medialifemagazine.com
Done deal: Fox trotting in for fifth win
By Kevin Downey
May 20, 2009 - 6:45:33 AM
There is only one night left in the broadcast season, and it’s a big one with the No. 1 show on television, Fox’s “American Idol,” airing its season finale.
But ratings tonight, and ratings for the previous two nights with ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” finishing its run, won’t make much difference in which network ranks No. 1 for the full season in adults 18-49.
That’ll be Fox, which as of Sunday had a 14 percentage advantage over No. 2 CBS.
Fox for the broadcast season through May 17 had a 3.3 rating among 18-49s, down a hefty 17.5 percent from last year, when the network also had the Super Bowl.
But Fox isn’t likely to bemoan the ratings decline. The network is wrapping up its fifth consecutive full-season win in 18-49s, the demographic group most advertisers target.
That’s something no network has achieved since the mid-1990s.
“American Idol” has played a huge part in that, despite its declining audience. As of Sunday, its Wednesday episode was the No. 1 show for the season in 18-49 viewers with an average audience of 12.1 million people. Its Tuesday episode ranked No. 2 with just under 12.1 million viewers.
NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” ranked No. 3 with 8.5 million. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” was No. 4 with 6.8 million, with ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” No. 5 with 6.3 million viewers in the demographic.
For the season through Sunday, Fox had a 3.3 adult 18-49 rating, followed by CBS with a 2.9, up from a 2.8 last season.
ABC was No. 3 with a 2.7 rating, down from a 2.8. And NBC was close behind with a 2.6, flat to last year.
Fox also ranked No. 1 in 18-34s with a 2.9 rating with a huge lead over ABC, which had a 2.2. NBC was No. 3 with a 2.1 rating. CBS ranked last among the Big Four networks with a 1.9 rating.
But CBS again dominated the season in household ratings and total viewers.
CBS through Sunday averaged 11.1 million viewers, up from 10 million last season. Fox was No. 2 with 9.1 million viewers, down from 10.8 million. ABC had just under 8.5 million viewers while NBC had 7.5 million, both posting declines.
The CW had 1.85 million viewers, down from nearly 2.5 million last season, when it had “Friday Night Smackdown” and a Sunday lineup.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended May 17:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with a 3.3 average rating and a 10 share, followed by ABC at 2.9/9, CBS at 2.9/8, NBC at 2.0/6, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 0.9/3, Telemundo at 0.5/2, MyNetworkTV and Telefutura at 0.4/1, and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, Fox was first with a 2.8 average rating and a 9 share, followed by ABC at 2.3/8, CBS at 1.8/6, Univision and NBC at 1.5/5, CW at 1.1/3, Telemundo at 0.6/2, MyNetworkTV and Telefutura at 0.4/1, and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, Fox was first with a 3.9 rating and a 10 share, followed by CBS at 3.8/10, ABC at 3.5/9, NBC at 2.5/7, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 0.9/2, MyNetworkTV and Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1, Ion at 0.2/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 8.7; 2. Fox's “American Idol – Tuesday” 8.0; 3. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 5.9; Tie-4. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” Fox’s “House” and NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” 4.7.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Wednesday” 24.67 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol – Tuesday” 22.71 million; 3. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 18.55 million; 4. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 16.53 million; 5. CBS’s “The Mentalist” 16.21 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended April 26): 1. Fox’s “American Idol – Tuesday” 3.23 million (up 28 percent); 2. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 2.93 million (up 35 percent); 3. NBC’s “The Office” 2.91 million (up 46 percent); 4. Fox’s “American Idol - Wednesday” 2.32 million (up 21 percent); 5. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 2.16 million (up 29 percent).
Show on the rise: “The Biggest Loser,” NBC, Tuesday 8 p.m. The three-hour season finale averaged a 4.7 rating among viewers 18-49, up 31 percent versus the previous week’s 3.6.
Show on the decline: “Castle,” ABC, Monday 10 p.m. The drama slipped 14 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from a 2.8 rating to a 2.4. But it still got renewed for a second season.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 17 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
7880
|
12
|
3.8
|
11150
|
10
|
2.9
|
3790
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
6880
|
10
|
3.2
|
9410
|
9
|
2.9
|
3880
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
5.3
|
6110
|
9
|
3.1
|
9020
|
8
|
3.3
|
4380
|
10
|
|
NBC
|
4.2
|
4760
|
7
|
2.2
|
6360
|
6
|
2.0
|
2670
|
6
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2290
|
3
|
1.3
|
3830
|
4
|
1.5
|
1940
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.4
|
1580
|
2
|
0.7
|
2080
|
2
|
0.9
|
1190
|
3
|
|
MNT
|
0.8
|
960
|
1
|
0.5
|
1330
|
1
|
0.4
|
590
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
690
|
1
|
0.4
|
1220
|
1
|
0.5
|
730
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
460
|
1
|
0.2
|
570
|
1
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
450
|
1
|
0.3
|
760
|
1
|
0.4
|
470
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
0.1
|
130
|
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 May 17 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
7960
|
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
|
6160
|
9
|
2.9
|
8450
|
8
|
2.7
|
3510
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.6
|
5240
|
8
|
2.5
|
7390
|
7
|
2.6
|
3390
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2240
|
3
|
1.4
|
3920
|
3
|
1.5
|
2040
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1410
|
2
|
0.6
|
1850
|
2
|
0.8
|
1040
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
