What's hot again:
Awards shows
All the big specials are up in ratings this year
By Toni Fitzgerald
Sep 1, 2010
It seems that after a long decline awards shows are finally on the upswing again, with strong viewership for Sunday's Emmys continuing a trend that began in January with the Golden Globe awards and continued with the Grammys and Academy Awards.
Sunday's ceremony on NBC was the most-watched primetime Emmy ceremony since 2006, drawing 13.5 million total viewers, up slightly over last year's 13.47 million.
Granted, it was only a small boost, but it was significant considering this year's show did not have a huge NFL lead-in, as last year's on CBS did, and that this year's show aired three weeks before the Emmys traditionally air, on the eve of the new season.
But the viewer bump can also be attributed to the fact that people generally seem more interested in awards shows this year. The Globes were up by 2 million viewers, to 16.9 million, while the Grammys gained an amazing 6 million, owing mostly to a tribute to the late Michael Jackson.
And February's Academy Awards drew their biggest audience in five years, 41.3 million.
One reason for the bounce-back of awards shows is certainly the improved presentation of the shows themselves. The hosts of this year's programs, from the Oscars' Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to the Globes' Ricky Gervais to the Emmys' Jimmy Fallon, made the shows a must-see not just for the results but for the entertainment.
Gervais was unpredictable. Martin and Baldwin were wry. Fallon had so much energy that at times it seemed like he was about to buzz off the stage and fly around the auditorium. That was in sharp contrast to past years, when people like Chris Rock, Ryan Seacrest and the disastrous five reality show hosts were listless or dull.
But having quality movies and performances up for trophies also helps. This year's crop of Emmy nominees was universally acknowledged as among the strongest in recent years, from the final season of "Lost" to new ingénues "Glee" and "Modern Family" to the always-superlative "Mad Men." The Oscars had a similar depth of talent, with stunning acting in "Precious" and the technological achievement of "Avatar."
Finally, awards shows may be doing better simply because broadcast ratings overall have been up slightly, which helps boost awareness for the shows, as more people see the promos.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Aug. 29:
Among adults 18-49, Fox, CBS and NBC all tied for first, each with a 1.8 average rating and a 6 share, Univision at 1.4/5, ABC at 1.3/4, Telemundo and Ion at 0.4/1, TeleFutura and CW at 0.3/1, and Estrella and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC's "Emmy Awards" 4.1; 2. Fox's "NFL Preseason" 3.7; 3. NBC's "America's Got Talent-Tuesday" 3.1; Tie-4. CBS's "Big Brother-Sunday," and "Big Brother-Wednesday" and "The Big Bang Theory" 2.8.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC's "Emmy Awards" 13.5 million; 2. NBC's "America's Got Talent-Tuesday" 10.8 million; 3. NBC's "America's Got Talent-Wednesday" 10.52 million; 4. Fox's "NFL Preseason" 10.13 million; 5. CBS's "NCIS" 9.19 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live versus Live+7 playback, week ended Aug. 15): 1. Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" 1.3 increase (up 34 percent); 2. CBS's "Big Brother-Wednesday" 1.0 increase (up 37 percent); 3. CBS's "Big Brother-Thursday" 1.0 increase (up 37 percent); 4. Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance-Wednesday" 1.0 increase (up 38 percent); 5. Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance-Thursday" 0.9 increase (up 33 percent).
Show on the rise: "CSI: Miami" CBS, Monday 10 p.m. A repeat of the drama posted a 1.6 among 18-49s, up 33 percent from a 1.2 the previous week.
