|
LOST
|
ABC
|
4.0
|
5280
|
|
11
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
3.9
|
5184
|
|
12
|
FRINGE
|
FOX
|
3.8
|
5075
|
|
12
|
SURVIVOR:
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
5064
|
|
14
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4842
|
|
15
|
BIGGEST LOSER 7
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
4743
|
|
15
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4724
|
|
15
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4742
|
|
15
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4786
|
|
19
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4483
|
|
19
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4546
|
|
21
|
24
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
4413
|
|
21
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4413
|
|
21
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4399
|
|
24
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
3.2
|
4193
|
|
24
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
4215
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
MANANA
|
UNI
|
22.1
|
4971
|
|
2
|
GRAN ESTRENO-SUN
|
UNI
|
18.3
|
4326
|
|
3
|
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL M-F
|
UNI
|
17.5
|
3853
|
|
4
|
MUJERES ASESINAS THU
|
UNI
|
16.5
|
3561
|
|
5
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
15.0
|
3015
|
|
5
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
15.0
|
2970
|
|
7
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
14.8
|
3093
|
|
8
|
|
UNI
|
13.9
|
2919
|
|
9
|
TONTAS NO VAN CIELO M-F
|
UNI
|
13.2
|
2809
|
|
10
|
NUESTRA BELLEZA SUN
|
UNI
|
11.3
|
2458
|
|
11
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
10.0
|
2042
|
|
12
|
VIVA LA MAMA 5/9(S)-05/09/2009
|
UNI
|
7.0
|
1277
|
|
13
|
CARTEL M-F
|
TEL
|
6.2
|
1320
|
|
14
|
ROSTRO DE ANALIA M-F
|
TEL
|
6.1
|
1344
|
|
15
|
DONA BARBARA M-F
|
TEL
|
5.8
|
1268
|
|
16
|
SN SENOS NO HAY PARAISO M-F
|
TEL
|
5.6
|
1214
|
|
17
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
4.5
|
936
|
|
18
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT
|
TF
|
4.3
|
901
|
|
19
|
BETTY LA FEA M-F
|
TF
|
3.7
|
836
|
|
20
|
CINE MILLONARIO II
|
TEL
|
3.1
|
774
|
|
21
|
VEREDICTO FINAL M-F
|
TF
|
3.0
|
590
|
|
21
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
3.0
|
694
|
|
23
|
CINE DE IMPACTO
|
TEL
|
2.9
|
654
|
|
24
|
VIVE TU VIDA AL ROJO VIVO(S)-05/08/2009
|
TEL
|
2.8
|
520
|
|
25
|
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-THU
|
TF
|
2.7
|
528
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
6.5
|
1203
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
5.9
|
1125
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
1005
|
|
4
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
4.7
|
830
|
|
5
|
CSI:
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
613
|
|
5
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
3.6
|
677
|
|
7
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
3.5
|
648
|
|
8
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.4
|
668
|
|
9
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
3.2
|
490
|
|
10
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
554
|
|
10
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
3.1
|
526
|
|
10
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
3.1
|
630
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
12.4
|
2491
|
|
2
|
NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC-SAT 2
|
ABC
|
10.2
|
1856
|
|
3
|
CSI:
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
1729
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
9.1
|
1652
|
|
5
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
9.0
|
1623
|
|
6
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
8.9
|
1537
|
|
7
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.5
|
1443
|
|
8
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
8.2
|
1400
|
|
9
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.1
|
1450
|
|
10
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
8.0
|
1454
|
|
10
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
8.0
|
1409
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. |
||||
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Week ending April 26
|
|||||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
||
|
|
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
||||
|
1 |
FOX SPRINT CUP WNNRS CIRC-04/26/2009
|
FOX
|
|
5.6
|
12
|
6398
|
3.2
|
|
2 |
FOX NASCAR SPRINT CUP-04/26/2009
|
FOX
|
LIVE FROM
|
5.0
|
12
|
5733
|
2.8
|
|
3 |
NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC-SUN 2-04/26/2009
|
ABC
|
|
3.5
|
8
|
4016
|
1.8
|
|
4 |
NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC-SUN 1-04/26/2009
|
ABC
|
|
3.3
|
8
|
3763
|
1.7
|
|
5 |
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-04/25/2009
|
FOX
|
NYY AT BOS/CHI CUBS AT STL
|
2.7
|
6
|
3055
|
1.4
|
|
6 |
AARON'S 312 AT TALLADEGA-04/25/2009
|
ABC
|
|
1.8
|
5
|
2115
|
0.9
|
|
7 |
HP CLASSIC NEW ORLEANS-SU-04/26/2009
|
CBS
|
|
1.5
|
3
|
1721
|
0.8
|
|
8 |
NBC NHL PLAYOFFS-SAT-04/25/2009
|
NBC
|
|
1.0
|
3
|
1149
|
0.5
|
|
9 |
HP CLASSIC NEW ORLEANS-SA-04/25/2009
|
CBS
|
|
0.9
|
2
|
1003
|
0.4
|
|
10 |
|
CBS
|
CHAMPIONS TOUR
|
0.8
|
2
|
861
|
0.4
|
|
11 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SU-04/26/2009
|
CBS
|
AMA SUPERCROSS -
|
0.7
|
2
|
805
|
0.3
|
|
12 |
NBC NHL PLAYOFFS-SUN-04/26/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.7
|
2
|
843
|
0.4
|
|
13 |
NBC POKER SERIES-04/26/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.7
|
2
|
825
|
0.4
|
