Seven years after ABC’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” became a surprise late-summer hit, reality television is at last reversing the traditional loss of network viewers to cable and the beach.
This comes after many summers of tinkering on the part of the networks, rolling out one new reality show after another to see what viewers will flock to.
Two things are different this summer.
New reality shows, like ABC’s “How to Get the Guy” and CBS’s “Tuesday Night Book Club,” that might have caught on in past years are flopping. They are being outperformed by returning reality shows, such as Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” as well as NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
But perhaps more significant, this summer two networks, Fox and NBC, are up among adults 18-49 over last summer, while CBS is even to last year. ABC, the only network without a returning summer show, is down 8 percent, according to Fox estimates. The four networks combined are even to last year and up not counting ABC.
Last year, ABC was the only network to see improvements by July, and that was a scant 4 percent over the previous year, while NBC and CBS saw double-digit declines.
The networks have been hoping for years to build some sort of summer identity after their long history of ceding the summer to cable by airing reruns. And as cable took the opportunity to roll out many of its top shows, like TNT’s “The Closer” and USA’s “The 4400,” the networks began to see their ratings go into an even deeper slide.
Now, with reliable summer reality franchises, the networks can at last swat back at cable during its most important time of the year.
Several factors have helped build up these summer franchises, and one is learning from mistakes. One big lesson: Don't be too quick to move a successful summer show to the fall. After two successful summers, NBC moved “Comic” to the fall in 2004, where it bombed. NBC then wisely kept it off the schedule for nearly two years. It's now back and doing better than it was in its last summer outing.
Only megahits like “Millionaire,” “Survivor” and “Dance” can handle that big move. Shows like “Comic,” which draw good but not great ratings, are better off staying in summer.
Another lesson is that reality competitions, where the pace is fast and energetic, work best in the summer. “Kitchen,” which features cookoffs, is very popular among 18-34s and teens. "Dance” is up 28 percent over last summer in 18-49s.
Relationship-focused shows, with their slower pace, do not do well, which explains why “Guy” and “Book Club” tanked.
Finally, all the returning shows also have an element of conflict. Though drama does not generally do well on broadcast in the summer, overly melodramatic reality shows do.
Hence the good performances for “Dance,” which this year includes viewer voting for the worst dancer, “Comic,” in which the contestants are living together as well as competing, and “Kitchen,” which, in addition to chef Gordon Ramsey’s flammable temper, has contestants competing in a battle of the sexes.
In other broadcast ratings for the week ended June 18:
Among adults 18-49, NBA-fueled ABC captured its first week of the summer with a 2.5 average rating and 8 share, followed by Fox at 2.4/8, CBS at 2.2/7, NBC at 2.0/7, UPN at 0.9/3, and the WB at 0.7/2.
Among adults 18-34, Fox led with a 2.4/9, followed by ABC at 2.1/8, NBC at 1.8/6, CBS at 1.4/5, UPN at 0.8/3, and the WB at 0.6/2.
Among adults 25-54, CBS was first at 2.9/8, followed by ABC at 2.7/8, Fox at 2.5/7, NBC at 2.3/7, UPN at 0.9/3, and the WB at 0.7/2.
Top five (18-49s): 1. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 5” 5.9; 2. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 3” 5.1; 3. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 4” 4.6;” 4. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance-Wed.” 4.1; 5. NBC’s “Last Comic Standing 4” 4.0
Top five (total viewers): 1. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 5” 14.32 million; 2. CBS’s “CSI: Miami” 13.49 million; 3. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 3” 12.25 million; 4. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 4” 11.56 million; 5. CBS’s “CSI” 11.17 million
Bottom five (18-49s): Tie-100. WB’s “Supernatural,” WB’s “7th Heaven” 0.6; Tie-103. WB’s “One Tree Hill,” UPN’s “Veronica Mars,” UPN’s “Eve” 0.5; 106 UPN’s “Cuts,” 0.4
Bottom five (total viewers): 102. WB’s “Twins” 1.33 million; 103. WB’s “One Tree Hill” 1.29 million; 104. UPN’s “Cuts” 1.26 million; 105. UPN’s “Eve” 1.24 million; 106. UPN’s “Veronica Mars” 1.17 million
Show on the rise: “CSI: Miami,” CBS, Monday 10 p.m. It’s in reruns but it’s also on the rise, jumping more than 1.5 million total viewers over the previous week to finish No. 2 on all of broadcast last week. It was the highest-rated scripted series among 18-49s with a 3.9 average.
