Holiday cheer:
Big Four are up in viewers
Adults 18-49 rating is up 2 percent for the new season
By Toni Fitzgerald
Dec 7, 2011
 |
Fox leads in audience gains,
and in no small part because of the World Series |
The Big Four networks are heading into January with a chance to do something they have not done in more than a decade: Grow their collective audience.
Season to date, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC's combined rating among adults 18-49 is up very slightly over last year.
If the networks can hold onto those gains through May, it would mark the first time since the 1999-2000 season that their ratings have grown year to year.
Eleven weeks into the season the Big Four together are averaging a 12.1 rating, according to Nielsen, up 2 percent over an 11.9 at this point last year.
The bulk of those gains have come from Fox, which is tied for first place with CBS this fall with a 3.4 rating, 13 percent better than the same point last year.
CBS is also up 3 percent. ABC is even to last year with a 2.8, good for third place.
NBC is the only network to see ratings declines, and even with all its woes, it's only down 7 percent, from a 2.8 to a 2.6.
Of course there are still five more months in this season, and there's no guarantee the networks will be able to hold their current ratings.
NBC will drop come February, once "Sunday Night Football" goes off the air, but those losses could be offset somewhat by Fox, which usually surges once "American Idol" returns in January.
ABC and CBS have been steady all fall, and both have at least one highly anticipated drama slated for midseason, though buzz doesn't always translate into ratings.
The last time Big Four ratings rose for the season, there was an obvious reason: The huge success of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," the smash hit that lifted ABC by 8 percent over the previous season.
This year it's no one show that has pushed up ratings, though CBS's "2 Broke Girls," Fox's "New Girl" and ABC's "Once Upon a Time" are doing better than any of last year's new shows.
Instead it's strong ratings from the World Series and favorable comparisons to a weak fall 2010 that have led to the gains.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Dec. 4:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first for the week with a 3.0 average rating and an 8 share, followed by NBC at 2.3/6, CBS at 2.2/6, ABC at 1.8/5, Univision at 1.4/4, Telemundo and CW at 0.6/2, ION and TeleFutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca and Estrella at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): Tie-1. Fox's "The OT" and NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 7.4; 3. CBS's "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" 4.6; 4. NBC's "Football Night in America" 4.1; Tie-5. CBS's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Fox's "The Simpsons" 4.0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. Fox's "The OT" 19.39 million; 2. NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 18.90 million; 3. CBS's "NCIS" 13.37 million; 4. CBS's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 12.64 million; 5. CBS's "60 Minutes" 11.88 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+SD versus Live+7 playback, week ended Nov. 20): 1. ABC's "Modern Family" 2.4 increase (up 42.9 percent); 2. Fox's "House" 1.6 increase (up 64.0 percent); 3. CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" 1.5 increase (up 28.3 percent); 4. CBS's "Two and a Half Men" 1.5 increase (up 27.8 percent); 5. Fox's "New Girl" 1.5 increase (up 42.9 percent).
Show on the rise: Fox's "The X Factor," Wednesday 8 p.m. The episode averaged a 3.7 among 18-49s, up 15 percent from the previous week's edition (which aired on Tuesday due to Thanksgiving).
Show on the decline: ABC's "You Deserve It," Monday 9 p.m. The limited-run game show posted a 1.4 in 18-49s, down 18 percent from a 1.7 the previous week.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Dec. 4 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS |
5.6 |
6430 |
9 |
3.1 |
8950 |
8 |
2.2 |
2870 |
6 |
|
FOX |
5.1 |
5880 |
8 |
3.0 |
8620 |
7 |
3.0 |
3890 |
8 |
|
NBC |
4.6 |
5260 |
7 |
2.5 |
7270 |
6 |
2.3 |
2910 |
6 |
|
ABC |
4.0 |
4640 |
6 |
2.2 |
6450 |
5 |
1.8 |
2350 |
5 |
|
UNI |
1.7 |
1990 |
3 |
1.2 |
3430 |
3 |
1.4 |
1770 |
4 |
|
CW |
1.1 |
1210 |
2 |
0.6 |
1620 |
1 |
0.6 |
830 |
2 |
|
ION |
0.8 |
880 |
1 |
0.4 |
1160 |
1 |
0.3 |
420 |
1 |
|
TEL |
0.7 |
830 |
1 |
0.5 |
1340 |
1 |
0.6 |
740 |
2 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
380 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
360 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.1 |
240 |
0 |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
150 |
0 |
0.1 |
260 |
0 |
0.1 |
150 |
0 |
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or
1. 147
million homes
Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback.
