Three weeks into the new season, one thing is clear: There’s no huge new breakout hit like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” two years ago.
There are some shows doing surprisingly well, such as NBC’s “Heroes” and ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” and some doing surprisingly awful, such as CBS’s now-yanked “Smith.”
But despite media buyers’ optimism about the high quality of shows this season, there are few stand-outs for any network.
Nearly every new show experienced a steep decline in its second outing, never a good sign. And every network has a good number of stinkers.
Here’s a network-by-network look at the winners and losers thus far this fall.
ABC
Winner: “Ugly Betty” (Thursday 8 p.m.). “Betty” has finished ahead of CBS’s solid “Survivor” twice in households and is the No. 1 new show on that measure. It’s also No. 11 overall among households, impressive considering other competition in the timeslot includes NBC’s young-skewing “My Name is Earl” and “The Office” and that “Betty” is leads off the night.
Loser: “Six Degrees” (Thursday 10 p.m). The new drama following ABC’s big hit “Grey’s Anatomy” is losing more than 40 percent of its lead-in, and looks unlikely to build. At least "Brothers & Sisters," airing after "Desperate Housewives," is drawing respectable 18-49 numbers and viewership seems to have stabilized, keeping it off the loser list.
It’s too soon to tell for critical hit “The Nine,” which in only one outing also lost quite a bit of “Lost’s” lead-in. All three shows could be gone or rescheduled by midseason.
CBS
Winner: “Jericho” (Wednesday 8 p.m.). Media people tabbed this as one of the new season’s first potential casualties, but “Jericho” was the only new show to grow in its second week. It’s up more than a quarter over CBS’s 2005 timeslot average.
Loser: “Smith” (Tuesday 8 p.m.). Yanked after just three weeks after CBS recorded an 8 percent dip in its 18-49 average compared with last year on the night.
“The Class” was nearing loser territory but a promising first outing in its new 8:30 p.m. timeslot, where it rose 30 percent from the previous week, saved it.
NBC
Winner: “Heroes” (Monday 9 p.m.). The season’s top-rated new show among 18-49s despite its lack of a superstar lead-in. The show also built audience in week three, a very reassuring sign, and was the first new show to get a full-season order.
Loser: “Friday Night Lights” (Tuesday 8 p.m.), “Kidnapped” (Wednesday 10 p.m.). Production on “Kidnapped,” now exiled to Saturday nights, has stopped, and “Lights” actually did slightly worse in its debut than that show despite extensive promotion. NBC may not keep it long on Tuesdays, where it’s pulling down an otherwise successful night.
Fox
Winner: “Standoff” (Tuesday 9 p.m.). Though the show is losing 44 percent of its lead-in, that lead-in is highly rated “House,” making “Standoff” Fox’s top new show with a 3.7 rating. However, it will face a tougher test after baseball when it moves to 8 p.m., before “House.”
Loser: “Vanished” (Monday 9 p.m.), “Happy Hour” (Thursday 8:30 p.m.). “Vanished” has been banished to Fridays, and “Hour” disappeared one week before its planned baseball hiatus. “Justice” and “’Til Death” could well join this list depending how they do after baseball.
CW
Winner: None. (Too soon to tell for “The Game,” which is moving to Monday nights from Sunday but has aired just one episode total.)
Loser: “Runaway” (Monday 9 p.m./Sunday 8 p.m.). The new Donnie Wahlberg drama is losing more than half “7th Heaven’s” lead-in among households and ranks behind Univision’s telenovelas among younger viewers.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Oct. 8:
Among adults 18-49, ABC was first with an average rating of 4.0 and share of 11, followed by CBS at 3.8/10, NBC at 3.6/10 and Fox at 2.7/8. The CW tied for fifth with Univision at 1.5/4, followed by Telemundo at 0.4/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca tied with Pax at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, ABC led with an average rating of 3.3 and a share of 10. NBC followed with 3.0/9 and CBS was third with 2.6/8. Fox had 2.3/7 and Univision tied the CW for fifth with 1.7/5, followed by Telemundo at 0.5/2, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Pax and Azteca tied at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, CBS led with an average rating of 4.8 and share of 12, followed closely by ABC at 4.6/12 and NBC at 4.2/11, then Fox at 3.0/8, Univision at 1.4/4, the CW at 1.4/3, Telemundo at 0.4/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1, Pax at 0.2/0 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five (18-49s): 1. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 9.4; 2. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 8.6; 3. ABC’s “Lost” 7.7; 4. CBS’s “CSI” 7.3; 5. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.4
Top five (total viewers): 1. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 23.0 million; 2. CBS’s “CSI” 21.5 million; 3. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 21.0 million; 4. ABC’s “Lost” 18.83 million; 5. ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” 18.40 million
Bottom five (18-49s): Tie-82. ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” and CW’s “America’s Next Top Model-Encore” 1.2; 84. CW’s “The Game” 1.1; Tie-85. CW’s “All of Us” and “Everybody Hates Chris” 1.0; 87. CW’s “Runaway” 0.8.