680
|
1
|
0.4
|
1170
|
1
|
0.5
|
670
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
480
|
1
|
0.2
|
620
|
1
|
0.2
|
200
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
0.2
|
660
|
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.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.0
|
22
|
16050
|
1
|
8.5
|
24670
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
13.0
|
21
|
14870
|
2
|
7.8
|
22712
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
11.8
|
18
|
13494
|
3
|
6.4
|
18554
|
|
4
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
11.0
|
18
|
12546
|
4
|
5.7
|
16531
|
|
5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
10.2
|
16
|
11644
|
5
|
5.6
|
16195
|
|
6
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
15
|
11548
|
5
|
5.6
|
16205
|
|
7
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
9.3
|
15
|
10622
|
7
|
5.1
|
14810
|
|
8
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
9.1
|
14
|
10416
|
8
|
4.8
|
14058
|
|
9
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
8.8
|
15
|
10105
|
11
|
4.6
|
13401
|
|
10
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
15
|
9972
|
10
|
4.7
|
13586
|
|
10
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
8.7
|
14
|
9938
|
8
|
4.8
|
13956
|
|
12
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.4
|
13
|
9625
|
11
|
4.6
|
13371
|
|
13
|
CSI: NY THURSDAY 10PM SP(S)
|
CBS
|
8.3
|
14
|
9495
|
15
|
4.4
|
12768
|
|
14
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
8.2
|
12
|
9367
|
13
|
4.5
|
13108
|
|
15
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
7.9
|
13
|
9031
|
17
|
4.3
|
12329
|
|
16
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
7.7
|
12
|
8813
|
15
|
4.4
|
12741
|
|
17
|
BIGGEST LOSER 7
|
NBC
|
7.1
|
11
|
8082
|
19
|
4.1
|
11847
|
|
18
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
12
|
8056
|
18
|
4.2
|
12180
|
|
18
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS FINALE(S)
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
11
|
8000
|
13
|
4.5
|
12942
|
|
20
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.6
|
11
|
7546
|
23
|
3.4
|
9959
|
|
21
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
6.4
|
12
|
7372
|
21
|
3.5
|
10193
|
|
21
|
FARRAH'S STORY(S)
|
NBC
|
6.4
|
12
|
7305
|
31
|
3.1
|
9012
|
|
21
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS RNION(S)
|
CBS
|
6.4
|
11
|
7341
|
20
|
4.0
|
11588
|
|
24
|
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
|
CBS
|
6.3
|
9
|
7193
|
21
|
3.5
|
10135
|
|
25
|
NUMB3RS
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
11
|
6968
|
23
|
3.4
|
9721
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending May 17 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.7
|
11422
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.0
|
10591
|
|
3
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
5.9
|
7773
|
|
4
|
BIGGEST LOSER 7
|
NBC
|
4.7
|
6242
|
|
4
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
4.7
|
6192
|
|
4
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
4.7
|
6192
|
|
7
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
5977
|
|
8
|
LOST
|
ABC
|
4.4
|
5776
|
|
9
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.2
|
5563
|
|
9
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS FINALE(S)
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
5609
|
|
11
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS RNION(S)
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5359
|
|
12
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
5159
|
|
12
|
FRINGE
|
FOX
|
3.9
|
5181
|
|
14
|
SURVIVOR:
TOCANTINS
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4975
|
|
15
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
4877
|
|
15
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4944
|
|
17
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4807
|
|
17
|
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4814
|
|
19
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
3.5
|
4676
|
|
20
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4522
|
|
20
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
4530
|
|
22
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4387
|
|
22
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4311
|
|
24
|
24
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
4195
|
|
24
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
3.2
|
4221
|
|
24
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
4170
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
24.0
|
4959
|
|
2
|
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE M-F
|
UNI
|
22.1
|
4923
|
|
3
|
NUESTRA BELLEZA SUN
|
UNI
|
19.3
|
4207
|
|
4
|
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL M-F
|
UNI
|
17.3
|
3702
|
|
5
|
MUJERES ASESINAS THU
|
UNI
|
16.6
|
3352
|
|
6
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
16.0
|
3217
|
|
7
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
15.3
|
3041
|
|
8
|
NUESTRA BELLZ LAT DSP5/17(S)-05/17/2009
|
UNI
|
14.9
|
3208
|
|
9
|
TONTAS NO VAN CIELO M-F
|
UNI
|
14.0
|
2963
|
|
10
|
ROSA
DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
13.9
|
3048
|
|
11
|
CONFESIONES P ALBERTO5/17(S)-05/17/2009
|
UNI
|
11.5
|
2291
|
|
12
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
11.2
|
2372
|
|
13
|
GILBERTO GLESS AMRCA 5/16(S)-05/16/2009
|
UNI
|
6.7
|
1303
|
|
14
|
DONA BARBARA M-F
|
TEL
|
6.2
|
1441
|
|
14
|
ROSTRO DE ANALIA M-F
|
TEL
|
6.2
|
1418
|
|
16
|
CARTEL M-F
|
TEL
|
6.1
|
1314
|
|
17
|
SN SENOS NO HAY PARAISO M-F
|
TEL
|
5.8
|
1224
|
|
18
|
FUTBOL ESTELAR
|
TEL
|
5.1
|
1149
|
|
19
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICAN SUN
|
TF
|
4.6
|
933
|
|
20
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
4.3
|
946
|
|
21
|
BETTY LA FEA M-F
|
TF
|
4.0
|
873
|
|
22
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
817
|
|
23
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEX WED
|
TF
|
3.6
|
746
|
|
24
|
FLM THU 2.(S)-05/14/2009
|
AZA
|
3.4
|
663
|
|
24
|
CONCACAF L.D.C. TUE
|
TF
|
3.4
|
765
|
|
24
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
3.4
|
729
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
6.0
|
1222
|
|
2
|