Source: Nielsen
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Dec. 4 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS |
7.9 |
9100 |
13 |
4.4 |
12690 |
11 |
3.4 |
4300 |
9 |
|
ABC |
6.3 |
7210 |
10 |
3.4 |
9760 |
8 |
2.8 |
3550 |
8 |
|
FOX |
5.6 |
6470 |
9 |
3.3 |
9440 |
8 |
3.4 |
4340 |
9 |
|
NBC |
4.7 |
5360 |
8 |
2.5 |
7380 |
6 |
2.6 |
3280 |
7 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2170 |
3 |
1.2 |
3590 |
3 |
1.5 |
1930 |
4 |
|
CW |
1.4 |
1600 |
2 |
0.7 |
2080 |
2 |
0.9 |
1170 |
3 |
|
ION |
0.7 |
770 |
1 |
0.3 |
990 |
1 |
0.3 |
380 |
1 |
|
TEL |
0.7 |
750 |
1 |
0.4 |
1170 |
1 |
0.5 |
630 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
330 |
0 |
0.2 |
500 |
0 |
0.2 |
290 |
1 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
0.1 |
230 |
0 |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
0.1 |
210 |
0 |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or
1. 147
million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing.
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Dec. 4 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
11.5 |
18 |
13210 |
2 |
6.5 |
18896 |
|
2 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
11.4 |
18 |
13073 |
1 |
6.7 |
19393 |
|
3 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
8.9 |
14 |
10210 |
3 |
5.1 |
14791 |
|
4 |
NCIS 9P-SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.2 |
12 |
9396 |
4 |
4.6 |
13372 |
|
5 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
7.5 |
11 |
8635 |
6 |
4.1 |
11879 |
|
6 |
BLUE BLOODS |
CBS |
6.9 |
12 |
7932 |
8 |
3.8 |
11052 |
|
7 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
6.8 |
11 |
7806 |
11 |
3.6 |
10429 |
|
7 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
6.8 |
11 |
7847 |
7 |
3.9 |
11214 |
|
7 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER(S) |
CBS |
6.8 |
10 |
7744 |
5 |
4.4 |
12644 |
|
10 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
6.7 |
11 |
7661 |
16 |
3.4 |
9900 |
|
11 |
SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC |
CBS |
6.6 |
10 |
7606 |
8 |
3.8 |
11047 |
|
12 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
6.5 |
10 |
7445 |
11 |
3.6 |
10481 |
|
12 |
LAST MAN STANDING |
ABC |
6.5 |
10 |
7404 |
11 |
3.6 |
10316 |
|
12 |
VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION(S) |
CBS |
6.5 |
11 |
7421 |
11 |
3.6 |
10392 |
|
12 |
X-FACTOR-WED |
FOX |
6.5 |
10 |
7408 |
8 |
3.8 |
11045 |
|
16 |
GOOD WIFE, THE |
CBS |
6.4 |
9 |
7345 |
16 |
3.4 |
9938 |
|
17 |
BODY OF PROOF |
ABC |
6.3 |
10 |
7202 |
21 |
3.3 |
9485 |
|
17 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
6.3 |
10 |
7176 |
16 |
3.4 |
9757 |
|
17 |
HARRY'S LAW |
NBC |
6.3 |
10 |
7256 |
16 |
3.4 |
9875 |
|
20 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
6.1 |
9 |
7046 |
16 |
3.4 |
9730 |
|
20 |
X-FACTOR-THU |
FOX |
6.1 |
10 |
7022 |
11 |
3.6 |
10340 |
|
22 |
CHRISTMAS-ROCKEFELLER CEN(S) |
NBC |
5.8 |
9 |
6681 |
21 |
3.3 |
9429 |
|
23 |
AMAZING RACE 19 |
CBS |
5.7 |
8 |
6572 |
21 |
3.3 |
9585 |
|
23 |
CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS(S) |
ABC |
5.7 |
9 |
6577 |
26 |
3.1 |
9029 |
|
25 |
ONCE UPON A TIME |
ABC |
5.6 |
8 |
6474 |
21 |
3.3 |
9658 |
|
0Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Dec. 4 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
7.4 |
9426 |
|
1 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
7.4 |
9525 |
|
3 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
5.5 |
6976 |
|
