In a matter of weeks the WB and UPN will merge into the CW, and it can’t come too soon. The long-fading networks are ending their decade-long runs quietly, with big ratings declines compared with last summer.
Reruns on the two networks have never performed well, with the WB especially suffering as serial programs tend to repeat poorly. Add to that the fact that neither network launched any new programming this summer, as they prepare for their fall merger, and the averages for both are in steep decline.
From May 29 to June 25, UPN’s average rating among its target adults 18-34 demographic is down 27 percent compared with last year, from a 1.1 to a 0.8, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Fox. The WB is down 22 percent in that demo, from a 0.9 to a 0.7.
The WB is down even more among teens 12-17, 30 percent, from a 1.0 to a 0.7. UPN is off 23 percent in teens, from a 1.3 to a 1.0.
The main explanation is that this summer, neither network has much original programming. At this time last year, the WB had summer hit “Beauty and the Geek” and the solid second-year summer show “Summerland,” both of which drew at least 2.4 million viewers for new episodes. Last week only one WB show topped 2.4 million, Sunday’s repeat of “Reba.”
Meanwhile, UPN had “Bad Girls Guide” and “Britney and Kevin: Chaotic,” which, while neither of them were hits, did better than much of the network’s schedule last week.
Certainly another problem is that reruns on the networks simply aren’t doing as well as last summer. For the week ended June 27, UPN’s “Veronica Mars,” for example, averaged 1.08 million total viewers, down more than 600,000 from the same week last year.
The WB’s “Blue Collar TV,” which still has a handful of originals left over from when it was yanked off the air last fall, is doing worse than last year, when it was in repeats. A new episode last week averaged 2.24 million viewers, 400,000 fewer than tuned in for a repeat last year on the same night. Fans may not even realize “Blue’s” new episodes are airing this summer, nine months after they were supposed to debut.
In fact, much of the networks’ programming flat-out has not connected with viewers. Last week UPN aired one of the lowest-rated programs in broadcast history, the movie “My Date With Drew,” which averaged just a 0.3 rating and 750,000 total viewers. It was the lowest-rated show of the summer thus far.
In other broadcast ratings for the week ended June 25:
Among adults 18-49, Fox rose to No. 1 with a 2.5 average rating and 8 share, followed by NBC at 2.2/7, CBS and ABC tied at 2.0/6, and the WB and UPN tied at 0.7/2.
Among adults 18-34, Fox led with a 2.5/9, followed by NBC at 1.9/7, ABC at 1.7/6, CBS at 1.4/5, UPN at 0.7/3, and the WB at 0.7/2.
Among adults 25-54, Fox was No. 1 in a squeaker, at 2.6/8, ahead of NBC and CBS’s 2.6/7 apiece. ABC was fourth at 2.3/7, and the WB and UPN tied at 0.7/2.
Top five (18-49s): 1. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 6” 6.5; 2. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 4.6; 3. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance-Thu.” 3.7; 4. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance-Wed.” 3.6; 5. NBC’s “Last Comic Standing 4” 3.5
Top five (total viewers): 1. ABC’s “NBA Finals-Game 6” 15.71 million; 2. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 12.41 million; 3. CBS’s “CSI” 11.95 million; 4. CBS’s “CSI: Miami” 11.34 million; 5. CBS’s “Without a Trace” 10.16 million
Bottom five (18-49s): Tie-108. WB’s “Pepper Dennis,” WB’s “Twins” 0.6; Tie-110. WB’s “One Tree Hill,” UPN’s “Veronica Mars” 0.4; 112. UPN’s “Wednesday Movie-My Date With Drew” 0.3
Bottom five (total viewers): Tie-107. WB’s “Twins,” UPN’s “Half and Half” 1.5 million; 109. WB’s “Pepper Dennis” 1.42 million; 110. WB’s “One Tree Hill” 1.13 million; 111. UPN’s “Veronica Mars” 1.08 million; 112. UPN’s “Wednesday Movie-My Date With Drew” 750,000
Show on the rise: “America’s Got Talent,” NBC, Wednesday 9 p.m. The series debut averaged a summer-best 4.6 and grew throughout the two-hour broadcast.
