For Fox, the rarest
of wins: A fall week
Takes the second week of the new season
By Toni Fitzgerald
Oct 7, 2009
There was a surprise leader in the second full week of the TV season: Fox.
The network, which has long struggled during fourth quarter, scored its earliest-ever weekly win in a television season.
It reflects both the increasing strength of Fox's fall schedule and the long trend of declining ratings for the networks overall. Just a few years ago, Fox's winning adults 18-49 average rating of 3.1 and 9 share would have placed fourth rather than first for the week.
Last week, the week ended Oct. 4, Fox was just barely ahead of the competition. CBS and ABC tied for second with a 2.9/8, followed by NBC with a 2.7/8, Univision at 1.5/4 and the CW at 1.1/3, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day-DVR-viewing data.
Fox's winning margin came from football overrun. The network's coverage of the Dallas Cowboys-Denver Broncos game ran a half hour into primetime Sunday, averaging an 8.4; without it, Fox would have finished 0.1 behind ABC and CBS.
Still, the network is way up over last year, when it averaged a fourth-place 2.5/7 in week two of the season. And it ends a long string of dreadful fourth quarter starts for Fox, which usually ends the quarter in fourth place, then rides "American Idol's" strong first-quarter performance to first.
This year, two strong new shows and some solid veterans have helped the network improve. It's not without problems -- its Friday night lineup is performing terribly -- but on four of seven nights, Fox is up compared to the previous year.
"House" is off to a strong start, showing gains over last season and lifting lead-out "Lie to Me" to decent if not spectacular numbers. Mondays are up 150 percent over last year.
The network's Wednesday lineup of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Glee" is up 26 percent over last year, when "Bones" and sitcoms aired.
"Bones" has moved to Thursday, where it has helped Fox to a 39 percent gain on the night, despite the fact that lead-out "Fringe" is down from last year, when it aired behind "House."
And Sundays are also up, with the new "The Cleveland Show" increasing on former timeslot occupant "King of the Hill" by 57 percent.
That has helped Fox become the only Big Five network up over last year thus far this season, rising 11 percent. The other four are down, CBS and ABC a modest 3 and 6 percent, respectively, and NBC and the CW a steeper 13 and 17 percent, respectively.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Oct. 4:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with a 3.1 average rating and a 9 share, followed by ABC and CBS at 2.9/8, NBC at 2.7/8,Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 1.1/3, Telemundo at 0.5/1, 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” 7.4; 2. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 6.1; 3. Fox’s “House” 5.8; 4. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 5.3; 5. Fox’s “Family Guy” 5.1.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. CBS’s “NCIS” 21.37 million; 2. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 18.42 million; 3. CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” 17.40 million; 4. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 17.03 million; 5. CBS’s “CSI” 15.94 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Sept. 13): 1. Fox’s “Glee” 1.4 increase (up 33 percent); 2. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance-Wednesday” 1.2 increase (up 35 percent); 3. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 1.1 increase (up 27 percent); 4. CBS’s “Big Brother-Thursday” 1.0 increase (up 36 percent); 5. CW’s “Vampire Diaries” 0.9 increase (up 36 percent).
Show on the rise: “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, Monday 9:30 p.m. The comedy posted a 5.3 among viewers 18-49, up nearly 13 percent versus the previous week’s 4.7.