4 |
VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION(S) |
CBS |
4.6 |
5911 |
|
5 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
4.1 |
5252 |
|
6 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER(S) |
CBS |
4.0 |
5164 |
|
6 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
4.0 |
5121 |
|
8 |
X-FACTOR-WED |
FOX |
3.7 |
4719 |
|
9 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
3.6 |
4592 |
|
9 |
NEW GIRL |
FOX |
3.6 |
4611 |
|
11 |
2 BROKE GIRLS |
CBS |
3.3 |
4209 |
|
12 |
GLEE |
FOX |
3.2 |
4078 |
|
12 |
ONCE UPON A TIME |
ABC |
3.2 |
4033 |
|
14 |
SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC |
CBS |
3.1 |
4014 |
|
14 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
3.1 |
3921 |
|
14 |
X-FACTOR-THU |
FOX |
3.1 |
4017 |
|
17 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
3.0 |
3855 |
|
17 |
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
CBS |
3.0 |
3815 |
|
19 |
OFFICE |
NBC |
2.9 |
3759 |
|
20 |
BONES |
FOX |
2.8 |
3593 |
|
20 |
I HATE MY TEENAGE DGHTR |
FOX |
2.8 |
3576 |
|
20 |
NCIS 9P-SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
2.8 |
3634 |
|
23 |
AMAZING RACE 19 |
CBS |
2.7 |
3454 |
|
23 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
2.7 |
3440 |
|
25 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
2.6 |
3368 |
|
25 |
MIKE & MOLLY |
CBS |
2.6 |
3372 |
|
25 |
MODERN FAMILY |
ABC |
2.6 |
3339 |
|
25 |
SHREK THE HALLS-11/28(S) |
ABC |
2.6 |
3296 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
FUERZA DEL DESTINO MTW.F.. |
UNI |
17.7 |
4425 |
|
2 |
FAMILIA CON SUERTE MTW.F.. |
UNI |
14.2 |
3556 |
|
3 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA MO |
UNI |
12.6 |
3030 |
|
4 |
ROSA DE GUADALUPE SUN |
UNI |
11.1 |
2542 |
|
5 |
CUANDO ME ENAMORO MTW.F.. |
UNI |
11.1 |
2400 |
|
6 |
AQUI Y AHORA TUE |
UNI |
11.1 |
2610 |
|
7 |
SABADO GIGANTE SAT |
UNI |
9.8 |
1982 |
|
8 |
ROSA DE GUADALUPE FRI |
UNI |
9.6 |
2471 |
|
9 |
PREMIO LO NUESTRO11 11/27(S)-11/27/2011 |
UNI |
8.6 |
1935 |
|
10 |
SAL Y PIMIENTA SUN |
UNI |
8.5 |
1696 |
|
11 |
C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR MTW.F.. |
TEL |
7.4 |
1603 |
|
12 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR |
TEL |
6.5 |
1671 |
|
13 |
CASA DE AL LADO MTW.F.. |
TEL |
6.0 |
1264 |
|
14 |
MI CORAZON INSISTE MTW.F.. |
TEL |
5.9 |
1332 |
|
15 |
HORA PICO SAT |
UNI |
5.4 |
1343 |
|
16 |
FEST CINE CANTIFLAS V(S)-11/24/2011 |
TEL |
5.3 |
1406 |
|
17 |
FEST CINE CANTIFLAS VI(S)-11/24/2011 |
TEL |
5.2 |
1536 |
|
18 |
FLOR SALVAJE MTW.F.. |
TEL |
5.0 |
1117 |
|
19 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN |
TF |
4.9 |
1232 |
|
20 |
GRAN ESTRENO 11/24(S)-11/24/2011 |
UNI |
4.7 |
1346 |
|
21 |
MIRA QUIEN BAILA2 GF11/24(S)-11/24/2011 |
UNI |
4.2 |
1104 |
|
22 |
ESP: FUTBOL ESTELAR 11/27(S)-11/27/2011 |
TEL |
4.0 |
961 |
|
23 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2 |
TF |
4.0 |
1050 |
|
24 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT |
TF |
3.5 |
936 |
|
25 |
PA'LANTE CON CRISTINA |
TEL |
3.4 |
699 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
7.4 |
1534 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
6.9 |
1423 |
|
3 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
6.7 |
1361 |
|
4 |
CBS NFL NATL POST GUN |
CBS |
5.8 |
1198 |
|
5 |
CBS NFL-THU POST GAME(S)-11/24/2011 |
CBS |
5.5 |
1636 |
|
6 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
4.9 |
976 |
|
7 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
