Women's figure skating is by far the biggest draw in the Winter Olympics, but NBC has to be wondering just how big it will be this year after star skater Sasha Cohen's comeback bid failed at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Cohen, the 2006 Torino Games silver medalist who just came out of retirement, placed fourth in the weekend competition, failing to earn one of the two spots on the 2010 Olympic team. She was by far the biggest star competing in the championships.
Interest in Cohen's return boosted NBC's figure skating to decent primetime numbers on Saturday and Sunday. From 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday, the championships averaged a 3.4 Nielsen household rating, nearly double the average for the short program last year, when it aired during the day.
On Sunday, NBC's figure skating averaged a 2.5 from 9 to 11 despite airing opposite the most-watched NFC title game in nearly three decades on Fox.
That was down slightly from last year's 2.7 for the long program, which did not air against NFL competition.
Both numbers were well up from the pre-Olympics 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which aired on ESPN2.
Still, Cohen's presence no doubt drove some of those ratings. While figure skating has an extremely loyal fan base, casual viewers generally only tune in when there's a big name competing, such as Cohen or the now-retired Michelle Kwan.
And viewers love a comeback story. Cohen was in a three-way battle for the Olympic spots heading into Sunday's long program.
The effect of her absence on ratings for next month's Vancouver Games is unclear. NBC will need to start marketing the relatively unknown teens who are representing the U.S., Mirai Nagasu and Rachael Flatt, immediately in order to endear them to viewers by the time the games begin.
But mostly viewership will depend on their performance. If either is in contention for a medal, ratings should rise accordingly.
The two nights of women's figure skating during the 2006 Games averaged just over 25 million total viewers, by far the biggest two nights of the Olympics.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Jan. 24:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with an 8.8 average rating and a 23 share, followed by CBS at 2.4/6, ABC at 2.1/6, NBC at 1.7/4, Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.8/2, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.5/1, Ion at 0.4/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. Fox’s “NFC Championship” 21.3; 2. Fox’s “American Idol-Tuesday” 10.1; 3. Fox’s “American Idol-Wednesday” 9.9; 4. Fox’s “NFC Championship Postgame” 9.5; Tie-5. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory” 5.3.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. Fox’s “NFC Championship” 57.93 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol-Wednesday” 26.85 million; 3. Fox’s “American Idol-Tuesday” 26.38 million; 4. Fox’s “NFC Championship Postgame” 23.83 million; 5. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” 16.31 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Jan. 3): 1. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 1.6 increase (up 27 percent); 2. Fox’s “Family Guy” 1.4 increase (up 30 percent); 3. ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters” 1.0 increase (up 24 percent); 4. Fox’s “The Simpsons” 0.8 increase (up 18 percent); 5. Fox’s “The Cleveland Show” 0.6 increase (up 17 percent).
Show on the rise: “NFC Championship” Fox, Sunday 6:40 p.m. The New Orleans Saints’ 31-28 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings averaged 57.9 million total viewers, the most since the 1982 NFC title game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
Show on the decline: “CSI” CBS, Thursday 9 p.m. The long-running show slipped to a series-low 3.1.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 24 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
FOX
|
13.3
|
15250
|
21
|
8.4
|
24400
|
20
|
8.8
|
11590
|
23
|
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
6950
|
10
|
3.3
|
9550
|
8
|
2.4
|
3100
|
|
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
4690
|
7
|
2.2
|
6310
|
5
|
2.1
|
2730
|
6
|
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
3830
|
5
|
1.8
|
5260
|
4
|
1.7
|
2170
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2090
|
3
|
1.2
|
3630
|
3
|
1.4
|
1870
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1400
|
2
|
0.7
|
1920
|
2
|
0.8
|
1100
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.8
|
880
|
1
|
0.4
|
1170
|
1
|
0.4
|
490
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
600
|
1
|
0.4
|
1130
|
1
|
0.5
|
640
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
560
|
1
|
0.3
|
960
|
1
|
0.5
|
590
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
160
|
0
|
0.1
|
240
|
0
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 24 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.2
|
8330
|
12
|
4.0
|
11720
|
10
|
3.1
|
4050
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.8
|
6610
|
9
|
3.4
|
9790
|
8
|
3.6
|
4760
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
6430
|
