With under six weeks to go in the season, Fox has pulled within 0.1 rating points of longtime leader ABC among adults 18-49. The question now is not whether Fox passes ABC but rather whether ABC can catch back up as the two head into May sweeps.
Fox could slip into a tie as soon as next week, based on Nielsen numbers as analyzed by Media Life. It currently sits at No. 2 with a 4.0 rating, just behind ABC’s 4.1. Among viewers 18-49, Fox trails by only 110,000, with an average 5.17 million.
Last week, the week ended April 16, Fox was well ahead of ABC for the seven-day period, averaging a 4.0 rating to the latter’s 3.6. This week ABC’s average will dip because “Lost” is a repeat, meaning Fox could finally pull even next week and perhaps jump ahead soon after. It will then be going into the final episodes of “American Idol,” with several super-sized episodes ahead.
Against that momentum, ABC will then have to catch up. It could do it.
Media buyers expect things to stay close. Though some predict a Fox win, other agencies say that things will be very tight entering May sweeps between ABC, Fox and third-place CBS, which currently has a 3.8 average.
CBS ran lots of repeats in January and March, meaning it has more fresh content remaining than the other two networks over the next few weeks. Yet with “CSI” and “Survivor” both declining, even all-original content probably couldn’t boost it past Fox and ABC.
ABC’s biggest hopes rest on three factors: huge numbers for “Grey’s Anatomy,” which has five original episodes left, big ratings for its May sweeps specials and the traditional mid-April dip for “Idol.”
Of those three, “Grey’s” may be the most crucial. It’s been the hottest scripted program on television since its post-Super Bowl airing in February, and ABC smartly scheduled a three-hour finale, the first hour airing on Sunday, May 14, and the final two hours airing on Monday, May 15.
The show has averaged better than a 9.0 since the Super Bowl. Three hours of such a show would give ABC a nice bump to end the year.
ABC’s sweeps stunts also include supersizing the season finales of “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Lost” from one hour to two, which will provide extra ratings punch.
It has a movie on the bird flu epidemic also scheduled for May, as well as the two-hour series finale of “Alias,” which may draw some former fans out of nostalgia.
Finally, ABC must hope that “Idol” continues its recent falloff, however slight. The Tuesday edition averaged a 12.0 last week, down 10 percent from its season-long 13.3 average, while the Wednesday edition was off 26 percent to a 9.2, from its 12.2 average.
For sure, the show will get a boost for its finale, but it does often lose steam nearing the end of the season after viewers’ favorites have been booted.
Meanwhile, in other broadcast ratings for the week ended April 16:
Among adults 18-49, Fox finished first once again with a 4.0 average rating and a 12 share. ABC was second at 3.4/10, CBS third at 3.3/10, NBC fourth at 2.6/8, WB fifth at 1.2/3 and UPN sixth at 1.1/3.
Among adults 18-34, Fox was first with a 3.8 average rating and a 13 share. ABC was second at 2.6/9, CBS and NBC tied for third at 2.1/7, WB fifth at 1.3/4 and UPN sixth at 1.2/4.
Among adults 25-54, CBS finished first for the third straight week with a 4.3 average rating and an 11 share. Fox was second at 4.2/11, ABC third at 4.1/11, NBC fourth at 3.2/8, WB fifth at 1.2/3 and UPN sixth at 1.0/3.
Top five (18-49s): 1. “American Idol - Tuesday” (Fox) 12.0; 2. “American Idol - Wednesday” (Fox) 9.2; 3. “House” (Fox) 8.5; 4. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 7.9; 5. “CSI” (CBS) 7.7.
Top five (total viewers): 1. “American Idol – Tuesday” (Fox) 29.65 million; 2. “CSI” (CBS) 24.42 million; 3. American Idol - Wednesday” (Fox) 22.64 million; 4. “House” (Fox) 21.20 million; 5. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 20.02 million.
Bottom five (18-49s): T111. “Eve” (UPN), “Love, Inc.” (UPN), “Cuts” (UPN), “Eve” (UPN), “Survival of the Richest” (WB), “Veronica Mars – Wed.” (UPN) 0.7; 116. “Pepper Dennis Encore” (WB) 0.5.
