ABC has built a lead in the first week and a half of November sweeps. The question now is, with two of its biggest hits going off the air, whether that lead can hold.
The answer looks to be yes, barring a disastrous showing from new shows “Show Me the Money” and “Day Break.” The strength of the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, combined with the weakness of the other networks, should be enough to keep ABC ahead.
Through Sunday night, the most recent numbers available, ABC leads sweeps with a 4.1 average adults 18-49 rating and 11 share. NBC is second at 4.0/11, CBS third at 3.8/10, Fox fourth at 2.7/7, and the CW fifth at 1.4/4, tied with Univision. Sweeps ends two weeks from tonight, on Nov. 29.
Tonight, ABC will lengthen its lead to at least 0.2 rating points thanks to the “Dancing with the Stars” finale. All the network needs to do is stay close to NBC the next two weeks, and it will win. And if “Money,” which debuted last night and takes “Stars’” place, or “Lost” replacement “Break” takes off, ABC will win comfortably.
And ABC has other things in its favor. “Desperate Housewives” has been getting hot again on Sundays. Any ratings improvement will likely help lead-out “Brothers & Sisters,” which has settled at a respectable 5.2 rating range.
Plus, ABC still has several sweeps stunts left, including Barbara Walters’ two-part special “30 Mistakes in 30 Years.” Part one of that special airs Thursday after “Grey’s,” and it’s almost certain to better former timeslot occupant “Six Degrees.”
ABC’s other concern is whether NBC can catch up in the remaining two weeks. Unless “Sunday Night Football” paces far ahead of its season average, that appears unlikely.
Several new shows, including “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “Friday Night Lights,” continue to struggle but won’t be preempted during sweeps. Thursday stalwart “ER” has been sinking in recent weeks, as has Tuesday’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”
NBC’s only chance is if football achieves season highs the next two weeks and Monday night hits “Deal or No Deal” and “Heroes” get season highs. Of course, considering how far back NBC was at this time last year, when it trailed sweeps leaders CBS and ABC by more than a full point, even if it doesn’t finish first, it will have had a very successful sweeps.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 12
Among adults 18-49, ABC led with a 4.2 rating and 11 share, followed by NBC at 3.8/10, CBS at 3.7/10, Fox at 2.9/8, CW at 1.5/4, Univision at 1.4/4, Telemundo and Telefutura tied at 0.4/1, and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, ABC won the week with 3.4/10, followed closely by NBC at 3.2/10, Fox at 2.9/9, CBS at 2.5/8, CW and Univision at 1.6/5, Telefutura and Telemundo both at 0.4/1, and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, ABC lead with a 4.9 rating, followed by CBS at 4.8, NBC at 4.3, Fox at 3.0, Univision and CW tied at 1.4, Telefutura and Telemundo tied at 0.3, and Azteca at 0.1.
Top five (18-49s): 1. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 9.1; 2. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 8.6; 3. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 7.5; 4. ABC’s “Lost” 7.0; 5. CBS’s “CSI” 6.9
Top five (total viewers): 1. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 22.27 million; 2. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 21.98 million; 3. CBS’s “CSI” 20.83 million; 4. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars Results” 20.69 million; 5. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 20.65
Bottom five (18-49s): Tied-86. CW’s “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Game,” and “Veronica Mars” 1.3; 89. CW’s “All of Us” 1.2; 90. CW’s “America’s Next Top Model Encore” 1.0; 91. Fox’s “Vanished” 0.9; CW’s “Smallville Encore” 0.6.
Bottom five (total viewers): 88. CW’s “The Game” 2.86 million; 89. CW’s “Veronica Mars” 2.75; 90. CW’s “All of Us” 2.75 million; 91. CW’s “America’s Next Top Model Encore” 2.01 million; 92. CW’s “Smallville” 1.63 million
Show on the rise: “House” Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m. The second post-baseball hiatus episode of the hit medical series was up a point over the previous week to a 6.8, in line with its pre-baseball levels.
Show on the decline: “All of Us” CW, Monday 8:30 p.m. The show is the lowest-rated of the CW’s four lukewarm Monday comedies, averaging a 1.2 rating and finishing No. 89 last week, ahead of just one original program (Fox’s “Vanished”).