Show on the decline: “Ghost Whisperer,” CBS, Friday 8 p.m. The drama slipped 26 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from a 2.3 rating to a 1.7.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.2
|
8220
|
12
|
3.9
|
11320
|
10
|
2.9
|
3780
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
6.2
|
7090
|
10
|
3.3
|
9640
|
9
|
2.9
|
3790
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
4.9
|
5650
|
8
|
2.7
|
7790
|
7
|
2.7
|
3570
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
4.5
|
5200
|
7
|
2.6
|
7610
|
7
|
3.1
|
4040
|
9
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2250
|
3
|
1.3
|
3810
|
3
|
1.5
|
1970
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.5
|
1710
|
2
|
0.8
|
2240
|
2
|
1.1
|
1390
|
3
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.4
|
1070
|
1
|
0.5
|
650
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
510
|
1
|
0.2
|
650
|
1
|
0.2
|
250
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
490
|
1
|
0.3
|
830
|
1
|
0.4
|
500
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
12.9
|
21
|
14811
|
1
|
7.3
|
21371
|
|
2
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
11.1
|
17
|
12724
|
4
|
5.8
|
17032
|
|
3
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
11.0
|
18
|
12621
|
2
|
6.3
|
18416
|
|
4
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
10.6
|
16
|
12199
|
3
|
6.0
|
17399
|
|
5
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
17
|
11564
|
6
|
5.4
|
15750
|
|
6
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
9.9
|
16
|
11397
|
5
|
5.5
|
15938
|
|
6
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
9.9
|
16
|
11396
|
6
|
5.4
|
15689
|
|
8
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
9.2
|
14
|
10606
|
9
|
5.0
|
14641
|
|
9
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
9.1
|
15
|
10421
|
12
|
4.8
|
13956
|
|
9
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
9.1
|
16
|
10456
|
13
|
4.7
|
13690
|
|
11
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
14
|
10196
|
11
|
4.9
|
14240
|
|
12
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
8.7
|
14
|
9954
|
8
|
5.1
|
14835
|
|
13
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
15
|
9930
|
15
|
4.6
|
13408
|
|
13
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
15
|
9851
|
16
|
4.5
|
13156
|
|
13
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
8.6
|
13
|
9893
|
16
|
4.5
|
13023
|
|
16
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
8.5
|
13
|
9805
|
9
|
5.0
|
14714
|
|
17
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
8.3
|
12
|
9557
|
13
|
4.7
|
13855
|
|
18
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
8.0
|
12
|
9143
|
16
|
4.5
|
13269
|
|
19
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
7.6
|
13
|
8699
|
20
|
4.0
|
11580
|
|
20
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
7.2
|
13
|
8303
|
19
|
4.1
|
12005
|
|
21
|
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P
|
ABC
|
7.1
|
11
|
8131
|
20
|
4.0
|
11626
|
|
22
|
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
11
|
7977
|
20
|
4.0
|
11537
|
|
23
|
FLASHFORWARD
|
ABC
|
6.7
|
11
|
7703
|
23
|
3.7
|
10730
|
|
24
|
BROTHERS & SISTERS
|
ABC
|
6.5
|
11
|
7457
|
29
|
3.3
|
9646
|
|
25
|
COLD CASE
|
CBS
|
6.4
|
11
|
7343
|
25
|
3.4
|
10053
|
|
25
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
6.4
|
11
|
7391
|
23
|
3.7
|
10698
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending October 4 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
7.4
|
9799
|
|
2
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
8014
|
|
3
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.8
|
7619
|
|
4
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
5.5
|
7185
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
6916
|
|
6
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
6668
|
|
7
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
5.0
|
6516
|
|
8
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
4.9
|
6446
|
|
9
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
6277
|
|
9
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
6329
|
|
11
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
6058
|
|
12
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
5744
|
|
12
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
5812
|
|
14
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5421
|
|
14
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5459
|
|
14
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
4.1
|
5355
|
|
14
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
5415
|
|
18
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
3.9
|
5069
|
|
19
|
COUGAR
TOWN
|
ABC
|
3.8
|
4984
|
|
19
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4946
|
|
19
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
5046
|
|
19
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
3.8
|
5064
|
|
23
|
BIGGEST LOSER 8
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4837
|
|
23
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
3.7
|
4842
|
|
23
|
FLASHFORWARD
|
ABC
|
3.7
|
4839
|
|
23
|
SURVIVOR:
SAMOA
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
4908
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE M-F
|
UNI
|
24.6
|
5664
|
|
2
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
17.5
|
3808
|
|
2
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR MON
|
UNI
|
