Nielsen: TV viewing
rises during Q2
Other shorts: Viewers predict Emmys for 'House' and 'Idol'
By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Sep 3, 2009
Nielsen: TV viewing rises during second quarter
Viewership via alternative media devices such as DVRs and computers is growing, but it’s not addition by subtraction. While new media devices are delivering more viewers, television viewing has also risen, proving Americans simply have a huge appetite for video, no matter where it’s served. That’s according to the so-called Three Screen Report issued yesterday by Nielsen, which found that in-home TV viewing during second quarter actually rose two hours per month compared to the same period last year, a 1.5 percent increase. Time-shifted TV watching and internet video watching also jumped up, 19.5 percent and 45.5 percent, respectively, though mobile video viewing fell 10 percent from a tiny base (it was off only 22 minutes). Nielsen said consumers are demonstrating more interest in watching video overall, with no one medium cannibalizing the others.
Viewers predict Emmys for ‘House’ and ‘Idol’
Is Fox ready for a big night at this year’s 61st Annual Emmy Awards? It should be, at least in the minds of viewers. In a survey conducted earlier this week by HCD Research on MediaCurves.com, respondents said Fox’s “House” should win for best drama series, while star Hugh Laurie should win for actor in a drama series. They said “American Idol” should win for best reality competition series and host Ryan Seacrest should win for best reality competition host. In the best comedy series category, 24 percent think CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” should bring home the Emmy, although that was closely followed by NBC’s “The Office” (23 percent) and “30 Rock” (20 percent). “Brothers & Sisters” star Sally Field was viewers’ favorite for best actress in a drama series, while they think “Two and a Half Men’s” Charlie Sheen and “30 Rock’s” Tina Fey should win the comedy acting awards. Finally, for best reality series (non-competitive), 23 percent think Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” should win, while 22 percent would give the award to PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow.” The Emmys air on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Programming notes: NBC books ‘Suspect’
The British are invading NBC. The network has ordered a pilot episode of “Prime Suspect,” a series of popular UK specials that starred Helen Mirren as a detective and also aired on PBS. There’s no word yet on who will star in the U.S. version, but the pilot episode is expected to be a two-hour show. Meanwhile, in other programming, HBO has ordered a pilot of “Enlightened,” which stars Laura Dern as a woman who has a spiritual awakening. Production on the pilot is set to begin in December. MTV has picked up eight episodes of “Teen Mom,” a spinoff of “16 & Pregnant,” which will follow four girls from the latter during their first year of motherhood. Each episode of “Teen Mom” will be an hour long. Bravo will roll out the third season of “Million Dollar Listing” on Oct. 12 at 11 p.m., with the new episodes looking at real estate agents in Los Angeles as they struggle to close deals during tough economic times. And Telemundo’s sister cable network, mun2, has picked up the series “Esta Sociedad,” with the premiere scheduled for Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. The show is about two families living in Lima, Peru, and focuses on young adult issues.
The word: YouTube eyes video rentals
You’ll still be able to watch dancing brides and talking cats for free, but for those with more refined tastes, YouTube may soon be offering professional video, for a price. The Google-owned video sharing network is in talks with several studios, including Lions Gate, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., to rent their movies on the site, according to reports out last night. The site, which has already partnered with the three on archival material, would charge a fee of around $3.99 to stream the films, part of a greater plan to monetize the site’s content. Though YouTube rose on the amateur video contributions of millions, the site believes it has a better chance at attracting advertisers with professional content.
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