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 12 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.1 |
9040 |
13 |
4.5 |
12730 |
11 |
3.7 |
4840 |
10 |
|
ABC |
8.0 |
8880 |
13 |
4.4 |
12440 |
11 |
4.2 |
5530 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.6 |
7330 |
10 |
3.6 |
10250 |
9 |
3.8 |
4910 |
10 |
|
FOX |
4.5 |
4990 |
7 |
2.5 |
7220 |
6 |
2.9 |
3770 |
8 |
|
CW |
2.3 |
2540 |
3 |
1.2 |
3500 |
3 |
1.5 |
1920 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2060 |
3 |
1.1 |
3210 |
3 |
1.4 |
1860 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
580 |
1 |
0.3 |
810 |
1 |
0.4 |
480 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
530 |
1 |
0.2 |
700 |
1 |
0.1 |
190 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
0.3 |
720 |
1 |
0.4 |
480 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
0.1 |
90 |
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 Nov. 12 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.3 |
9280 |
13 |
4.6 |
12990 |
12 |
3.9 |
5120 |
11 |
|
ABC |
7.6 |
8510 |
12 |
4.2 |
11790 |
11 |
4.1 |
5410 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.7 |
7440 |
11 |
3.6 |
10330 |
9 |
3.8 |
4920 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.4 |
6050 |
9 |
3.0 |
8380 |
8 |
3.0 |
3870 |
8 |
|
CW |
2.2 |
2490 |
3 |
1.2 |
3470 |
3 |
1.5 |
1920 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2100 |
3 |
1.2 |
3310 |
3 |
1.5 |
1910 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
600 |
1 |
0.3 |
850 |
1 |
0.4 |
500 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
490 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.1 |
180 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
420 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
410 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 12 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
14.1 |
20 |
15679 |
2 |
7.8 |
21982 |
|
2 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
13.9 |
20 |
15522 |
1 |
7.9 |
22274 |
|
3 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
13.7 |
21 |
15298 |
3 |
7.3 |
20685 |
|
4 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
13.5 |
20 |
15019 |
3 |
7.3 |
20653 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
12.6 |
19 |
14025 |
3 |
7.3 |
20832 |
|
6 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
12.4 |
19 |
13810 |
6 |
6.8 |
19385 |
|
7 |
DANCING WITH-STARS-RECAP(S) |
ABC |
11.6 |
17 |
12971 |
7 |
6.4 |
18155 |
|
8 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
11.1 |
17 |
12404 |
8 |
6.2 |
17573 |
|
9 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
10.9 |
18 |
12112 |
10 |
5.9 |
16775 |
|
10 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
10.8 |
17 |
11983 |
12 |
5.7 |
16225 |
|
11 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
10.7 |
17 |
11936 |
10 |
5.9 |
16801 |
|
12 |
LOST |
ABC |
10.3 |
15 |
11508 |
9 |
6.0 |
17149 |
|
13 |
CMA AWARDS(S) |
ABC |
9.9 |
15 |
11037 |
14 |
5.6 |
15962 |
|
14 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
9.8 |
16 |
10914 |
15 |
5.4 |
15218 |
|
15 |
HOUSE ELECTION-11/7(S) |
FOX |
9.7 |
14 |
10826 |
12 |
5.7 |
16110 |
|
16 |
NCIS - ELECT NT SP(S) |
CBS |
9.5 |
14 |
10563 |
15 |
5.4 |
15435 |
|
17 |
E.R. |
NBC |
9.4 |
15 |
10500 |
20 |
5.1 |
14563 |
|
18 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
9.3 |
13 |
10313 |
18 |
5.2 |
14771 |
|
19 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
9.1 |
13 |
10088 |
18 |
5.2 |
14666 |
|
19 |
SHARK |
CBS |
9.1 |
15 |
10130 |
25 |
4.8 |
13642 |
|
19 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
9.1 |
13 |
10141 |
20 |
5.1 |
14478 |
|
22 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT |
FOX |
9.0 |
15 |
10055 |
20 |
5.1 |
14535 |
|
23 |
SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS |
CBS |
8.9 |
14 |
9873 |
20 |
5.1 |
14392 |
|
24 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
8.7 |
13 |
9673 |
17 |
5.3 |
15097 |
|
24 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
8.7 |
13 |
9668 |
25 |
4.8 |
13585 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Nov. 12 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
9.1 |
11902 |
|
2 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
8.6 |
11194 |
|
3 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
7.5 |
9855 |
|
4 |
LOST |
ABC |
7.0 |
9202 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
6.9 |
9043 |
|
6 |
HOUSE ELECTION-11/7(S) |
FOX |
6.8 |
8934 |
|
7 |
HEROES |
NBC |
6.7 |
8716 |
|
8 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
5.9 |
7762 |
|
9 |
E.R. |
NBC |
5.8 |
7551 |
|
10 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
5.7 |
7401 |
|
10 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT |
FOX |
5.7 |
7454 |
|
12 |
CMA AWARDS(S) |
ABC |
5.4 |
7012 |
|
12 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
5.4 |
7020 |
|
12 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
5.4 |
7033 |
|
15 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
5.2 |
6728 |
|
15 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
5.2 |
6741 |
|
15 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
5.2 |
6799 |
|
18 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
5.1 |
6599 |
|
19 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
5.0 |
6487 |
|
20 |
DANCING WITH-STARS-RECAP(S) |
ABC |
4.8 |
6279 |
|
20 |
SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS |
CBS |
4.8 |
6243 |
|
22 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
4.7 |
6160 |
|