Show on the decline: “Lost,” ABC, Wednesday 9 p.m. Perhaps fans are catching up with shows they missed via ABC.com’s free webcasts? A repeat of the hit drama averaged a 1.2 last week, barely more than half the 2.3 a repeat the same week last year averaged. Of course, the show also aired after “Dancing with the Stars” last summer, a much more powerful lead-in than “Freddie.”
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 18 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
5.6 |
6120 |
10 |
2.9 |
8080 |
8 |
2.2 |
2800 |
7 |
|
ABC |
4.5 |
4990 |
8 |
2.4 |
6770 |
7 |
2.5 |
3190 |
8 |
|
FOX |
3.9 |
4250 |
7 |
2.1 |
5820 |
6 |
2.4 |
3150 |
8 |
|
NBC |
3.4 |
3790 |
6 |
1.9 |
5280 |
6 |
2.0 |
2620 |
7 |
|
UNI |
1.7 |
1910 |
3 |
1.1 |
3190 |
3 |
1.4 |
1850 |
5 |
|
UPN |
1.5 |
1610 |
3 |
0.8 |
2230 |
2 |
0.9 |
1130 |
3 |
|
WB |
1.3 |
1380 |
2 |
0.6 |
1780 |
2 |
0.7 |
930 |
2 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
580 |
1 |
0.3 |
860 |
1 |
0.4 |
530 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
440 |
1 |
0.2 |
580 |
1 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
410 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
440 |
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 June 18 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.9 |
8730 |
13 |
4.4 |
12210 |
11 |
3.7 |
4750 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.6 |
7280 |
11 |
3.7 |
10370 |
10 |
3.8 |
4930 |
10 |
|
NBC |
6.2 |
6790 |
10 |
3.4 |
9410 |
9 |
3.2 |
4140 |
9 |
|
FOX |
6.0 |
6600 |
10 |
3.5 |
9750 |
9 |
4.0 |
5160 |
11 |
|
UPN |
2.0 |
2230 |
3 |
1.1 |
3030 |
3 |
1.2 |
1610 |
3 |
|
WB |
2.0 |
2220 |
3 |
1.1 |
3010 |
3 |
1.3 |
1630 |
3 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2120 |
3 |
1.3 |
3700 |
3 |
1.6 |
2080 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
600 |
1 |
0.3 |
910 |
1 |
0.4 |
560 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
390 |
1 |
0.2 |
490 |
0 |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
360 |
1 |
0.2 |
560 |
1 |
0.3 |
340 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 18 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
9.1 |
15 |
10076 |
2 |
4.8 |
13487 |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 5(S) |
ABC |
9.1 |
17 |
10049 |
1 |
5.1 |
14318 |
|
3 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 3(S) |
ABC |
8.0 |
14 |
8858 |
3 |
4.4 |
12246 |
|
4 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 4(S) |
ABC |
7.8 |
14 |
8605 |
4 |
4.1 |
11561 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.7 |
13 |
8433 |
5 |
4.0 |
11168 |
|
5 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.7 |
13 |
8527 |
6 |
3.8 |
10590 |
|
7 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
6.8 |
11 |
7492 |
7 |
3.5 |
9713 |
|
8 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
6.6 |
12 |
7276 |
7 |
3.5 |
9944 |
|
8 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
6.6 |
11 |
7262 |
7 |
3.5 |
9868 |
|
10 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
6.4 |
11 |
7066 |
10 |
3.4 |
9558 |
|
11 |
NCIS |
CBS |
6.3 |
11 |
6936 |
11 |
3.3 |
9187 |
|
12 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
6.0 |
13 |
6662 |
12 |
3.2 |
9110 |
|
12 |
DATELINE 6/15(S) |
NBC |
6.0 |
10 |
6628 |
12 |
3.2 |
8970 |
|
14 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
5.8 |
11 |
6414 |
15 |
3.0 |
8425 |
|
15 |
AFI 100 YEARS 100 CHEERS(S) |
CBS |
5.7 |
10 |
6238 |
15 |
3.0 |
8276 |
|
16 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
5.6 |
9 |
6176 |
17 |
2.9 |
8178 |
|
17 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
5.4 |
9 |
5925 |
19 |
2.8 |
7887 |
|
17 |
LAST COMIC STANDING 4 |
NBC |
5.4 |
9 |
5987 |
12 |
3.2 |
9015 |
|
19 |
WINDFALL |
NBC |