Bottom five (total viewers): 83. CW’s “America’s Next Top Model–Encore” 2.72 million; 84. CW’s “The Game” 2.69 million; 85. CW’s “All of Us” 2.40 million; 87. CW’s “Runaway” 1.86 million
Show on the rise: “Two and a Half Men” CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. Charlie Sheen is getting the highest salary for a sitcom star because his show rose three spots in households to 10.2 rating and 9th place overall. The show was 14th among 18-49s, and was the week’s highest rated half hour comedy.
Show on the decline: “Lost” ABC, Wednesday 9 p.m. It’s hard to find fault with a show that delivered a 7.7 18-49 rating, but it’s worth noting that was down more than 20 percent from last fall’s premiere. Still, even a diluted “Lost” remains one of the most powerful shows on television and should help ABC to first during fourth quarter.
|
NEW FALL 2006 SHOWS
Ranked on Households (through week ended Oct. 8) |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
# telecasts |
HHLD ranking |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
|
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
2 |
12 |
10.2 |
16 |
11343 |
18 |
4.7 |
6196 |
|
2 |
SHARK |
CBS |
3 |
18 |
9.5 |
16 |
10591 |
30 |
4.1 |
5342 |
|
3 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
3 |
19 |
9.4 |
15 |
10446 |
12 |
5.6 |
7284 |
|
4 |
HEROES |
NBC |
2 |
27 |
8.2 |
12 |
9122 |
11 |
5.7 |
7470 |
|
5 |
NINE, THE |
ABC |
1 |
29 |
7.8 |
13 |
8643 |
20 |
4.6 |
5943 |
|
6 |
STUDIO 60 |
NBC |
3 |
34 |
7.4 |
12 |
8278 |
28 |
4.3 |
5651 |
|
7 |
JERICHO |
CBS |
3 |
35 |
7.3 |
12 |
8157 |
44 |
3.5 |
4563 |
|
8 |
HELP ME HELP YOU |
ABC |
2 |
37 |
7.2 |
11 |
8073 |
48 |
3.2 |
4209 |
|
8 |
SIX DEGREES |
ABC |
3 |
37 |
7.2 |
12 |
8038 |
25 |
4.5 |
5835 |
|
10 |
SMITH |
CBS |
3 |
43 |
6.5 |
11 |
7270 |
46 |
3.3 |
4306 |
|
11 |
STANDOFF |
FOX |
4 |
47 |
6.2 |
9 |
6869 |
38 |
3.7 |
4884 |
|
11 |
CLASS, THE |
CBS |
3 |
49 |
6.0 |
10 |
6640 |
50 |
3.1 |
4050 |
|
13 |
MEN IN TREES |
ABC |
4 |
58 |
5.2 |
9 |
5796 |
75 |
2.2 |
2896 |
|
14 |
JUSTICE |
FOX |
5 |
63 |
5.0 |
8 |
5554 |
61 |
2.7 |
3493 |
|
15 |
VANISHED |
FOX |
7 |
65 |
4.8 |
7 |
5320 |
64 |
2.6 |
3387 |
|
16 |
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS |
NBC |
1 |
67 |
4.7 |
7 |
5268 |
61 |
2.7 |
3589 |
|
17 |
KIDNAPPED-SAT |
NBC |
1 |
69 |
4.6 |
8 |
5146 |
89 |
1.9 |
2516 |
|
18 |
KIDNAPPED |
NBC |
3 |
72 |
4.5 |
7 |
4976 |
71 |
2.3 |
3037 |
|
18 |
TIL DEATH |
FOX |
4 |
72 |
4.5 |
8 |
5011 |
64 |
2.6 |
3419 |
|
20 |
HAPPY HOUR |
FOX |
3 |
81 |
3.7 |
6 |
4140 |
80 |
2.1 |
2796 |
|
21 |
GAME, THE |
CW |
2 |
114 |
1.7 |
3 |
1884 |
115 |
1.2 |
1532 |
|
22 |
RUNAWAY |
CW |
2 |
126 |
1.3 |
2 |
1465 |
128 |
1.0 |
962 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research compiled by Media Life |
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 8 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.1 |
9000 |
13 |
4.4 |
12530 |
12 |
3.8 |
4900 |
10 |
|
ABC |
7.3 |
8130 |
12 |
4.0 |
11250 |
11 |
4.0 |
5170 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.5 |
7190 |
11 |
3.5 |
9920 |
9 |
3.6 |
4720 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.2 |
5740 |
9 |
2.7 |
7790 |
7 |
2.7 |
3500 |
8 |
|
CW |
2.3 |
2510 |
4 |
1.2 |
3520 |
3 |
1.5 |
1940 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2130 |
3 |
1.2 |
3350 |
3 |
1.5 |
1970 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.6 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
930 |
1 |
0.4 |
560 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
460 |
1 |
0.2 |
580 |
1 |
0.1 |
190 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
390 |
1 |
0.2 |
560 |
1 |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
|
* 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 Oct. 8 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.3 |
9200 |
13 |
4.5 |
12880 |
12 |
3.9 |
5090 |
11 |
|
ABC |
7.6 |
8510 |
13 |
4.1 |
11750 |
11 |
4.2 |
5430 |
12 |
|
NBC |
6.8 |
7600 |
11 |
3.7 |
10500 |
10 |
3.8 |
4970 |