17.5
|
3982
|
|
4
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
16.7
|
3423
|
|
5
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
15.6
|
3348
|
|
5
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
15.6
|
3390
|
|
7
|
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
|
UNI
|
13.3
|
2852
|
|
8
|
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
12.8
|
2831
|
|
9
|
VIVA EL SUENO SUN
|
UNI
|
11.2
|
2436
|
|
10
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
10.9
|
2260
|
|
11
|
QUIEN TIENE RAZON? EE SUN
|
UNI
|
9.6
|
1886
|
|
12
|
BETTY LA FEA M-F
|
TF
|
7.1
|
1577
|
|
13
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
|
UNI
|
6.3
|
1356
|
|
14
|
HORA PICO SUN
|
UNI
|
6.2
|
1472
|
|
15
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
4.9
|
1137
|
|
16
|
VICTORINOS M-F
|
TEL
|
4.7
|
1084
|
|
17
|
FAMOSOS EN LA MIRA 2009(S)-09/27/2009
|
TF
|
4.2
|
888
|
|
18
|
NINOS RICOS M-F
|
TEL
|
3.8
|
815
|
|
19
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
3.5
|
742
|
|
20
|
TIJERA, LA-ED ESP 09/21(S)-09/21/2009
|
TF
|
3.4
|
628
|
|
21
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.3
|
720
|
|
22
|
VEREDICTO FINAL M-F
|
TF
|
3.1
|
586
|
|
22
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
3.1
|
672
|
|
22
|
CONCACAF L.D.C. WED 2
|
TF
|
3.1
|
616
|
|
25
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
2.9
|
613
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
1058
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
5.4
|
1029
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.8
|
965
|
|
3
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
947
|
|
5
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
4.7
|
983
|
|
6
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
4.5
|
943
|
|
7
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
924
|
|
7
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
894
|
|
9
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULT SP(S)-09/23/2009
|
ABC
|
4.3
|
798
|
|
9
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
4.3
|
810
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 27
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
13.7
|
2541
|
|
2
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
10.9
|
1894
|
|
3
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
10.2
|
1882
|
|
4
|
CLEVELAND
|
FOX
|
10.1
|
2296
|
|
5
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
10.1
|
2286
|
|
6
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
10.1
|
1809
|
|
7
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
1841
|
|
8
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
9.9
|
1714
|
|
9
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
9.9
|
1838
|
|
10
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
9.8
|
1749
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending October 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE-09/27/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
11.9
|
26
|
13713
|
19330
|
|
2 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL-09/27/2009
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
10.9
|
21
|
12528
|
18150
|
|
3 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL-09/27/2009
|
NBC
|
INDIANAPOLIS
AT
ARIZONA
|
10.7
|
17
|
12335
|
17469
|
|
4 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT-09/27/2009
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
8.1
|
16
|
9264
|
13374
|
|
5 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL-09/27/2009
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
6.8
|
15
|
7849
|
11077
|
|
6 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL-09/26/2009
|
ABC
|
IOWA
AT
PENN
STATE
|
4
|
7
|
4544
|
6387
|
|
7 |
ABC
COLLEGE
FTBL GM-LATE-09/26/2009
|
ABC
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
3.9
|
9
|
4524
|
6114
|
|
8 |
NASCAR SPRINT CUP-SUN-09/27/2009
|
ABC
|
|
3.1
|
6
|
3600
|
5084
|
|
9 |
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP-SUN-09/27/2009
|
NBC
|
|
3
|
6
|
3496
|
4545
|
|
10 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2-09/26/2009
|
CBS
|
ARKANSAS
AT
ALABAMA
|
2.4
|
6
|
2711
|
3655
|
|
11 |
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-09/26/2009
|
FOX
|
BOS AT NYY/CHI CUB AT SAN FRAN
|
2.1
|
5
|
2447
|
3227
|
|
12 |
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP-SAT-09/26/2009
|
NBC
|
|
2.1
|
5
|
2363
|
2907
|
|
13 |
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDWN-09/25/2009
|
MNT
|
|
1.9
|
3
|
2155
|
3231
|
|
14 |
BIG SHOTS: TITANS AT TEE-09/27/2009
|
FOX
|
|
1
|
2
|
1102
|
1424
|
|
15 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/26/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
650
|
722
|
|
16 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/22/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
595
|
689
|
|
17 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/23/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
566
|
768
|
|
18 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/24/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
2
|
529
|
575
|
|
19 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/25/2009
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
2
|
579
|
688
|
|
20 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICAN SUN-09/27/2009
|
TF
|
AMERICA
VS ATLANTE
|
0.5
|
1
|
621
|
1015
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
|
|