4.7 |
1149 |
|
8 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
4.3 |
840 |
|
9 |
X-FACTOR-TUE SP-11/22(S)-11/22/2011 |
FOX |
4.1 |
868 |
|
10 |
MODERN FAMILY SP-11/23(S)-11/23/2011 |
ABC |
3.7 |
717 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
14.8 |
2864 |
|
2 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
11.9 |
2350 |
|
3 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
11.4 |
2070 |
|
4 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
10.3 |
1884 |
|
5 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
9.8 |
1949 |
|
6 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
9.5 |
1681 |
|
7 |
X-FACTOR-WED TKG EVE 8P |
FOX |
9.3 |
1807 |
|
8 |
X-FACTOR-TUE SP-11/22 |
FOX |
9.3 |
1813 |
|
9 |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPCL |
CBS |
8.4 |
1639 |
|
10 |
NCIS: LOS ANGELES |
CBS |
7.0 |
1283 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Viewers
Week Ending Nov. 27 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
CBS NFL SINGLE - THU-11/24/2011 |
CBS |
MIAMI AT DALLAS |
14.3 |
16440 |
30901 |
|
2 |
FOX NFL-THU-11/24/2011 |
FOX |
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT |
14.8 |
16994 |
30171 |
|
3 |
FOX NFL-THU POST GUN-11/24/2011 |
FOX |
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT |
12.6 |
14405 |
26624 |
|
4 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL-11/27/2011 |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
15.5 |
17791 |
26246 |
|
5 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL-11/27/2011 |
NBC |
PITTSBURGH AT KANSAS CITY |
12.3 |
14111 |
20344 |
|
6 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE-11/27/2011 |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
10.4 |
11889 |
17245 |
|
7 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL-11/27/2011 |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
9.9 |
11376 |
15568 |
|
8 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT-11/27/2011 |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
7.7 |
8849 |
13112 |
|
9 |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPCL-11/25/2011 |
CBS |
ARKANSAS AT LSU |
6.3 |
7217 |
10444 |
|
10 |
NATIONAL DOG SHOW-11/24/2011 |
NBC |
|
4.4 |
5030 |
8243 |
|
11 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-EARLY-11/26/2011 |
ABC |
OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN |
5.1 |
5803 |
7958 |
|
12 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2-11/26/2011 |
CBS |
ALABAMA AT AUBURN |
4.5 |
5191 |
7508 |
|
13 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL-11/26/2011 |
ABC |
NOTRE DAME AT STANFORD |
3.9 |
4466 |
6158 |
|
14 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-LATE-11/26/2011 |
ABC |
OR ST AT OR/VA TECH AT VA |
2.8 |
3214 |
4539 |
|
15 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL SP-FRI 1-11/25/2011 |
ABC |
IOWA AT NEBRASKA |
2.7 |
3102 |
4259 |
|
16 |
KALEIDOSCOPE ON ICE-11/24/2011 |
FOX |
|
2.2 |
2500 |
3952 |
|
17 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL SP-FRI 2-11/25/2011 |
ABC |
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MIAMI |
1.4 |
1593 |
2103 |
|
18 |
NBC SKATING SPCL 11/27-B-11/27/2011 |
NBC |
HOLIDAY MOMENTS |
1.3 |
1449 |
1806 |
|
19 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR-11/26/2011 |
TEL |
CHIVAS VS QUERETARO |
0.8 |
939 |
1717 |
|
20 |
NBC NHL 11/25-11/25/2011 |
NBC |
DETROIT AT BOSTON |
0.9 |
1010 |
1333 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
|
|
