There have already been nine presidential candidate debates this year on cable news and broadcast, each one of them featuring the same candidates saying the same things. That sense of repetition has led to only middling viewership, with the presidential election still more than a year away.
But Sunday night on Univision, there was finally a candidate forum that did offer something new and different, a first-of-its-kind meeting of all the Democratic presidential hopefuls to address the issues of interest to Hispanic voters, and in Spanish, no less, with translations from English crawling across the bottom of the screen.
With their one great chance to hear what the presidential candidates had to say on these issues, and in their language, loads of Hispanics tuned in.
Univision’s 90-minute “Destino 2008: Foro Presidencial” presidential forum Sunday at 7 p.m. drew 2.2 million total viewers, or more than either of the MSNBC and CNN debates thus far this year. It was only 80,000 behind the average for one Republican debate last month on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopolous."
Among adults 18-49, the forum averaged 1.27 million viewers, almost double the average for the previous debates on the cable networks and ABC.
It's still a distance behind the most-watched presidential debate of the year, the Fox News-hosted Republican debate last week, which drew 3.14 million total viewers.
Still, considering Univision’s niche audience--there are 11.6 million Hispanic households in the U.S., out of 111 million total--it was an impressive turnout for Univision.
Moreover, the audience for “Destino” was much younger than those for the English-language debates on the other networks. The median age for Sunday’s forum was 36, versus 61 for the previous nine debates.
The success of “Destino” will help establish Univision as a must-stop destination for political candidates, alongside the cable news networks, in future presidential elections. Hispanic voters are a crucial swing vote in the coming election, especially for Democrats, who usually carry the demographic by a hefty margin but lost some votes to George W. Bush in the last election.
If nothing else, the strong numbers for the Democrats’ Univision forum could convince more Republican candidates to sign on for a similar program. Thus far the only one who has committed is Sen. John McCain, whose campaign is struggling.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Sept. 9 (network averages were not available at press time):
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 18.16 million; 2. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Night Special” 17.79 million; 3. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Pregame” 13.58 million; 4. NBC’s “Sunday NFL Pregame” 12.38 million; 5. CBS’s “60 Minutes” 10.83 million.
Bottom five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 95. CW’s “Smallville” 1.36 million; 96. CW’s “7th Heaven” 1.05 million; 97. CW’s “Gilmore Girls” 1.03 million; 98. CW’s “Beauty and the Geek” 1.02 million; 99. CW’s “Pussycat Dolls Present: Search for the Next Doll” 910,000.
Show on the rise: “Family Guy,” Fox, Sunday 9 p.m. Despite airing head-to-head against NBC’s first week of “Sunday Night Football,” back-to-back repeats of “Family Guy” averaged a 3.1 among viewers 18-49, up 19 percent versus a 2.6 the week before.