Show on the decline: "20/20" ABC, Friday 10 p.m. The newsmagazine slipped 21 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from a 1.4 rating to a 1.1.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 29 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
4820
|
8
|
2.3
|
6620
|
7
|
1.8
|
2340
|
6
|
|
NBC
|
4.0
|
4620
|
7
|
2.2
|
6370
|
6
|
1.8
|
2400
|
6
|
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
3590
|
6
|
1.7
|
5060
|
5
|
1.8
|
2430
|
6
|
|
ABC
|
2.7
|
3140
|
5
|
1.5
|
4300
|
4
|
1.3
|
1750
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2020
|
3
|
1.2
|
3500
|
3
|
1.4
|
1880
|
5
|
|
ION
|
0.9
|
1070
|
2
|
0.5
|
1410
|
1
|
0.4
|
480
|
1
|
|
CW
|
0.6
|
670
|
1
|
0.3
|
910
|
1
|
0.3
|
460
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
560
|
1
|
0.3
|
900
|
1
|
0.4
|
520
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
350
|
1
|
0.2
|
630
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 149
million homes
Source: Nielsen
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 29 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
6.4
|
7340
|
11
|
3.5
|
10340
|
9
|
2.7
|
3540
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
5890
|
9
|
3.0
|
8720
|
8
|
3.2
|
4220
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
4.9
|
5680
|
8
|
2.7
|
7850
|
7
|
2.5
|
3240
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.6
|
5300
|
8
|
2.6
|
7480
|
7
|
2.4
|
3160
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2030
|
3
|
1.2
|
3480
|
3
|
1.4
|
1810
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1320
|
2
|
0.6
|
1760
|
2
|
0.8
|
1050
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
810
|
1
|
0.4
|
1070
|
1
|
0.3
|
400
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
640
|
1
|
0.4
|
1070
|
1
|
0.5
|
640
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
510
|
1
|
0.3
|
900
|
1
|
0.4
|
530
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
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
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
EMMY AWARDS(S)
|
NBC
|
8.4
|
14
|
9599
|
1
|
4.6
|
13503
|
|
2
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
6.5
|
11
|
7468
|
2
|
3.7
|
10795
|
|
3
|
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 3(S)
|
FOX
|
6.1
|
10
|
7052
|
4
|
3.5
|
10127
|
|
3
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-WED
|
NBC
|
6.1
|
10
|
7039
|
3
|
3.6
|
10524
|
|
5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
5.9
|
10
|
6759
|
5
|
3.1
|
9190
|
|
6
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
11
|
6634
|
6
|
3.0
|
8737
|
|
7
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
9
|
6289
|
7
|
2.9
|
8393
|
|
8
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
8
|
6068
|
7
|
2.9
|
8359
|
|
9
|
BIG BROTHER 12-WED
|
CBS
|
4.7
|
8
|
5365
|
9
|
2.7
|
7990
|
|
10
|
BIG BROTHER 12-THU
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
8
|
5252
|
9
|
2.7
|
7874
|
|
10
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
8
|
5279
|
13
|
2.4
|
6961
|
|
12
|
BIG BROTHER 12-SUN
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
8
|
5196
|
9
|
2.7
|
7796
|
|
13
|
WIPEOUT-TUES
|
ABC
|
4.4
|
8
|
4999
|
9
|
2.7
|
7983
|
|
14
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
7
|
4947
|
15
|
2.2
|
6474
|
|
14
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
8
|
4991
|
14
|
2.3
|
6623
|
|
16
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
7
|
4869
|
15
|
2.2
|
6376
|
|
17
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
4.1
|
7
|
4683
|
19
|
2.1
|
6123
|
|
18
|
NFL PRE-SEASON FTBLL(S)
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
8
|
4516
|
15
|
2.2
|
6441
|
|
18
|
MINUTE TO WIN IT-WED
|
NBC
|
3.9
|
7
|
4457
|
15
|
2.2
|
6441
|
|
18
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
7
|
4483
|
19
|
2.1
|
6119
|
|
21
|
NFL ON FOX PRESN PRE-KIC3(S)
|
FOX
|
3.8
|
7
|
4375
|
19
|
2.1
|
6129
|
|
21
|
MINUTE TO WIN IT-TUE