Bottom five (total viewers): 112. “Cuts” (UPN) 1.73 million; 113. “Eve” (UPN) 1.72 million; 114. “Survival of the Richest” (WB) 1.65 million; 115. “Veronica Mars – Wed.” (UPN) 1.60 million; 116. “Pepper Dennis Encore” (WB) 1.26 million.
Show on the rise: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” NBC, Sunday 9 p.m. The third in NBC’s “L&O” franchise posted a 3.4 rating among 18-49s, up 31 percent versus the previous week’s 2.6.
Show on the decline: “Freddie,” ABC, Wednesday 8:30 p.m. With “Freddie” on the bubble for a return next year, it didn’t help itself with the final episode of the season. The show, in which Burt Reynolds guest-starred, posted a 2.1 rating among 18-49s, off just over 12 percent from a 2.4 the previous week.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 16 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.4 |
8190 |
13 |
4.1 |
11400 |
11 |
3.3 |
4250 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.1 |
6740 |
10 |
3.5 |
9700 |
9 |
3.4 |
4480 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.9 |
6460 |
10 |
3.4 |
9550 |
9 |
4.0 |
5180 |
12 |
|
NBC |
5.3 |
5840 |
9 |
2.8 |
7990 |
8 |
2.6 |
3420 |
8 |
|
WB |
1.9 |
2080 |
3 |
1.0 |
2890 |
3 |
1.2 |
1570 |
3 |
|
UNI |
1.8 |
1980 |
3 |
1.2 |
3400 |
3 |
1.5 |
1900 |
4 |
|
UPN |
1.8 |
1990 |
3 |
1.0 |
2680 |
3 |
1.1 |
1420 |
3 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
500 |
1 |
0.3 |
720 |
1 |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
350 |
1 |
0.2 |
550 |
1 |
0.3 |
360 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 16 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.2 |
9000 |
13 |
4.5 |
12620 |
11 |
3.8 |
4980 |
10 |
|
ABC |
7.1 |
7770 |
11 |
4.0 |
11130 |
10 |
4.1 |
5280 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.4 |
7090 |
10 |
3.5 |
9860 |
9 |
3.3 |
4320 |
9 |
|
FOX |
6.0 |
6620 |
10 |
3.5 |
9790 |
9 |
4.0 |
5170 |
11 |
|
UPN |
2.1 |
2330 |
3 |
1.1 |
3170 |
3 |
1.3 |
1670 |
3 |
|
WB |
2.1 |
2320 |
3 |
1.1 |
3170 |
3 |
1.3 |
1720 |
3 |
|
UNI |
2.0 |
2200 |
3 |
1.4 |
3920 |
4 |
1.7 |
2190 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.6 |
640 |
1 |
0.4 |
980 |
1 |
0.5 |
620 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
400 |
1 |
0.2 |
500 |
0 |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
0.2 |
590 |
1 |
0.3 |
360 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
17.2 |
28 |
18969 |
1 |
10.6 |
29646 |
|
2 |
CSI |
CBS |
15.2 |
25 |
16769 |
2 |
8.7 |
24425 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
13.3 |
21 |
14624 |
3 |
8.1 |
22644 |
|
4 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
12.9 |
20 |
14167 |
4 |
7.6 |
21196 |
|
5 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
12.4 |
21 |
13618 |
6 |
6.6 |
18618 |
|
6 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
12.3 |
19 |
13537 |
5 |
7.1 |
20016 |
|
7 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
11.4 |
18 |
12513 |
7 |
6.1 |
17164 |
|
8 |
LOST |
ABC |
9.5 |
15 |
10459 |
8 |
5.6 |
15678 |
|
9 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
9.4 |
16 |
10322 |
11 |
5.0 |
14143 |
|
10 |
SURVIVOR:PANAMA-EXILE IS. |
CBS |
9.1 |
16 |
9976 |
9 |
5.4 |
15073 |
|
10 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
9.1 |
14 |
10081 |
11 |
5.0 |
14050 |
|
12 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
9.0 |
15 |
9915 |
10 |
5.2 |
14473 |
|
13 |
UNIT, THE |
CBS |
8.9 |
14 |
9839 |
11 |
5.0 |
14124 |
|
14 |
ABC PREMIERE EVENT-4/10(S) |
ABC |
8.6 |
13 |
9525 |
14 |
4.9 |
13861 |
|
15 |
COLD CASE-SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.5 |
15 |
9361 |
14 |
4.9 |
13639 |
|
15 |
CSI TUESDAY SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.5 |
14 |
9319 |
19 |
4.4 |
