Yes, Fox leads,
but CBS is gaining on it
It's been narrowing the lead, last week to a 0.2
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 3, 2010
A couple weeks ago it looked as though Fox had all but locked up its sixth straight season win among adults 18-49, but CBS is keeping things interesting.
The network is a half point behind Fox for the full season but finished a close second last week and actually won the third week of January. Now, with the Super Bowl coming up, CBS is poised to make up at least a couple tenths of that gap.
Season to date through Sunday, the most recent numbers available from Nielsen, Fox is averaging a 3.6 adults 18-49 rating and 10 share to CBS's 3.1/8. ABC is well behind at 2.7/7, followed by NBC at 2.6/7.
But last week the gap between Fox and CBS was much smaller, just 0.2, with Fox taking the week with a 3.5/10.
CBS is guaranteed to win this week thanks to Sunday's Super Bowl. Last year's game averaged a 36.7 rating and boosted NBC to a dominating weekly victory, despite the generally weak state of the network's schedule.
CBS's schedule is not weak at all. It's having another strong season, with its Monday comedies and Tuesday dramas doing particularly well this year.
Monday's "The Big Bang Theory" has become one of television's top programs, and "Two and a Half Men" remains a top-10 show, while "How I Met Your Mother" consistently finishes second in its tough 8 p.m. timeslot behind "House."
Even against "American Idol," veteran Tuesday drama "NCIS" is performing very well among 18-49s. Lead-out "NCIS: Los Angeles," the top new show among total viewers, and 10 p.m. drama "The Good Wife" have already received second-season renewals.
The Super Bowl probably won't be enough to propel CBS past Fox for any length of time, but it will be interesting to see if new show "Undercover Boss," which premieres after the game, can gain any ratings traction out of that plum debut when it moves to its regular Sunday 9 p.m. timeslot.
If CBS could rebuild its Sunday 9 to 10 p.m. schedule, one of its few weaknesses, that could help it challenge Fox down the line.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Jan. 31:
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with a 3.5 average rating and a 10 share, followed by CBS at 3.3/9, ABC at 1.9/5, NBC at 1.6/4, Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.8/2, Telemundo at 0.5/1, Ion and Telefutura at 0.4/1, and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. CBS’s “Grammy Awards” 9.9; 2. Fox’s “American Idol-Wednesday” 9.5; 3. Fox’s “American Idol-Tuesday” 9.0; 4. Fox’s “House” 5.2; Tie-5. CBS’s “NCIS” and “The Big Bang Theory” 4.0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. CBS’s “Grammy Awards” 25.87 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol-Wednesday” 25.71 million; 3. Fox’s “American Idol-Tuesday” 24.45 million; 4. CBS’s “NCIS” 20.22 million; 5. CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” 16.94 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Jan. 10): 1. ABC’s “Modern Family” 1.9 increase (up 38 percent); 2. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 1.8 increase (up 32 percent); 3. CBS’s “NCIS” 1.5 increase (up 28 percent); 4. NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” 1.3 increase (up 25 percent); 5. ABC’s “Cougar Town” 1.3 increase (up 33 percent).
Show on the rise: “Grammy Awards” CBS, Sunday 8 p.m. The annual awards show averaged a 9.9 rating among viewers 18-49, up 34 percent from a 7.4 last year.