9
|
3.1
|
8910
|
8
|
2.7
|
3590
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.8
|
5500
|
8
|
2.6
|
7710
|
7
|
2.6
|
3480
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2060
|
3
|
1.2
|
3500
|
3
|
1.3
|
1770
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.3
|
1540
|
2
|
0.7
|
2030
|
2
|
0.9
|
1250
|
3
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
750
|
1
|
0.3
|
1000
|
1
|
0.3
|
390
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
610
|
1
|
0.4
|
1050
|
1
|
0.5
|
630
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
530
|
1
|
0.3
|
960
|
1
|
0.4
|
560
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
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 January 24 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP(S)
|
FOX
|
30.6
|
45
|
35154
|
1
|
19.8
|
57933
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.6
|
23
|
16773
|
2
|
9.2
|
26854
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.4
|
22
|
16575
|
3
|
9.0
|
26384
|
|
4
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST(S)
|
FOX
|
13.4
|
22
|
15343
|
4
|
8.2
|
23833
|
|
5
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
14
|
11010
|
5
|
5.6
|
16310
|
|
6
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
9.3
|
16
|
10648
|
8
|
5.0
|
14557
|
|
7
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
9.0
|
14
|
10319
|
9
|
4.9
|
14187
|
|
7
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
9.0
|
14
|
10383
|
7
|
5.1
|
14913
|
|
9
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
8.8
|
14
|
10127
|
9
|
4.9
|
14287
|
|
10
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
13
|
10051
|
6
|
5.2
|
15046
|
|
11
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
15
|
9869
|
11
|
4.6
|
13539
|
|
12
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
8.2
|
13
|
9466
|
13
|
4.3
|
12699
|
|
12
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.2
|
14
|
9385
|
12
|
4.5
|
13218
|
|
14
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
7.9
|
12
|
9035
|
14
|
4.2
|
12340
|
|
15
|
BONES
|
FOX
|
7.2
|
11
|
8241
|
15
|
4.1
|
11968
|
|
16
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
6.7
|
10
|
7711
|
17
|
3.7
|
10660
|
|
17
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
6.6
|
11
|
7585
|
22
|
3.3
|
9637
|
|
18
|
24
|
FOX
|
6.4
|
10
|
7363
|
16
|
3.8
|
11106
|
|
19
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
6.3
|
11
|
7198
|
24
|
3.2
|
9412
|
|
20
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
6.2
|
9
|
7073
|
18
|
3.6
|
10413
|
|
21
|
HUMAN TARGET
|
FOX
|
6.0
|
10
|
6946
|
18
|
3.6
|
10456
|
|
21
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
10
|
6933
|
24
|
3.2
|
9476
|
|
23
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
5.9
|
9
|
6757
|
20
|
3.4
|
9829
|
|
24
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
5.8
|
9
|
6659
|
20
|
3.4
|
9947
|
|
25
|
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
|
CBS
|
5.6
|
8
|
6469
|
22
|
3.3
|
9561
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending January 24 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP(S)
|
FOX
|
21.3
|
27976
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
10.1
|
13303
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
9.9
|
12962
|
|
4
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST(S)
|
FOX
|
9.5
|
12442
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
6961
|
|
5
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
6986
|
|
7
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
4.7
|
6144
|
|
8
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
5563
|
|
8
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
4.2
|
5498
|
|
10
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
4.1
|
5354
|
|
11
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
4.0
|
5223
|
|
12
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
3.8
|
5065
|
|
13
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4844
|
|
14
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
3.6
|
4792
|
|
14
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
3.6
|
4714
|
|
16
|
24
|
FOX
|
3.5
|
4559
|
|
16
|
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4569
|
|
16
|
BONES
|
FOX
|
3.5
|
4668
|
|
16
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4648
|
|
20
|
COUGAR
TOWN
|
ABC
|
3.4
|
4488
|
|
20
|
HUMAN TARGET
|
FOX
|
3.4
|
4419
|
|
22
|
HUMAN TARGET PRM ENC 1/19(S)
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
4292
|
|
23
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
3.1
|
4129
|
|
23
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.1
|
4090
|
|
25
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3741
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
SORTILEGIO M-F
|
UNI
|
20.2
|
4725
|
|
2
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
18.2
|
4113
|
|
3
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
16.8
|
3601
|
|
4
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
14.9
|
3073
|
|
5
|
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
|
UNI
|
14.1
|
3156
|
|
6
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
13.9
|
2747
|
|
7
|
NOT UNI PRST D