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
7
|
4360
|
19
|
2.1
|
6181
|
|
21
|
BACHELOR PAD
|
ABC
|
3.8
|
6
|
4349
|
25
|
2.0
|
5761
|
|
21
|
MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
6
|
4390
|
19
|
2.1
|
6062
|
|
25
|
NFL PRE-SEASON(S)
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
7
|
4243
|
25
|
2.0
|
5938
|
|
25
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
7
|
4290
|
28
|
1.9
|
5475
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Aug. 29 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
EMMY AWARDS(S)
|
NBC
|
4.1
|
5453
|
|
2
|
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 3(S)
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4934
|
|
3
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
3.1
|
4078
|
|
4
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
2.8
|
3633
|
|
4
|
BIG BROTHER 12-SUN
|
CBS
|
2.8
|
3691
|
|
4
|
BIG BROTHER 12-WED
|
CBS
|
2.8
|
3719
|
|
7
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-WED
|
NBC
|
2.7
|
3538
|
|
7
|
BIG BROTHER 12-THU
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3559
|
|
7
|
WIPEOUT-TUES
|
ABC
|
2.7
|
3603
|
|
10
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
2.4
|
3116
|
|
11
|
SOY TU DUENA THU
|
UNI
|
2.3
|
3053
|
|
11
|
SOY TU DUENA WED
|
UNI
|
2.3
|
2966
|
|
13
|
MASTERCHEF
|
FOX
|
2.2
|
2854
|
|
13
|
NFL ON FOX PRESN PRE-KIC3(S)
|
FOX
|
2.2
|
2893
|
|
13
|
NFL PRE-SEASON FTBLL(S)
|
CBS
|
2.2
|
2862
|
|
13
|
SOY TU DUENA MON
|
UNI
|
2.2
|
2855
|
|
13
|
SOY TU DUENA TUE
|
UNI
|
2.2
|
2850
|
|
18
|
SOY TU DUENA FRI
|
UNI
|
2.1
|
2828
|
|
19
|
BACHELOR PAD
|
ABC
|
2.0
|
2631
|
|
20
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE MON
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2544
|
|
20
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE THU
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2506
|
|
20
|
MINUTE TO WIN IT-TUE
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2470
|
|
20
|
MINUTE TO WIN IT-WED
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2469
|
|
20
|
MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT.(S)
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2546
|
|
20
|
WIPEOUT-THURS
|
ABC
|
1.9
|
2496
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 22 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
SOY TU DUENA M-F
|
UNI
|
22.2
|
5327
|
|
2
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE M-F
|
UNI
|
19.4
|
4692
|
|
3
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
16.6
|
3545
|
|
4
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
14.6
|
3022
|
|
5
|
ROSA
DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
14.5
|
3376
|
|
6
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
12.8
|
2702
|
|
7
|
LLENA DE AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
11.3
|
2479
|
|
7
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
11.3
|
2340
|
|
9
|
VIDAS PARALELAS 8/21(S)-08/21/2010
|
UNI
|
7.7
|
1350
|
|
10
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
7.4
|
1780
|
|
10
|
DESAFIO GRAN BATALLA SUN
|
UNI
|
7.4
|
1553
|
|
12
|
MUJERES ASESINAS SUN
|
UNI
|
6.6
|
1236
|
|
13
|
HORA PICO SUN
|
UNI
|
5.9
|
1182
|
|
14
|
CLON M-F
|
TEL
|
4.8
|
1024
|
|
15
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
TF
|
4.7
|
1102
|
|
16
|
FANTASMA DE ELENA M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
786
|
|
16
|
DIOSA CORONADA M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
802
|
|
18
|
ROSARIO TIJERAS M-F
|
TF
|
3.8
|
988
|
|
19
|
CARTEL II -M-F
|
TEL
|
3.7
|
744
|
|
20
|
FUTBOL ESTELAR II
|
TEL
|
3.3
|
733
|
|
21
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
3.1
|
718
|
|
22
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
2.5
|
571
|
|
23
|
CINE EN CASA
|
TEL
|
2.4
|
527
|
|
24
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT
|
TF
|
2.3
|
517
|
|
25
|
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F
|