12475 |
|
15 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED |
NBC |
8.5 |
14 |
9349 |
16 |
4.7 |
13116 |
|
18 |
CROSSING JORDAN 4/16(S) |
NBC |
8.3 |
14 |
9185 |
17 |
4.5 |
12608 |
|
19 |
WHAT ABOUT BRIAN SP-4/16(S) |
ABC |
8.2 |
14 |
9002 |
19 |
4.4 |
12471 |
|
20 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
7.9 |
12 |
8727 |
23 |
4.2 |
11757 |
|
21 |
LAW AND ORDER:CI 4/16(S) |
NBC |
7.7 |
12 |
8467 |
23 |
4.2 |
11911 |
|
21 |
NCIS |
CBS |
7.7 |
12 |
8460 |
27 |
4.0 |
11330 |
|
23 |
24 |
FOX |
7.6 |
11 |
8419 |
17 |
4.5 |
12490 |
|
23 |
ABC PREMIERE EVENT-4/11(S) |
ABC |
7.6 |
12 |
8331 |
22 |
4.3 |
12016 |
|
23 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
7.6 |
11 |
8369 |
26 |
4.1 |
11421 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending April 16 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
12.0 |
15567 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
9.2 |
11918 |
|
3 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
8.5 |
11028 |
|
4 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
7.9 |
10236 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.7 |
10017 |
|
6 |
LOST |
ABC |
6.3 |
8182 |
|
7 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
5.7 |
7397 |
|
8 |
UNAN1MOUS |
FOX |
5.4 |
7014 |
|
8 |
WHAT ABOUT BRIAN SP-4/16(S) |
ABC |
5.4 |
6987 |
|
10 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
5.3 |
6941 |
|
11 |
SURVIVOR:PANAMA-EXILE IS. |
CBS |
5.2 |
6705 |
|
12 |
24 |
FOX |
5.1 |
6655 |
|
13 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
4.7 |
6091 |
|
14 |
ABC PREMIERE EVENT-4/10(S) |
ABC |
4.6 |
5992 |
|
15 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
4.5 |
5859 |
|
16 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
4.4 |
5683 |
|
17 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
4.3 |
5629 |
|
18 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED |
NBC |
4.1 |
5265 |
|
19 |
CSI TUESDAY SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
4.0 |
5205 |
|
20 |
ABC PREMIERE EVENT-4/11(S) |
ABC |
3.9 |
5127 |
|
21 |
UNIT, THE |
CBS |
3.8 |
4982 |
|
22 |
APPRENTICE 5 |
NBC |
3.7 |
4801 |
|
22 |
CROSSING JORDAN 4/16(S) |
NBC |
3.7 |
4860 |
|
22 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
3.7 |
4801 |
|
25 |
LAW AND ORDER:CI 4/16(S) |
NBC |
3.4 |
4417 |
|
25 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
3.4 |
4391 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 9 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
8.4 |
9237 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.7 |
7413 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
6 |
6641 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.8 |
6398 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5 |
5562 |
|
6 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.9 |
5354 |
|
7 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
4.8 |
5267 |
|
8 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.7 |
5136 |
|
9 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.6 |
5080 |
|
10 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
4.5 |
4970 |
|
10 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
4.5 |
4934 |
|
12 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.7 |
4113 |
|
13 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.6 |
3985 |
|
14 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.4 |
3766 |
|
15 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.3 |
3636 |
|
16 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.2 |
3579 |
|
16 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.2 |
3537 |
|
18 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3 |
3285 |
|
19 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.8 |