HAITI 1/15(S)-01/15/2010
|
UNI
|
12.9
|
3135
|
|
8
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
12.1
|
2579
|
|
9
|
CINE ESPECIAL SUN 8PM
|
UNI
|
11.7
|
2724
|
|
10
|
ROSA
DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
10.7
|
2377
|
|
11
|
PRIMER IMPACTO EE 2 1/17(S)-01/17/2010
|
UNI
|
9.4
|
2040
|
|
12
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
|
UNI
|
9.3
|
2054
|
|
13
|
HORA PICO SUN
|
UNI
|
8.5
|
1874
|
|
14
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
6.3
|
1474
|
|
15
|
PERRO AMOR M
|
TEL
|
5.4
|
1324
|
|
15
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
5.4
|
1372
|
|
17
|
PERRO AMOR T
|
TEL
|
4.9
|
1061
|
|
18
|
PERRO AMOR F
|
TEL
|
4.6
|
1010
|
|
18
|
PERRO AMOR W
|
TEL
|
4.6
|
1124
|
|
20
|
VECINOS M-F
|
TF
|
4.5
|
1171
|
|
21
|
PERRO AMOR R
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
955
|
|
22
|
VICTORINOS M-F
|
TEL
|
4.2
|
1026
|
|
23
|
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F
|
TF
|
4.0
|
943
|
|
24
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
860
|
|
24
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
946
|
|
24
|
VEREDICTO FINAL M-F
|
TF
|
3.9
|
765
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA(S)-01/16/2010
|
CBS
|
9.5
|
1927
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.8
|
1883
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.5
|
1862
|
|
4
|
AFC DIV-PLF-POST-GAME-SU(S)-01/17/2010
|
CBS
|
8.1
|
1787
|
|
5
|
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS(S)-01/17/2010
|
NBC
|
7.4
|
1606
|
|
6
|
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SA PST GM(S)-01/16/2010
|
FOX
|
5.0
|
952
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
912
|
|
8
|
CBS NFL TODAY-SAT-DIV-PLF(S)-01/16/2010
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
947
|
|
9
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
844
|
|
10
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
664
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 17
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA
|
CBS
|
19.7
|
4103
|
|
2
|
AFC DIV-PLF-POST-GAME-SU
|
CBS
|
17.3
|
3633
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
16.6
|
3542
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
16.1
|
3215
|
|
5
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
11.3
|
2240
|
|
6
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
1912
|
|
7
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
1773
|
|
8
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
9.2
|
1666
|
|
9
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
1645
|
|
10
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
8.8
|
1562
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 17 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SUN-01/17/2010
|
FOX
|
DALLAS
AT
MINNESOTA
|
22
|
44
|
25311
|
37669
|
|
2 |
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SU-01/17/2010
|
CBS
|
NY JETS AT
SAN DIEGO
|
20.1
|
35
|
23146
|
35627
|
|
3 |
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA-01/16/2010
|
CBS
|
BALTIMORE
AT
INDIANAPOLIS
|
17
|
29
|
19511
|
30569
|
|
4 |
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SU PST GN-01/17/2010
|
FOX
|
DALLAS
AT
MINNESOTA
|
16.6
|
32
|
19061
|
28357
|
|
5 |
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SAT-01/16/2010
|
FOX
|
ARIZONA
AT
NEW ORLEANS
|
16.1
|
32
|
18446
|
27910
|
|
6 |
FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SA PST GN-01/16/2010
|
FOX
|
ARIZONA
AT
NEW ORLEANS
|
10.6
|
20
|
12212
|
18825
|
|
7 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/16/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
725
|
1002
|
|
8 |
NBC NHL-01/17/2010
|
NBC
|
CHICAGO
AT
DETROIT
|
0.7
|
1
|
769
|
996
|
|
9 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SUN-1-01/17/2010
|
CBS
|
UCONN AT
MICHIGAN
|
0.6
|
1
|
657
|
790
|
|
10 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR II-01/16/2010
|
TEL
|
CHIVAS VS
TOLUCA
|
0.4
|
1
|
465
|
773
|
|
11 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT-2-01/16/2010
|
CBS
|
ILLINOIS
AT
MICHIGAN
STATE
|
0.6
|
1
|
636
|
742
|
|
12 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/11/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
635
|
662
|
|
13 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/14/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
587
|
628
|
|
14 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/15/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
2
|
599
|
624
|
|
15 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/13/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
578
|
618
|
|
16 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-01/12/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
606
|
568
|
|
17 |
WWE - RAW-01/17/2010
|
TEL
|
|
0.2
|
0
|
265
|
473
|
|
18 |
FLM SUN 2-01/17/2010
|
AZA
|
SANTOS
VS MONARCAS
|
0.2
|
0
|
245
|
444
|
|
19 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR-01/16/2010
|
TEL
|
MONTERREY
VS INDIOS
|
0.2
|
0
|
280
|
398
|
|
20 |
FUTBOL ESTELAR III-01/16/2010
|
TEL
|
ATLANTE VS
QUERETARO
|
0.2
|
0
|
236
|
396
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