Show on the decline: “Mercy” NBC, Wednesday 8 p.m. It may be the least of NBC’s problems, but the drama slipped 36 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from a 1.4 rating to a 0.9.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 31 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.3
|
8400
|
12
|
4.1
|
12020
|
10
|
3.3
|
4310
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
5.6
|
6450
|
9
|
3.3
|
9710
|
8
|
3.5
|
4600
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
4680
|
7
|
2.2
|
6320
|
6
|
1.9
|
2510
|
5
|
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
3780
|
5
|
1.8
|
5140
|
4
|
1.6
|
2060
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2030
|
3
|
1.2
|
3500
|
3
|
1.4
|
1790
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1410
|
2
|
0.6
|
1860
|
2
|
0.8
|
1120
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.8
|
970
|
1
|
0.5
|
1330
|
1
|
0.4
|
540
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
640
|
1
|
0.4
|
1100
|
1
|
0.5
|
650
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
540
|
1
|
0.3
|
990
|
1
|
0.4
|
540
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
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 31 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.3
|
8370
|
12
|
4.0
|
11800
|
10
|
3.1
|
4090
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.8
|
6650
|
9
|
3.4
|
9860
|
8
|
3.6
|
4800
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
5.5
|
6380
|
9
|
3.0
|
8830
|
8
|
2.7
|
3560
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.7
|
5430
|
8
|
2.6
|
7610
|
7
|
2.6
|
3430
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2060
|
3
|
1.2
|
3510
|
3
|
1.3
|
1770
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.3
|
1530
|
2
|
0.7
|
2020
|
2
|
0.9
|
1240
|
3
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
770
|
1
|
0.3
|
1020
|
1
|
0.3
|
400
|
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
|
120
|
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 31 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
GRAMMY AWARDS(S)
|
CBS
|
14.3
|
23
|
16450
|
1
|
8.9
|
25869
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.0
|
22
|
16033
|
2
|
8.8
|
25710
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
13.6
|
21
|
15610
|
3
|
8.4
|
24452
|
|
4
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
12.2
|
19
|
14062
|
4
|
6.9
|
20221
|
|
5
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
10.4
|
16
|
11897
|
5
|
5.8
|
16942
|
|
6
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
8.5
|
13
|
9732
|
6
|
4.9
|
14213
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
7.7
|
12
|
8816
|
7
|
4.2
|
12328
|
|
7
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
7.7
|
11
|
8800
|
9
|
4.1
|
12069
|
|
9
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
7.4
|
11
|
8544
|
10
|
3.9
|
11470
|
|
10
|
BONES
|
FOX
|
7.3
|
12
|
8363
|
7
|
4.2
|
12331
|
|
11
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
7.1
|
11
|
8211
|
10
|
3.9
|
11500
|
|
12
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
7.0
|
12
|
8053
|
13
|
3.8
|
11068
|
|
13
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
6.9
|
10
|
7952
|
10
|
3.9
|
11437
|
|
14
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
6.8
|
12
|
7866
|
15
|
3.6
|
10551
|
|
15
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
6.7
|
12
|
7695
|
16
|
3.4
|
10016
|
|
16
|
24
|
FOX
|
6.4
|
10
|
7398
|
14
|
3.7
|
10814
|
|
17
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
6.3
|
11
|
7268
|
17
|
3.3
|
9548
|
|
18
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
9
|
6743
|
17
|
3.3
|
9708
|
|
19
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
9
|
6671
|
20
|
3.1
|
9145
|
|
20
|
20/20-FRI
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
10
|
6407
|
25
|
2.8
|
8080
|
|
21
|
HUMAN TARGET SP-1/26 9P(S)
|
FOX
|
5.5
|
9
|
6277
|
19
|
3.2
|
9261
|
|
21
|
NUMB3RS
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
10
|
6270
|
22
|
3.0
|
8713
|
|
23
|
FRINGE
|
FOX
|
5.2
|
8
|
5991
|
20
|
3.1
|
8980
|
|
24
|
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P
|
ABC
|
5.1
|
8
|
5819
|
23
|
2.9
|
8542
|
|
24
|
DATELINE FRI
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
9
|
5810
|
30
|
2.5
|
7418
|
|
24
|
BROTHERS & SISTERS
|
ABC
|
5.1
|
9
|
5911
|
29
|
2.6
|
7654
|
|
24
|
STATE-UNION ANALYSIS-NBC(S)
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
8
|
5889
|
25
|
2.8
|
8283
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending January 31 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
GRAMMY AWARDS(S)
|
CBS
|
9.9
|
12966
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
9.5
|
12505
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