3133 |
|
19 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
2.8 |
3062 |
|
21 |
ACCESS HOLLYWOOD (AT) |
WB |
2.7 |
2963 |
|
21 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.7 |
2926 |
|
23 |
KING OF QUEENS-SYN (AT) |
SPT |
2.6 |
2890 |
|
24 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
2.5 |
2771 |
|
24 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.5 |
2771 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
|
1 |
ALBORADA M-F |
UNI |
21.4 |
2407 |
|
2 |
BAILANDO POR UN SUENO SUN |
UNI |
19.3 |
2172 |
|
3 |
BARRERA DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
17.2 |
1931 |
|
4 |
CINE ESPECIAL 4/14(S)-04/14/2006 |
UNI |
15.5 |
1739 |
|
4 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
15.5 |
1737 |
|
6 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
15.1 |
1700 |
|
7 |
PEREGRINA M-F |
UNI |
14.9 |
1671 |
|
8 |
VER PARA CREER-TUE |
UNI |
14.1 |
1583 |
|
9 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
14.0 |
1573 |
|
10 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
12.0 |
1344 |
|
11 |
CHIQUITIBUM SUN |
UNI |
8.3 |
932 |
|
12 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
8.2 |
918 |
|
13 |
TIERRA DE PASIONES M-F |
TEL |
7.2 |
809 |
|
14 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
7.0 |
790 |
|
15 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
747 |
|
16 |
TORMENTA M-F |
TEL |
6.6 |
747 |
|
17 |
CORAZON PARTIDO M-F |
TEL |
6.0 |
675 |
|
18 |
DECISIONES EXTRA M-F |
TEL |
5.3 |
592 |
|
19 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
4.3 |
481 |
|
20 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
4.2 |
472 |
|
21 |
LOTERIA |
TEL |
4.0 |
453 |
|
22 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
3.9 |
443 |
|
22 |
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SUN |
TF |
3.9 |
441 |
|
24 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-THU |
TF |
3.8 |
432 |
|
25 |
ACCION EXTREMA U |
TEL |
3.6 |
408 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending April 9 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS(S)-04/03/2006 |
CBS |
UCLA VS FLORIDA |
11.2 |
18 |
12310 |
17543 |
|
2 |
MASTERS GOLF TOURN.-SUN(S)-04/09/2006 |
CBS |
|
8.4 |
19 |
9298 |
12361 |
|
3 |
FOX NASCAR NEXTEL CUP |
FOX |
SAMSUNG/RADIOSHACK 500 |
5.4 |
13 |
5973 |
8674 |
|
4 |
MASTERS GOLF TOURN. SAT.(S)-04/08/2006 |
CBS |
|
4.9 |
12 |
5391 |
6916 |
|
5 |
WWE SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
2.7 |
5 |
2956 |
4301 |
|
6 |
FOX NASCAR BUSCH SERIES |
FOX |
O'REILLY 300 PRES BY AOL |
2.4 |
6 |
2604 |
3562 |
|
7 |
NBA ON ABC-SUN 1 |
ABC |
INDIANA AT DETROIT |
1.8 |
5 |
1929 |
2318 |
|
8 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULR-SU1(S)-04/09/2006 |
CBS |
JIM NANTZ REMEMBERS AUGUSTA |
1.6 |
4 |
1743 |
2071 |
|
9 |
SANTA ANITA DERBY(S)-04/08/2006 |
NBC |
|
1.1 |
3 |
1173 |
1438 |
|
10 |
WOOD MEMORIAL, THE(S)-04/08/2006 |
ABC |
|
0.8 |
2 |
934 |
1129 |
|
11 |
NBC NHL |
NBC |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
0.7 |
2 |
803 |
1063 |
|
12 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 4/9(S)-04/09/2006 |
NBC |
INDY CHAMP CAR RACING |
0.6 |
1 |
643 |
821 |
|
13 |
NBC ARENA FOOTBALL |
NBC |
DALLAS AT NY/CHICAGO AT PHILLY |
0.5 |
1 |
574 |
725 |
|
14 |
SOLO BOXEO DE MILLER |
TF |
LOPEZ VS CHUC/MEDINA VS TORRES |
0.4 |
1 |
403 |
538 |
|
15 |
WWE - RAW |
TEL |
|
0.3 |
1 |
320 |
555 |
|
16 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
ATLAS VS SANTOS |
0.3 |
1 |
303 |
417 |
|
17 |
SABADO DE FUTBOL |
TEL |
ZENIT VS SEVILLA |
0.1 |
0 |
58 |
<< |
|
18 |
FUTBOL TELEMUNDO 4/9(S)-04/09/2006 |
TEL |
COBAN VS MUNICIPAL |
0.1 |
0 |
138 |
179 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