11 |
|
FOX |
4.7 |
5270 |
8 |
2.6 |
7350 |
7 |
2.8 |
3660 |
8 |
|
CW |
2.1 |
2380 |
3 |
1.2 |
3290 |
3 |
1.4 |
1820 |
4 |
|
UNI |
2.0 |
2200 |
3 |
1.2 |
3520 |
3 |
1.6 |
2050 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.6 |
640 |
1 |
0.3 |
920 |
1 |
0.4 |
550 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
490 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.1 |
190 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
410 |
1 |
0.2 |
600 |
1 |
0.3 |
390 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 8 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
14.9 |
22 |
16597 |
1 |
8.0 |
22804 |
|
2 |
CSI |
CBS |
13.5 |
20 |
15069 |
2 |
7.6 |
21513 |
|
3 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
13.0 |
19 |
14474 |
3 |
7.4 |
20962 |
|
4 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
12.0 |
19 |
13404 |
5 |
6.5 |
18381 |
|
5 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
11.6 |
18 |
12931 |
7 |
6.2 |
17490 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
11.4 |
18 |
12726 |
6 |
6.3 |
17897 |
|
7 |
LOST |
ABC |
11.1 |
17 |
12353 |
4 |
6.6 |
18824 |
|
8 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
10.3 |
17 |
11426 |
11 |
5.5 |
15730 |
|
9 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
10.2 |
15 |
11318 |
8 |
5.6 |
15796 |
|
10 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
10.0 |
15 |
11107 |
12 |
5.4 |
15190 |
|
11 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
9.9 |
16 |
11071 |
12 |
5.4 |
15273 |
|
12 |
NCIS |
CBS |
9.8 |
15 |
10955 |
8 |
5.6 |
15885 |
|
13 |
E.R. |
NBC |
9.7 |
16 |
10782 |
16 |
5.2 |
14675 |
|
14 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
9.6 |
16 |
10681 |
17 |
5.0 |
14299 |
|
14 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
9.6 |
15 |
10665 |
14 |
5.3 |
15143 |
|
14 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
9.6 |
15 |
10654 |
17 |
5.0 |
14264 |
|
17 |
SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS |
CBS |
9.4 |
15 |
10485 |
8 |
5.6 |
15829 |
|
18 |
SHARK |
CBS |
9.2 |
15 |
10253 |
19 |
4.8 |
13746 |
|
19 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
8.9 |
13 |
9937 |
19 |
4.8 |
13595 |
|
20 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
8.7 |
14 |
9687 |
14 |
5.3 |
15164 |
|
20 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
8.7 |
15 |
9644 |
19 |
4.8 |
13521 |
|
22 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
8.6 |
14 |
9558 |
24 |
4.6 |
13009 |
|
23 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
8.5 |
13 |
9514 |
19 |
4.8 |
13725 |
|
24 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
8.3 |
13 |
9228 |
27 |
4.3 |
12177 |
|
25 |
UNIT, THE |
CBS |
8.2 |
12 |
9173 |
23 |
4.7 |
13221 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Oct. 8 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
9.4 |
12222 |
|
2 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
8.6 |
11174 |
|
3 |
LOST |
ABC |
7.7 |
10086 |
|
4 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.3 |
9484 |
|
5 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
6.4 |
8323 |
|
6 |
E.R. |
NBC |
6.1 |
8024 |
|
7 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
5.9 |
7704 |
|
8 |
SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS |
CBS |
5.6 |
7297 |
|
9 |
HEROES |
NBC |
5.5 |
7227 |
|
10 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
5.4 |
7095 |
|
11 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.3 |
6862 |
|
11 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
5.3 |
6889 |
|
13 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
5.2 |
6822 |
|
14 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
5.1 |
6630 |
|
15 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
4.9 |
6440 |
|
16 |
NINE, THE |
ABC |
4.6 |
5943 |
|
17 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
4.5 |
5852 |
|
17 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
4.5 |
5820 |
|
17 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
4.5 |