Show on the decline: “Windfall,” NBC, Thursday 10 p.m. The summer drama dipped to a series-low 2.4 in its third episode, though it didn’t get much help from its lead-in, a rerun of “The Office,” which averaged a 1.8.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 25 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
5.1 |
5650 |
9 |
2.7 |
7440 |
8 |
2.0 |
2580 |
6 |
|
NBC |
4.1 |
4550 |
7 |
2.2 |
6220 |
7 |
2.2 |
2900 |
7 |
|
FOX |
4.0 |
4360 |
7 |
2.2 |
6130 |
6 |
2.5 |
3260 |
8 |
|
ABC |
3.8 |
4180 |
7 |
2.0 |
5660 |
6 |
2.0 |
2640 |
6 |
|
UNI |
1.8 |
1970 |
3 |
1.2 |
3290 |
3 |
1.5 |
1920 |
5 |
|
UPN |
1.3 |
1390 |
2 |
0.7 |
1870 |
2 |
0.7 |
930 |
2 |
|
WB |
1.3 |
1380 |
2 |
0.6 |
1810 |
2 |
0.7 |
920 |
2 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
570 |
1 |
0.3 |
860 |
1 |
0.4 |
490 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
430 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
410 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
410 |
1 |
0.2 |
560 |
1 |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
|
* 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 25 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.9 |
8660 |
13 |
4.3 |
12090 |
11 |
3.6 |
4700 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.5 |
7200 |
11 |
3.7 |
10250 |
9 |
3.8 |
4880 |
10 |
|
NBC |
6.1 |
6730 |
10 |
3.3 |
9330 |
9 |
3.2 |
4110 |
9 |
|
FOX |
5.9 |
6540 |
10 |
3.4 |
9660 |
9 |
3.9 |
5120 |
11 |
|
UPN |
2.0 |
2210 |
3 |
1.1 |
3000 |
3 |
1.2 |
1590 |
3 |
|
WB |
2.0 |
2200 |
3 |
1.1 |
2980 |
3 |
1.2 |
1610 |
3 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2120 |
3 |
1.3 |
3680 |
3 |
1.6 |
2070 |
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 |
350 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 25 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 6(S) |
ABC |
10.1 |
18 |
11090 |
1 |
5.6 |
15710 |
|
2 |
CSI |
CBS |
8.1 |
14 |
8923 |
3 |
4.3 |
11949 |
|
3 |
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT |
NBC |
7.7 |
13 |
8539 |
2 |
4.4 |
12408 |
|
3 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
7.7 |
13 |
8499 |
4 |
4.0 |
11344 |
|
5 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.2 |
13 |
7924 |
5 |
3.6 |
10164 |
|
6 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
6.7 |
11 |
7409 |
6 |
3.5 |
9716 |
|
7 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
6.6 |
11 |
7315 |
7 |
3.3 |
9383 |
|
8 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
6.2 |
12 |
6850 |
7 |
3.3 |
9382 |
|
8 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
6.2 |
10 |
6786 |
10 |
3.2 |
9030 |
|
10 |
NCIS |
CBS |
5.9 |
11 |
6540 |
13 |
3.0 |
8474 |
|
10 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
5.9 |
10 |
6481 |
10 |
3.2 |
9114 |
|
12 |
NUMB3RS |
CBS |
5.8 |
11 |
6416 |
13 |
3.0 |
8463 |
|
13 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
5.7 |
10 |
6237 |
7 |
3.3 |
9279 |
|
14 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
5.6 |
10 |
6132 |
15 |
2.9 |
8235 |
|
15 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
5.5 |
9 |
6038 |
17 |
2.8 |
7986 |
|
15 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
5.5 |
9 |
6006 |
15 |
2.9 |
8047 |
|
17 |
FOX NEXTEL CUP WNNRS CIRC |
FOX |
5.2 |
10 |
5724 |
12 |
3.1 |
8753 |
|
18 |
CLOSE TO HOME |
CBS |
5.1 |
10 |
5588 |
20 |
2.6 |
7388 |
|
18 |
GAME SHOW MARATHON-THU |
CBS |
5.1 |
10 |
5615 |
18 |
2.7 |
7456 |
|
18 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
5.1 |
8 |
5584 |
20 |
2.6 |
7314 |
|
21 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
4.9 |
8 |
5437 |
20 |
2.6 |
7163 |
|