5.3 |
9 |
5822 |
19 |
2.8 |
7793 |
|
20 |
20/20-FRI |
ABC |
5.2 |
10 |
5768 |
21 |
2.7 |
7467 |
|
20 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
5.2 |
9 |
5694 |
17 |
2.9 |
8159 |
|
22 |
UNIT, THE |
CBS |
5.0 |
8 |
5501 |
21 |
2.7 |
7448 |
|
23 |
NUMB3RS |
CBS |
4.9 |
9 |
5360 |
24 |
2.6 |
7179 |
|
24 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
4.8 |
8 |
5322 |
21 |
2.7 |
7541 |
|
25 |
48 HOURS MYSTERY |
CBS |
4.7 |
9 |
5199 |
26 |
2.4 |
6735 |
|
25 |
CLOSE TO HOME |
CBS |
4.7 |
9 |
5144 |
31 |
2.3 |
6565 |
|
25 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
4.7 |
8 |
5130 |
26 |
2.4 |
6643 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending June 18 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 5(S) |
ABC |
5.9 |
7667 |
|
2 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 3(S) |
ABC |
5.1 |
6569 |
|
3 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 4(S) |
ABC |
4.6 |
5986 |
|
4 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
4.1 |
5379 |
|
5 |
LAST COMIC STANDING 4 |
NBC |
4.0 |
5179 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
3.9 |
5072 |
|
6 |
DATELINE 6/15(S) |
NBC |
3.9 |
5008 |
|
8 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
3.7 |
4775 |
|
9 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
3.2 |
4210 |
|
9 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
3.2 |
4170 |
|
9 |
WINDFALL |
NBC |
3.2 |
4105 |
|
12 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.1 |
4018 |
|
13 |
CSI |
CBS |
3.0 |
3892 |
|
13 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
3.0 |
3864 |
|
13 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
3.0 |
3847 |
|
16 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
2.9 |
3706 |
|
17 |
HELL'S KITCHEN-MON 8P |
FOX |
2.8 |
3579 |
|
17 |
SIMPSONS SP-6/18 8:30P(S) |
FOX |
2.8 |
3596 |
|
17 |
TREASURE HUNTERS 6/18(S) |
NBC |
2.8 |
3608 |
|
17 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
2.8 |
3632 |
|
21 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
2.7 |
3528 |
|
22 |
SUPERNANNY |
ABC |
2.6 |
3339 |
|
23 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
2.5 |
3294 |
|
24 |
HOUSE-TUE 8P |
FOX |
2.4 |
3148 |
|
24 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
2.4 |
3115 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 11 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
7.2 |
7979 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
5.8 |
6355 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5.4 |
5941 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.9 |
5447 |
|
5 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.7 |
5203 |
|
6 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
4.6 |
5070 |
|
7 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
4.5 |
4958 |
|
7 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.5 |
4955 |
|
9 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
4.4 |
4896 |
|
10 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.3 |
4772 |
|
10 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
4.3 |
4697 |
|
12 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.7 |
4049 |
|
12 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.7 |
4029 |
|
14 |
WARNER BROS. VOL 35 |
WB |
3.5 |
3909 |
|
15 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.4 |
3738 |
|
16 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.1 |
3460 |
|
16 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.1 |
3379 |
|
18 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
2.9 |
3248 |
|
19 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
2.8 |
3136 |
|
20 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.7 |
2944 |
|
21 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.6 |
