“American Idol” has whacked nearly every show in its path this season. Viewership has plummeted for competing programs such as CBS’s “Armed & Famous,” NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” and ABC’s “The Knights of Prosperity.”
There's but one exception: Univision’s “La Fea Mas Bella.” Though the Mexican telenovela appeals to the same young adults 18-34 audience as “Idol,” its viewership has actually been growing in recent weeks against the Fox behemoth.
“Bella’s” two highest-rated episodes last week, the week ended Jan. 28, aired opposite “Idol” on Tuesday and Wednesday, when it averaged a 2.8 rating in adults 18-49. In terms of total viewers, it was the show's second-most-watched week ever in that demo, averaging 3.5 million 18-49s.
And in adults 18-34, it ranked second behind “Idol” on both nights, averaging a 3.1, a full 0.8 points ahead of anything else airing against "Idol" on either night.
Further, against the season premiere of the Fox show two weeks ago, “Bella” had its most-watched week ever, averaging 6.2 million total viewers in the 8 p.m. weeknight timeslot.
Why is “Bella” thriving while “Idol” bludgeons most of the competition?
One reason is its romantic plotline, which has been building for weeks, and at such a pace that even “Idol” can't draw fans away. As with the American series on ABC, both of them remakes of the original Colombian telenovela, the show follows the romantic adventures of a woman of considerable smarts but not the greatest looks who works for a gorgeous male boss.
Another is that “Idol” simply isn’t as popular in Hispanic households, making it less of a threat to “Bella.” The four-hour “Idol” season premiere averaged a 16 household share among Hispanics, barely half the 30 share it averaged in English-speaking households.
Finally, as a melodramatic romance, “Bella” appeals to a very different audience than “Idol," especially in these early episodes, when the reality show is more comedy than anything, as contestants make fools of themselves in what are often wacky auditions.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Jan. 28:
Among adults 18-49, Fox finished first rather comfortably with a 5.2 average rating and a 14 share. Fox was followed by CBS at 3.0/8, ABC at 2.9/8, NBC at 2.6/7, Univision at 1.7/4, CW at 1.3/3, Telemundo at 0.4/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, Fox was first at 4.9/15, followed by ABC at 2.3/7, NBC at 2.1/6, CBS at 1.9/6, Univision at 1.8/5, CW at 1.5/4, Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura at 0.4/1, and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, Fox was first at 5.5/15, followed by CBS at 4.0/10, ABC at 3.3/8, NBC at 3.1/8, Univision at 1.6/4, CW at 1.3/3, Telemundo and Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five (18-49s): 1. Fox’s “American Idol - Wednesday” 14.1; 2. Fox’s “American Idol - Tuesday” 13.3; 3. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 8.9; 4. CBS’s “CSI” 6.7; 5. NBC’s “Heroes” 6.6.
Top five (total viewers): 1. Fox’s “American Idol - Wednesday” 33.87 million; 2. Fox’s “American Idol - Tuesday” 32.60 million; 3. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 21.50 million; 4. CBS’s “CSI” 21.17 million; 5. CBS’s “CSI: Miami” 18.85 million.
Bottom five (18-49s): Tie-94. NBC’s “Dateline - Saturday,” CW’s “Girlfriends,” “All of Us,” and “The Game” 1.1; Tie-100. CW’s “Reba,” “Beauty and the Geek Encore” and “Reba” 1.0; 103. NBC’s “Crossing Jordan” 0.8.
Bottom five (total viewers): 99. CW’s “All of Us” 2.46 million; Tie-100. CW’s “The Game” and “Girlfriends” 2.25 million; 102. CW’s “One Tree Hill” 2.23 million; 103. CW’s “Beauty and the Geek Encore” 1.88 million.
Show on the rise: “What About Brian” ABC, Monday 10 p.m. “Brian” saw week-to-week increases despite airing against originals of CBS’s “CSI: Miami” and NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” The show jumped 14 percent among 18-49s to a 2.5 rating, a week after posting a 2.2 while airing against the Golden Globes.