21 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
4.9 |
8 |
5351 |
24 |
2.5 |
7127 |
|
21 |
PRIMETIME |
ABC |
4.9 |
9 |
5347 |
24 |
2.5 |
6955 |
|
24 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
4.8 |
9 |
5260 |
24 |
2.5 |
6994 |
|
25 |
20/20-FRI |
ABC |
4.7 |
9 |
5181 |
27 |
2.4 |
6864 |
|
25 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
4.7 |
8 |
5185 |
18 |
2.7 |
7500 |
|
25 |
LAST COMIC STANDING 4 |
NBC |
4.7 |
8 |
5148 |
20 |
2.6 |
7341 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending June 25 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 6(S) |
ABC |
6.5 |
8414 |
|
2 |
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT |
NBC |
4.6 |
6033 |
|
3 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
3.7 |
4820 |
|
4 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
3.6 |
4710 |
|
5 |
LAST COMIC STANDING 4 |
NBC |
3.5 |
4540 |
|
6 |
FOX NEXTEL CUP WNNRS CIRC |
FOX |
3.4 |
4409 |
|
6 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
3.4 |
4456 |
|
6 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
3.4 |
4444 |
|
9 |
CSI |
CBS |
3.2 |
4104 |
|
9 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
3.2 |
4189 |
|
9 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
3.2 |
4140 |
|
9 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.2 |
4181 |
|
13 |
FAMILY GUY SP-6/25 8:30P(S) |
FOX |
2.9 |
3813 |
|
13 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
2.9 |
3796 |
|
15 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
2.7 |
3480 |
|
16 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
2.6 |
3390 |
|
17 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
2.5 |
3305 |
|
17 |
HOUSE-TUE 8P |
FOX |
2.5 |
3234 |
|
19 |
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT 6/23(S) |
NBC |
2.4 |
3108 |
|
19 |
PRIMETIME |
ABC |
2.4 |
3169 |
|
19 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
2.4 |
3180 |
|
19 |
WINDFALL |
NBC |
2.4 |
3061 |
|
23 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
2.3 |
2926 |
|
23 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
2.3 |
2974 |
|
23 |
MY NAME IS EARL |
NBC |
2.3 |
2979 |
|
23 |
NBC NHL STANLEY CUP FNL#7(S) |
NBC |
2.3 |
2950 |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 6(S) |
ABC |
6.5 |
8414 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 18 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
6.8 |
7440 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
5.4 |
5905 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5.3 |
5813 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.1 |
5598 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
4.7 |
5181 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
4.7 |
5146 |
|
7 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.5 |
4966 |
|
7 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.5 |
4942 |
|
9 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.2 |
4683 |
|
10 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
4.1 |
4473 |
|
11 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.7 |
4053 |
|
12 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.4 |
3707 |
|
13 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.2 |
3503 |
|
13 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.2 |
3494 |
|
15 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
2.9 |
3235 |
|
15 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
2.9 |
3153 |
|
17 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
2.8 |
3069 |
|
17 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
2.8 |
3038 |
|
19 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.7 |