5918 |
|
20 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
4.4 |
5777 |
|
21 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
4.2 |
5448 |
|
21 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
4.2 |
5547 |
|
23 |
UNIT, THE |
CBS |
4.1 |
5324 |
|
23 |
MY NAME IS EARL |
NBC |
4.1 |
5318 |
|
23 |
OFFICE |
NBC |
4.1 |
5389 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 1** |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
BARRERA DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
21.6 |
4429 |
|
2 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
20.9 |
4185 |
|
3 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
16.9 |
2969 |
|
4 |
VER PARA CREER-TUE |
UNI |
15.4 |
3062 |
|
5 |
HERIDAS DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
14.7 |
2756 |
|
6 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
13.9 |
2555 |
|
7 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI |
UNI |
13.8 |
2667 |
|
8 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
13.5 |
2701 |
|
9 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
12.7 |
2220 |
|
10 |
CANTANDO POR SUENOIII SUN |
UNI |
10.7 |
2018 |
|
11 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
10.1 |
1808 |
|
12 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
9.8 |
1716 |
|
13 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
9.4 |
1884 |
|
14 |
TIERRA DE PASIONES M-F |
TEL |
8.1 |
1448 |
|
15 |
VIUDA DE BLANCO M-F |
TEL |
6.9 |
1203 |
|
16 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
5.9 |
1016 |
|
17 |
AMORES M-F |
TEL |
5.2 |
960 |
|
18 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
5.1 |
1074 |
|
19 |
FAMOSOS FUERA CNTRL 10/1(S)-10/01/2006 |
TF |
4.2 |
774 |
|
20 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SAT |
TF |
3.8 |
734 |
|
20 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
3.8 |
627 |
|
22 |
QUINCEANERA |
TEL |
3.3 |
670 |
|
23 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
3.1 |
629 |
|
24 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-THU |
TF |
3.0 |
508 |
|
25 |
ASI ES LA VIDA M-F |
TF |
2.9 |
551 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes. ** Due to the Columbus Day holiday, Hispanic ratings will not be updated until later today.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 8 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
14.1 |
2793 |
|
2 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
12.0 |
2041 |
|
3 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
11.9 |
2115 |
|
4 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
11.8 |
2269 |
|
5 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
11.4 |
2161 |
|
5 |
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL |
CW |
11.4 |
2192 |
|
7 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
11.2 |
1945 |
|
8 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
10.7 |
2009 |
|
9 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
10.4 |
1841 |
|
10 |
CSI |
CBS |
10.2 |
1813 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.45 million African American TV homes. ** Numbers for the week ended Oct. 8 were not updated by Nielsen at press time.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 1 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
12.4 |
25 |
13792 |
18865 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
SEATTLE AT CHICAGO |
10.8 |
17 |
12069 |
16940 |
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
8.6 |
19 |
9628 |
12726 |
|
4 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
7.0 |
16 |
7797 |
10196 |
|
5 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
OHIO STATE AT IOWA |
4.9 |
9 |
5492 |
7752 |
|
6 |
KANSAS 400(S)-10/01/2006 |
NBC |
NASCAR:NEXTEL CUP |
4.0 |
9 |
4445 |
6275 |
|
7 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-LATE |
ABC |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
3.5 |
9 |
3885 |
4949 |
|
8 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2 |
CBS |
ALABAMA AT FLORIDA |