9.0
|
11888
|
|
4
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.2
|
6821
|
|
5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
4.0
|
5328
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
4.0
|
5244
|
|
7
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
3.9
|
5192
|
|
8
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
3.8
|
4959
|
|
8
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4965
|
|
10
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
3.7
|
4840
|
|
10
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
4885
|
|
12
|
BONES
|
FOX
|
3.6
|
4689
|
|
13
|
24
|
FOX
|
3.4
|
4471
|
|
14
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
4200
|
|
15
|
HUMAN TARGET SP-1/26 9P(S)
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
4041
|
|
16
|
FRINGE
|
FOX
|
3.0
|
4001
|
|
16
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
3.0
|
4010
|
|
18
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
2.6
|
3402
|
|
19
|
CHUCK
|
NBC
|
2.5
|
3292
|
|
19
|
AMERICAN DAD
|
FOX
|
2.5
|
3249
|
|
21
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
2.4
|
3098
|
|
21
|
SORTILEGIO THU
|
UNI
|
2.4
|
3117
|
|
21
|
BROTHERS & SISTERS
|
ABC
|
2.4
|
3110
|
|
24
|
AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS
|
ABC
|
2.3
|
2995
|
|
24
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
2.3
|
2988
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 24 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
SORTILEGIO M-F
|
UNI
|
21.2
|
4905
|
|
2
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE MON
|
UNI
|
17.9
|
4159
|
|
3
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
17.3
|
3754
|
|
4
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE TUE
|
UNI
|
17.2
|
3719
|
|
5
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE WED
|
UNI
|
16.3
|
3614
|
|
6
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
15.4
|
3160
|
|
7
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE THU
|
UNI
|
15.3
|
3504
|
|
8
|
HASTA DINERO SEPARE FRI
|
UNI
|
15.1
|
3298
|
|
9
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
14.4
|
2991
|
|
10
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
13.8
|
3091
|
|
11
|
ROSA
DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
12.0
|
2714
|
|
12
|
CINE ESPECIAL SUN 7PM
|
UNI
|
10.8
|
2588
|
|
13
|
MUJERES ASESINAS 2GAL1/24(S)-01/24/2010
|
UNI
|
10.3
|
2295
|
|
14
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
6.5
|
1388
|
|
15
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
5.1
|
1424
|
|
15
|
VECINOS M-F
|
TF
|
5.1
|
1281
|
|
17
|
FIESTA DE PELICULA THR
|
TF
|
4.9
|
1231
|
|
18
|
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F
|
TF
|
4.6
|
1036
|
|
19
|
PERRO AMOR W
|
TEL
|
4.4
|
954
|
|
20
|
PERRO AMOR R
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
971
|
|
20
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
TF
|
4.3
|
1110
|
|
22
|
PERRO AMOR T
|
TEL
|
4.1
|
821
|
|
23
|
PERRO AMOR M
|
TEL
|
4.0
|
913
|
|
24
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
863
|
|
24
|
PERRO AMOR F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
834
|
|
1
|
SORTILEGIO M-F
|
UNI
|
21.2
|
4905
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 24 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP(S)-01/24/2010
|
FOX
|
18.1
|
3904
|
|
2
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST(S)-01/24/2010
|
FOX
|
8.7
|
1803
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
8.3
|
1802
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
7.5
|
1571
|
|
5
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
4.3
|
789
|
|
6
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
635
|
|
7
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
3.7
|
649
|
|
8
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
732
|
|
9
|
COPS 2
|
FOX
|
3.4
|
628
|
|
9
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
3.4
|
564
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 24
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
|
FOX
|
31.6
|
6769
|
|
2
|
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST
|
FOX
|
18.4
|
3877
|
|
3
|
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
|
FOX
|
15.0
|
3264
|
|
4
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
14.9
|
3074
|
|
5
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
1583
|
|
6
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
1766
|
|
7
|
24
|
FOX
|
8.3
|
1565
|
|
8
|
HUMAN TARGET PRM ENC 1/19
|
FOX
|
8.3
|
1796
|
|
9
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
8.3
|
1539
|
|
10
|
PRIVATE PRACTICE
|
ABC
|
8.0
|
1404
|
|
* 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 24 |
|
# |
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 |
|
|
|