3001 |
|
20 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.6 |
2858 |
|
21 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
2.5 |
2737 |
|
21 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
2.5 |
2717 |
|
23 |
DIVORCE COURT (AT) |
2/T |
2.4 |
2615 |
|
23 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.4 |
2615 |
|
25 |
COPS-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
2.3 |
2548 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 25 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
Households (000) |
|
1 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
20.3 |
34 |
|
2 |
PEREGRINA M-F |
UNI |
17.2 |
30 |
|
3 |
BARRERA DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
17.0 |
27 |
|
4 |
CANTANDO POR UN SUENO SUN |
UNI |
15.8 |
27 |
|
5 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
15.1 |
25 |
|
6 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
14.9 |
24 |
|
7 |
QUE MADRE TAN PADRE TUE |
UNI |
14.5 |
23 |
|
8 |
HISTORIAS PARA CONTAR6/23(S)-06/23/2006 |
UNI |
14.4 |
25 |
|
9 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
13.4 |
23 |
|
10 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
12.4 |
24 |
|
11 |
VECINOS TUE |
UNI |
11.6 |
19 |
|
12 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
9.0 |
20 |
|
13 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
8.3 |
17 |
|
14 |
TIERRA DE PASIONES M-F |
TEL |
7.8 |
13 |
|
15 |
TORMENTA M-F |
TEL |
7.0 |
12 |
|
16 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
6.9 |
12 |
|
17 |
AMORES DE MERCADO M-F |
TEL |
6.4 |
10 |
|
18 |
CANTINFLEANDO 6/24(S)-06/24/2006 |
TEL |
4.9 |
9 |
|
19 |
ACCION EXTREMA U |
TEL |
4.5 |
8 |
|
19 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
4.5 |
8 |
|
21 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
4.1 |
8 |
|
22 |
COPA MUNDIAL 2006 13-TF(S)-06/21/2006 |
TF |
4.0 |
6 |
|
23 |
FAMILIA P. LUCHE M-F |
TF |
3.6 |
6 |
|
23 |
JUST FOR LAUGHS S |
TEL |
3.6 |
8 |
|
25 |
COPA MUNDIAL 2006 14-TF(S)-06/22/2006 |
TF |
3.5 |
6 |
|
* 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 25 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 6(S)-06/20/2006 |
ABC |
9.0 |
15 |
|
2 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-THU |
FOX |
5.3 |
8 |
|
3 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
5.1 |
8 |
|
4 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.8 |
8 |
|
5 |
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT |
NBC |
4.7 |
8 |
|
6 |
HELL'S KITCHEN |
FOX |
3.9 |
6 |
|
7 |
AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK |
FOX |
3.8 |
7 |
|
7 |
WWE SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
3.8 |
7 |
|
9 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
3.7 |
6 |
|
10 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.5 |
6 |
|
10 |
LAST COMIC STANDING 4 |
NBC |
3.5 |
5 |
|
10 |
FAMILY GUY SP-6/25 8:30P(S)-06/25/2006 |
FOX |
3.5 |
6 |
|
10 |
MASTER OF CHAMPIONS |
ABC |
3.5 |
6 |
|
* 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 18 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 5 |
ABC |
23.8 |
3164 |
|
2 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 3 |
ABC |
21.9 |
2908 |
|
3 |
NBA FINALS ON ABC-GM 4 |
ABC |
20.6 |
2733 |
|
4 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
10.5 |
1396 |
|
5 |
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED |
FOX |
9.6 |
1281 |
|
6 |
ALL OF US |
UPN |
9.1 |
1204 |
|
7 |
CHEVROLET NBA NATION-GM 3 |
ABC |
8.9 |
1181 |
|
8 |
HALF AND HALF |
UPN |
8.8 |
1165 |
|
9 |
GIRLFRIENDS |
UPN |
8.6 |
1140 |
|
10 |
CHEVROLET NBA NATION-GM 4 |
ABC |
8.4 |
1119 |