Show on the decline: “Power of 10,” CBS, Tuesday 8 p.m. Might Drew Carey be feeling the summer doldrums? “Power of 10” posted a 2.3 rating among 18-49s last week, off 21 percent from a 2.9 the previous week.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 2** |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
5110
|
8
|
2.4
|
6800
|
7
|
1.8
|
2410
|
6
|
|
ABC
|
2.9
|
3250
|
5
|
1.5
|
4250
|
4
|
1.4
|
1880
|
5
|
|
FOX
|
2.8
|
3210
|
5
|
1.5
|
4380
|
5
|
1.6
|
2060
|
5
|
|
NBC
|
2.8
|
3200
|
5
|
1.5
|
4170
|
4
|
1.4
|
1770
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.7
|
1930
|
3
|
1.1
|
3200
|
3
|
1.4
|
1810
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1330
|
2
|
0.6
|
1790
|
2
|
0.7
|
900
|
2
|
|
MNT
|
0.7
|
730
|
1
|
0.3
|
920
|
1
|
0.3
|
420
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
600
|
1
|
0.3
|
950
|
1
|
0.4
|
540
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
460
|
1
|
0.2
|
590
|
1
|
0.1
|
180
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
680
|
1
|
0.3
|
430
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
0.1
|
190
|
0
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
|
**The most recent network averages will be released later today
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 114
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 2** |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
7760
|
12
|
3.8
|
10850
|
10
|
3.2
|
4140
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
5.5
|
6220
|
9
|
3.2
|
9090
|
8
|
3.5
|
4620
|
10
|
|
ABC
|
5.4
|
6100
|
9
|
2.9
|
8420
|
8
|
2.9
|
3860
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
5730
|
9
|
2.8
|
7900
|
7
|
2.7
|
3560
|
8
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2120
|
3
|
1.2
|
3510
|
3
|
1.5
|
2000
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.8
|
2060
|
3
|
1.0
|
2830
|
3
|
1.1
|
1490
|
3
|
|
MNT
|
0.6
|
690
|
1
|
0.3
|
870
|
1
|
0.3
|
420
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.5
|
590
|
1
|
0.3
|
900
|
1
|
0.4
|
530
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
480
|
1
|
0.2
|
630
|
1
|
0.1
|
180
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
410
|
1
|
0.2
|
640
|
1
|
0.3
|
410
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
0.0
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**The most recent network averages will be released later today
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 114
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 9 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
11.6
|
19
|
13116
|
1
|
6.3
|
18157
|
|
2
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)
|
NBC
|
11.5
|
20
|
13020
|
2
|
6.2
|
17791
|
|
3
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S)
|
NBC
|
8.8
|
16
|
9928
|
3
|
4.7
|
13579
|
|
4
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
8.0
|
13
|
8980
|
4
|
4.3
|
12378
|
|
5
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
7.1
|
12
|
8015
|
5
|
3.8
|
10835
|
|
6
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
6.8
|
12
|
7694
|
7
|
3.3
|
9501
|
|
7
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
6.6
|
12
|
7458
|
6
|
3.5
|
10101
|
|
8
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
6.5
|
10
|
7290
|
7
|
3.3
|
9487
|
|
9
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
10
|
6702
|
9
|
3.2
|
9184
|
|
10
|
CSI: MIAMI-SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
10
|
6536
|
11
|
3.1
|
8760
|
|
10
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S)
|
NBC
|
5.8
|
11
|
6546
|
11
|
3.1
|
8814
|
|
10
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN-SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
9
|
6488
|
9
|
3.2
|
9112
|
|
13
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
9
|
6199
|
16
|
2.8
|
8022
|
|
13
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
9
|
6198
|
16
|
2.8
|
8033
|
|
13
|
POWER OF TEN - TUE
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
9
|
6193
|
16
|
2.8
|
8091
|
|
16
|
BIG BROTHER 8-SUN
|
CBS
|
5.4
|
8
|
6067
|
13
|
2.9
|
8284
|
|
16
|
SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER
|
FOX
|
5.4
|
9
|
6080
|
13
|
2.9
|
8285
|
|
18
|
BIG BROTHER 8-TUE
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
8
|
5930
|
16
|
2.8
|
7996
|
|
19
|
ABC SUN MOVIE OF WK-9/9(S)
|
ABC
|
5.2
|
8
|
5860
|
16
|
2.8
|
7919
|
|
19
|
BIG BROTHER 8-THU
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
9
|
5835
|
16
|
2.8
|
7960
|
|
19
|
DATELINE-WED
|
NBC
|
5.2
|
9
|
5851
|
25
|
2.6
|
7438
|
|
19
|
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED.
