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Fox's World Series
sinks competition

A number of shows hit season lows opposite baseball

By Toni Fitzgerald
Nov 5, 2009

With the New York Yankees clinching their first World Series title in years on Fox, the competition suffered last night.

A number of programs, including ABC's "Cougar Town," CBS's "Criminal Minds" and NBC's "The Jay Leno Show," hit season lows as Fox's ratings soared.

"Cougar" averaged a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating at 9:30 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off 16 percent from last week and a new low for the first-year hit series. "Minds," which usually wins the 9 p.m. slot, slipped 16 percent from its most recent original episode two weeks ago as well, averaging a season-low 3.2.

And "Leno" posted its lowest Wednesday average of the season, a 1.3, one night after posting his best rating in four weeks.

In fact, nearly every show on broadcast was off from its most recent outing, save for CBS's "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and the CW's "America's Next Top Model," both of which skew heavily female.

"Christine" was up 5 percent from its most recent episode two weeks ago, averaging a 2.1. And "Model" hit a season high in 18-49s (1.7), as well as women 18-49 (2.6) and women 18-34 (2.9).

***

Fox was first for the night among 18-49s with a 6.9 average overnight rating and an 18 share. CBS was second at 2.7/7, ABC third at 2.1/6, NBC fourth at 1.8/5, Univision fifth at 1.4/4 and CW sixth at 1.2/3.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-three percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

Also, ratings for Fox’s World Series coverage are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data.

At 8 p.m. Fox was first with a 6.9 for the World Series, followed by CBS with a 2.0 for “Christine” (2.1) and “Gary Unmarried” (2.0). ABC, NBC and CW all tied for third at 1.7, ABC for “Hank” (1.4) and “The Middle” (2.0), NBC for “Mercy” and CW for “Model,” with Univision sixth with a 1.4 for “El Nombre del Amor.”

Fox was first again at 9 p.m. with a 7.1 for baseball, while CBS remained second with a 3.2 for “Minds.” ABC was third with a 3.1 for “Modern Family” (3.4) and “Cougar” (2.7), NBC fourth with a 2.5 for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 0.7 for a repeat of “Vampire Diaries.”

At 10 p.m. Fox was first again with a 6.8 for more baseball coverage, with CBS second with a 2.7 for “CSI: NY.” ABC was third with a 1.6 for “Eastwick,” NBC fourth with a 1.3 for “The Jay Leno Show” and Univision fifth with a 1.0 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”

Fox also led the night among households with a 12.7 average overnight rating and a 20 share. CBS was second at 6.5/10, NBC third at 4.3/7, ABC fourth at 3.9/6, and Univision and CW tied for fifth at 1.8/3.

Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.	© 2009 Media Life Magazine

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