23 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
4.6 |
5985 |
|
24 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
4.5 |
5842 |
|
25 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.3 |
5660 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Oct. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
ESPN NFL REGULAR SEASON |
ESP |
11.2 |
12430 |
|
2 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
8.5 |
9415 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
6.9 |
7636 |
|
4 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.7 |
7423 |
|
5 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
C/P |
5.4 |
6013 |
|
6 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.3 |
5867 |
|
7 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5 |
5563 |
|
8 |
CSI MIAMI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.8 |
5369 |
|
9 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
C/P |
4.6 |
5108 |
|
10 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
4.3 |
4841 |
|
11 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
3.6 |
4012 |
|
11 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
3.6 |
3973 |
|
13 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.5 |
3900 |
|
14 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.4 |
3810 |
|
15 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.3 |
3725 |
|
15 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.3 |
3701 |
|
17 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.2 |
3578 |
|
17 |
KING OF QUEENS-SYN (AT) |
SPT |
3.2 |
3559 |
|
19 |
KING OF QUEENS-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
3.1 |
3416 |
|
20 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3 |
3395 |
|
21 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
C/P |
2.9 |
3252 |
|
21 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
C/P |
2.9 |
3202 |
|
23 |
WITHOUT A TRACE (AT) |
WB |
2.8 |
3174 |
|
23 |
AMERICAN IDOL REWIND (AT) |
TEC |
2.8 |
3146 |
|
23 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.8 |
3139 |
|
* Note: The chart for the week ended Sept. 3 was delayed.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 12 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
13.3 |
2495 |
|
2 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
12.7 |
2158 |
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT |
FOX |
12.7 |
2416 |
|
4 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
12.3 |
2054 |
|
5 |
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS |
ABC |
12.2 |
2151 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
11.8 |
2230 |
|
7 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
11.4 |
2128 |
|
8 |
GIRLFRIENDS |
CW |
11.4 |
2231 |
|
9 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
11.2 |
1876 |
|
10 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
10.3 |
2010 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 05 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
INDIANAPOLIS AT NEW ENGLAND |
13.9 |
22 |
15539 |
21945 |
|
2 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
13.1 |
24 |
14566 |
20473 |
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
9.8 |
22 |
10868 |
14868 |
|
4 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
7.9 |
18 |
8846 |
11650 |
|
5 |
TEXAS 500(S)-11/05/2006 |
NBC |
NASCAR: NEXTEL CUP |
4.3 |
8 |
4790 |
7150 |
|
6 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2 |
CBS |
LSU AT TENNESSEE |
3.9 |
9 |
4394 |
5905 |
|
7 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
3.8 |
7 |
4178 |
5690 |
|
8 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-EARLY |
ABC |
PENN ST AT WIS/MISSOURI AT NEB |
3.1 |
8 |
3509 |
4597 |
|
9 |
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN |
CW |
|
2.8 |
5 |
3124 |
4633 |
|
10 |
ESPN2 BONUS COVERAGE |
ABC |
MARYLAND AT CLEMSON |
2.7 |
7 |
2953 |
3908 |
|
11 |
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL |
NBC |
NORTH CAROLINA AT NOTRE DAME |
2.5 |
6 |
2743 |
3583 |
|
12 |
SKATE AMERICA-11/5(S)-11/05/2006 |
ABC |
|
2.0 |
4 |
2211 |
2633 |
|
13 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL BONUS(S)-11/05/2006 |
CBS |
MIAMI AT CHICAGO |
1.9 |
4 |
2169 |
2644 |
|
14 |
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP-11/4(S)-11/04/2006 |
ABC |
|
1.4 |
3 |
1 |
1768 |
|
15 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 11/5(S)-11/05/2006 |
NBC |
NYC MARATHON |
1.0 |
2 |
10712 |
1178 |
|
16 |
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP-11/5(S)-11/05/2006 |
ABC |
|
0.9 |
2 |
1004 |
1157 |
|
17 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SA |
CBS |
ULTIMATE BLACKJACK TOUR-5 |
0.6 |
1 |
639 |
778 |
|
18 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN |
UNI |
TOLUCA VS CRUZ AZUL |
0.6 |
1 |
711 |
991 |
|
19 |
FLM SAT 2 |
AZA |
VERACRUZ VS GUADALAJARA |
0.3 |
1 |
298 |
422 |
|
20 |
SOLO BOXEO DE MILLER |
TF |
SGURA V TMARA/ORTIZ V HRNANDEZ |
0.3 |
1 |
371 |
599 |
|
21 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
ALANTE VS AMERICA |
0.3 |
1 |
345 |
488 |
|
22 |
FLM SUN 2 |
AZA |
SANTOS VS PACHUCA |
0.2 |
0 |
213 |
345 |
|
23 |
WWE - RAW |
TEL |
|
0.2 |
0 |
258 |
319 |
|
24 |
FLM SAT 1 |
AZA |
JAGUARES VS MONTERREY |
0.1 |
0 |
161 |
237 |
|
25 |
FLM SUN 1 |
AZA |
MONARCAS VS U.A. DE G. |
0.1 |
0 |
56 |
<< |
|
26 |
SABADO DE FUTBOL 11/4(S)-11/04/2006 |
TEL |
URUGUAY V S.I./BAHRAIN V ARGNT |
0.1 |
0 |
76 |
<< |
|
27 |
FUTBOL TELEMUNDO |
TEL |
POLAND VS USA/BRAZIL VS JAPAN |
0.1 |
0 |
146 |
164 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