2878 |
|
21 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
2.6 |
2840 |
|
21 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
2.6 |
2817 |
|
24 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
2.5 |
2758 |
|
25 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.4 |
2694 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 18 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
Households (000) |
|
1 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
31 |
2142 |
|
2 |
PEREGRINA M-F |
UNI |
29 |
1857 |
|
2 |
BARRERA DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
26 |
1853 |
|
4 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
26 |
1817 |
|
5 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
25 |
1718 |
|
6 |
CANTANDO POR UN SUENO SUN |
UNI |
25 |
1635 |
|
7 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
22 |
1545 |
|
8 |
QUE MADRE TAN PADRE TUE |
UNI |
22 |
1541 |
|
9 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI |
UNI |
22 |
1402 |
|
10 |
VECINOS TUE |
UNI |
19 |
1277 |
|
11 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
23 |
1266 |
|
12 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
19 |
986 |
|
13 |
TIERRA DE PASIONES M-F |
TEL |
13 |
904 |
|
14 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
18 |
847 |
|
14 |
CORAZON PARTIDO M-F |
TEL |
11 |
838 |
|
16 |
AMORES DE MERCADO M-F |
TEL |
12 |
817 |
|
17 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
12 |
813 |
|
17 |
TORMENTA M-F |
TEL |
12 |
804 |
|
19 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
8 |
550 |
|
20 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
9 |
519 |
|
21 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
9 |
486 |
|
22 |
COPA MUNDIAL 2006 5-TF(S)-06/13/2006 |
TF |
7 |
458 |
|
23 |
ACCION EXTREMA U |
TEL |
7 |
441 |
|
24 |
CORRIENDO Y GRABANDO |
TEL |
7 |
378 |
|
25 |
COPA MUNDIAL 2006 7-TF(S)-06/15/2006 |
TF |
5 |
347 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 18 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 5(S)-06/18/2006 |
ABC |
8.2 |
16 |
|
2 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 4(S)-06/15/2006 |
ABC |
7.6 |
13 |
|
3 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 3(S)-06/13/2006 |
ABC |
6.0 |
10 |
|
4 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
5.0 |
8 |
|
5 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
4.7 |
7 |
|
6 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
4.4 |
7 |
|
7 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.1 |
7 |
|
8 |
WINDFALL |
NBC |
3.9 |
6 |
|
9 |
DATELINE 6/15(S)-06/15/2006 |
NBC |
3.8 |
6 |
|
10 |
SIMPSONS SP-6/18 8:30P(S)-06/18/2006 |
FOX |
3.7 |
7 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 11 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 2 |
ABC |
22.3 |
2957 |
|
2 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 1 |
ABC |
20.4 |
2713 |
|
3 |
CHEVROLET NBA NATION-GM 1 |
ABC |
9.5 |
1257 |
|
4 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
9.3 |
1239 |
|
4 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
9.3 |
1240 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
8.9 |
1183 |
|
7 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
8.8 |
1170 |
|
8 |
CHEVROLET NBA NATION-GM 2 |
ABC |
8.7 |
1161 |
|
9 |
GIRLFRIENDS |
UPN |
8.6 |
1140 |
|
10 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
8.4 |
1117 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.28 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 11 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 2(S)-06/11/2006 |
ABC |
MIAMI AT DALLAS |
8.0 |
14 |
8804 |
12410 |
|
2 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 1(S)-06/08/2006 |
ABC |
MIAMI AT DALLAS |