|
ABC
|
5.2
|
8
|
5875
|
13
|
2.9
|
8370
|
|
19
|
POWER OF TEN
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
9
|
5838
|
23
|
2.7
|
7746
|
|
24
|
DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
8
|
5758
|
16
|
2.8
|
8050
|
|
24
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
8
|
5708
|
23
|
2.7
|
7806
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending September 9 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
7.6
|
9998
|
|
2
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)
|
NBC
|
7.4
|
9639
|
|
3
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S)
|
NBC
|
5.2
|
6865
|
|
4
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
5.0
|
6490
|
|
5
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
5743
|
|
6
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4892
|
|
7
|
BIG BROTHER 8-TUE
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4275
|
|
7
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S)
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
4300
|
|
9
|
FAMILY GUY-SUN 9:30P
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
4117
|
|
9
|
SIMPSONS-SUN 8:30P
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
4007
|
|
11
|
BIG BROTHER 8-THU
|
CBS
|
3.0
|
3913
|
|
11
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
3.0
|
3970
|
|
13
|
BIG BROTHER 8-SUN
|
CBS
|
2.9
|
3855
|
|
13
|
DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS
|
FOX
|
2.9
|
3752
|
|
13
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN-SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
2.9
|
3803
|
|
16
|
ABC SUN MOVIE OF WK-9/9(S)
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3705
|
|
16
|
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED.
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3647
|
|
16
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
2.8
|
3708
|
|
19
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3475
|
|
19
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
2.7
|
3510
|
|
21
|
CHEVY ROCK AND ROLL 400(S)
|
ABC
|
2.5
|
3269
|
|
21
|
CSI: MIAMI-SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
2.5
|
3284
|
|
21
|
SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER
|
FOX
|
2.5
|
3251
|
|
24
|
BIGGEST LOSER 9/4(S)
|
NBC
|
2.4
|
3111
|
|
24
|
DATELINE-WED
|
NBC
|
2.4
|
3147
|
|
24
|
DESTILANDO AMOR TUE
|
UNI
|
2.4
|
3112
|
|
24
|
DESTILANDO AMOR WED
|
UNI
|
2.4
|
3089
|
|
24
|
LAST COMIC STANDING 5
|
NBC
|
2.4
|
3168
|
|
24
|
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT-SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
2.4
|
3140
|
|
24
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
2.4
|
3085
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 2 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
DESTILANDO AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
23.9
|
5040
|
|
2
|
CRISTINA-MON
|
UNI
|
20.1
|
3930
|
|
3
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE
|
UNI
|
18.8
|
3810
|
|
4
|
AQUI Y AHORA-THU
|
UNI
|
18.1
|
3623
|
|
5
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE M-F
|
UNI
|
17.2
|
3727
|
|
6
|
FAMILIA DE DIEZ FRI
|
UNI
|
13.6
|
2978
|
|
6
|
AMAR SIN LIMITES M-F
|
UNI
|
13.6
|
2600
|
|
8
|
YO AMO JUAN QUERENDON M-F
|
UNI
|
11.8
|
2296
|
|
9
|
SOS: SEXO OTROS SECRT TUE
|
UNI
|
11.7
|
2127
|
|
10
|
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT
|
UNI
|
10.5
|
1994
|
|
11
|
HORA PICO-SUN
|
UNI
|
9.0
|
1821
|
|
12
|
BUSCANDO TIMBIRICHE SUN
|
UNI
|
8.9
|
1999
|
|
13
|
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT
|
UNI
|
6.9
|
1213
|
|
14
|
MADRE LUNA M-F
|
TEL
|
6.8
|
1206
|
|
15
|
ESCLAVA ISAURA M-F
|
TEL
|
5.7
|
1092
|
|
16
|
DAME CHOCOLATE M-F
|
TEL
|
5.3
|
878
|
|
17
|
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN
|
TF
|
4.8
|
1131
|
|
18
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICAN SUN
|
TF
|
4.5
|
962
|
|
19
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
4.2
|
903
|
|
20
|
AMOR MIO M-F
|
TEL
|
3.9
|
845
|
|
21
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT
|
TF
|
3.6
|
755
|
|
21
|
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-THU
|
TF
|
3.6
|
670
|
|
23
|
FLM WED-3(S)-08/29/2007
|
AZA
|