TF
|
2.0
|
418
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 22 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL PRE-SEASON 8/22(S)-08/22/2010
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
700
|
|
2
|
WIPEOUT-TUES
|
ABC
|
3.5
|
770
|
|
3
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-WED
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
631
|
|
4
|
WIPEOUT-THURS
|
ABC
|
3.2
|
816
|
|
5
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
3.1
|
583
|
|
5
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
3.1
|
552
|
|
7
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.0
|
489
|
|
8
|
AMW:
AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
|
FOX
|
2.9
|
721
|
|
8
|
FAMILY GUY-SUN 9:30P
|
FOX
|
2.9
|
601
|
|
8
|
NBC NFL PRE-SSN PRKCK8/22(S)-08/22/2010
|
NBC
|
2.9
|
480
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 22
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL PRE-SEASON 8/22
|
NBC
|
9.8
|
1803
|
|
2
|
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 2
|
FOX
|
7.8
|
1458
|
|
3
|
NBC NFL PRE-SSN PRKCK8/22
|
NBC
|
7.0
|
1271
|
|
4
|
NFL ON FOX PRESEASON 1
|
FOX
|
6.9
|
1326
|
|
5
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
5.9
|
931
|
|
6
|
WIPEOUT-TUES
|
ABC
|
5.7
|
1320
|
|
7
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
887
|
|
8
|
NFL ON FOX PRESN PST GUN1
|
FOX
|
5.5
|
953
|
|
9
|
NFL ON FOX PRESN PRE-KIC1
|
FOX
|
5.5
|
1029
|
|
10
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
5.3
|
1139
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 15 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS-SUN-08/15/2010
|
CBS
|
|
4.3
|
10
|
4954
|
6511
|
|
2 |
PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS-SAT-08/14/2010
|
CBS
|
|
2.8
|
7
|
3259
|
4085
|
|
3 |
JUEGO BICENTENARIO 8/11-08/11/2010
|
UNI
|
MEXICO
VS ESPANA
|
1.5
|
4
|
1719
|
3173
|
|
4 |
DUELO DE GIGANTES 8/10-08/10/2010
|
UNI
|
ESTADOS UNIDOS VS BRASIL
|
1.4
|
2
|
1620
|
2807
|
|
5 |
FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-08/14/2010
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
1.7
|
4
|
1990
|
2583
|
|
6 |
US GYMNASTICS CHAMP-PRIME-08/14/2010
|
NBC
|
|
1.5
|
3
|
1707
|
2275
|
|
7 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN-08/15/2010
|
UNI
|
AMERICA
VS ATLAS
|
0.6
|
1
|
725
|
1184
|
|
8 |
NBC ACTION SPORTS TOUR-SU-08/15/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
1
|
673
|
912
|
|
9 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/12/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.7
|
3
|
755
|
854
|
|
10 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/11/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
669
|
771
|
|
11 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/13/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
675
|
770
|
|
12 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/09/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
3
|
628
|
726
|
|
13 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 8/15-08/15/2010
|
NBC
|
GYMNASTICS
|
0.5
|
1
|
619
|
711
|
|
14 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/10/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.6
|
3
|
698
|
690
|
|
15 |
CBS AUTO RACING-AMR LEMNS-08/15/2010
|
CBS
|
PORSCHE AT MID-OHIO
|
0.5
|
1
|
554
|
688
|
|
16 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 8/14-08/14/2010
|
NBC
|
MOTOCROSS
|
0.4
|
1
|
502
|
671
|
|
17 |
NBC ACTION SPORTS TOUR-SA-08/14/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.5
|
1
|
524
|
659
|
|
18 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-08/14/2010
|
NBC
|
|
0.4
|
2
|
498
|
609
|
|
19 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SAT-08/14/2010
|
TF
|
SANTOS
VS JAGUARES
|
0.3
|
1
|
339
|
585
|
|
20 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT-08/14/2010
|
TF
|
SAN LUIS VS MONARCAS
|
0.3
|
1
|
288
|
476
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
|
|
