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'American Gladiator' still has its fans
By Toni Fitzgerald
Jun 20, 2008 - 1:10:07 AM
NBC’s “American Gladiators” has fizzled among adults 18-49, where ratings have dropped by more than half since its first season last winter. The show often finishes fourth in its 8 p.m. Monday timeslot despite airing against repeats or low-rated reality series.
But while adults may have tuned out, the show remains a top program among kids 2-11. Last week, the week ended June 15, “Gladiators” was NBC’s No. 1 show in that demo, while winning its timeslot among the English-language networks.
“Gladiators” averaged a 1.4 2-11 rating, according to Nielsen, doubling No. 2 “The Bachelorette” on ABC and a “Bones” rerun on Fox, which tied with a 0.7 rating. By contrast, among 18-49s, “Bachelorette” tied “Gladiators” for third place and “Bones” finished 10 percent ahead.
“Gladiators” was the top English-language broadcast show of the night in that demo, and it ranked seventh for the week, behind ABC’s three NBA games, ABC’s “Wonderful World of Disney,” CW’s “Smackdown” and Fox’s Wednesday edition of “So You Think You Can Dance.” In 18-49s, “Gladiators” tied for 23rd.
There are likely two things contributing to “Gladiators’” strength with kids, and the first is the thing that’s probably turning off adults. The show, a strongman competition, is very repetitive.
Though some new events have been added and the game-ending obstacle course is more difficult, there’s really not much different about “Gladiators” than in the winter, when it was the No. 2 new reality show of the season.
Exploring the players’ personalities remains a distant second to showing their physical prowess. That gives the show less must-see oomph for adults.
That’s no problem, however, for kids. Kids love to watch the same thing over and over and over again, as any parent who has sat through four straight screenings of “Peter Pan” can attest.
The other reason “Gladiators” has remained stronger among kids is the lack of competition. There’s little else in the 8 p.m. hour that appeals to or is appropriate for children, certainly not CBS’s comedies, the CW’s “Gossip Girl” and ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” with their sex-soaked repartee, or Fox’s sometimes gory “Bones.”
Perhaps that’s why the 8 p.m. Univision telenovela “Al Diablo con los Guapos” often does its best 2-11 numbers on Mondays as well.
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Meanwhile, in other younger viewer ratings for the week ending June 15:
Among teens 12-17, Fox and ABC tied with a 1.4 rating and 6 share, followed by Univision and NBC at 0.8/3, the CW and CBS at 0.7/3, Telemundo at 0.2/1,Telefutura at 0.1/0 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Among kids 2-11, ABC was first with a 1.2/5, followed by Univision at 1.1/5, Fox at 1.0/4, NBC at 0.6/3, the CW and CBS at 0.5/2, Telemundo at 0.2/1, Telefutura at 0.1/1 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
The top five shows among kids 2-5: 1. Nickelodeon’s “Max and Ruby” (Monday 11:30 a.m.); 2. Nickelodeon’s “Dora the Explorer” (Monday 10:30 a.m.); 3. Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Monday 1 p.m.); 4. Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Monday 1:30 p.m.); 5. Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Monday 12:30 p.m.)
The top five shows among kids 6-11: 1. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Friday 8 p.m.); 2. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Monday 4 p.m.); 3. Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Friday 8:30 p.m.); 4. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Friday 7 p.m.); 5. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Monday 4:30 p.m.)
The top five shows among kids 9-14: 1. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Friday 8 p.m.); 2. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Monday 4 p.m.); 3. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Saturday 8 p.m.); 4. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Friday 5:30 p.m.); 5. Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” (Monday 4:30 p.m.)
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TOP 10 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST & CABLE
Kids 2-5
Week Ended June 15 |
|
|
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
MAX AND RUBY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.7
|
1065
|
|
2
|
DORA THE EXPLORER-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.5
|
1044
|
|
3
|
SPONGEBOB-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.5
|
1044
|
|
4
|
SPONGEBOB-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.5
|
1042
|
|
5
|
SPONGEBOB-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.2
|
995
|
|
6
|
WONDER PETS-06/10/2008
|
NICK
|
6.2
|
995
|
|
7
|
DORA THE EXPLORER-06/10/2008
|
NICK
|
6.1
|
984
|
|
8
|
WOW! WOW! WUBBZY-06/11/2008
|
NICK
|
6.1
|
972
|
|
9
|
SPONGEBOB-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.0
|
957
|
|
10
|
NI HAO KAI-LAN-06/10/2008
|
NICK
|
5.9
|
945
|
|
Source: Disney-ABC Television Group, based on data from Nielsen Media Research
|
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TOP 10 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST & CABLE
Kids 6-11
Week Ended June 15 |
|
|
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
7.9
|
1914
|
|
2
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
6.4
|
1559
|
|
3
|
SPONGEBOB-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.7
|
1383
|
|
4
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1372
|
|
5
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1364
|
|
6
|
SPONGEBOB-06/12/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1361
|
|
7
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1360
|
|
8
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1358
|
|
9
|
ICARLY-06/14/2008
|
NICK
|
5.6
|
1351
|
|
10
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
5.5
|
1329
|
|
Source: Disney-ABC Television Group, based on data from Nielsen Media Research
|
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TOP 10 PROGRAMS – CABLE
Kids 9-14
Week Ended June 15 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
7.8
|
1893
|
|
2
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
5.8
|
1409
|
|
3
|
ICARLY-06/14/2008
|
NICK
|
5.4
|
1331
|
|
4
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.3
|
1292
|
|
5
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
5.3
|
1288
|
|
6
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.2
|
1269
|
|
7
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
5.0
|
1222
|
|
8
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
4.9
|
1192
|
|
9
|
ICARLY-06/13/2008
|
NICK
|
4.9
|
1189
|
|
10
|
ICARLY-06/09/2008
|
NICK
|
4.8
|
1175
|
|
Source: Disney-ABC Television Group, based on data from Nielsen Media Research
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