Show on the decline: “Armed & Famous,” CBS, Wednesday 8 p.m. After four low-rated outings, the show has been canned.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 28 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.5 |
8400 |
12 |
4.1 |
11640 |
10 |
3.0 |
3940 |
8 |
|
FOX |
7.4 |
8190 |
11 |
4.4 |
12560 |
11 |
5.2 |
6820 |
14 |
|
ABC |
5.2 |
5810 |
8 |
2.8 |
7990 |
7 |
2.9 |
3760 |
8 |
|
NBC |
5.0 |
5520 |
8 |
2.7 |
7740 |
7 |
2.6 |
3460 |
7 |
|
UNI |
2.1 |
2340 |
3 |
1.4 |
3870 |
3 |
1.7 |
2170 |
4 |
|
CW |
2.1 |
2330 |
3 |
1.2 |
3290 |
3 |
1.3 |
1750 |
3 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
570 |
1 |
0.3 |
850 |
1 |
0.4 |
530 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
500 |
1 |
0.2 |
680 |
1 |
0.1 |
150 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
450 |
1 |
0.3 |
720 |
1 |
0.3 |
460 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
150 |
0 |
0.1 |
220 |
0 |
0.1 |
150 |
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 Jan. 28 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.0 |
8890 |
13 |
4.4 |
12520 |
11 |
3.7 |
4860 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.5 |
7250 |
11 |
3.6 |
10110 |
9 |
3.6 |
4640 |
10 |
|
NBC |
6.3 |
7030 |
10 |
3.5 |
9820 |
9 |
3.5 |
4590 |
9 |
|
FOX |
5.7 |
6300 |
9 |
3.2 |
9040 |
8 |
3.4 |
4470 |
9 |
|
CW |
2.1 |
2350 |
3 |
1.1 |
3250 |
3 |
1.3 |
1750 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2150 |
3 |
1.2 |
3500 |
3 |
1.5 |
1970 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
570 |
1 |
0.3 |
840 |
1 |
0.4 |
500 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
480 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
420 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.3 |
400 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 28 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
18.9 |
28 |
21048 |
1 |
11.9 |
1 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
18.0 |
26 |
19999 |
2 |
11.5 |
2 |
|
3 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
14.0 |
21 |
15593 |
3 |
7.6 |
3 |
|
4 |
CSI |
CBS |
13.2 |
20 |
14706 |
4 |
7.5 |
4 |
|
5 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
12.1 |
19 |
13457 |
5 |
6.7 |
5 |
|
6 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
10.7 |
16 |
11898 |
6 |
6.2 |
6 |
|
7 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
10.0 |
14 |
11119 |
7 |
5.6 |
7 |
|
8 |
COLD CASE(S) |
CBS |
9.4 |
14 |
10503 |
8 |
5.3 |
8 |
|
9 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
9.3 |
15 |
10323 |
13 |
5.0 |
9 |
|
9 |
HALLMARK HALL OF FAME(S) |
CBS |
9.3 |
14 |
10342 |
10 |
5.2 |
9 |
|
9 |
NCIS |
CBS |
9.3 |
14 |
10338 |
10 |
5.2 |
9 |
|
9 |
SHARK |
CBS |
9.3 |
16 |
10412 |
13 |
5.0 |
9 |
|
13 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
8.9 |
15 |
9935 |
15 |
4.7 |
13 |
|
14 |
24 |
FOX |
8.7 |
12 |
9644 |
12 |
5.1 |
14 |
|
15 |
HEROES |
NBC |
8.6 |
12 |
9558 |
8 |
5.3 |
15 |
|
16 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
8.3 |
12 |
9255 |
16 |
4.5 |
16 |
|
17 |
CSI: MIAMI THURSDAY-SP(S) |
CBS |
7.9 |
12 |
8805 |
17 |
4.3 |
17 |
|
18 |
MEN IN TREES |
ABC |
7.5 |
13 |
8319 |
19 |
3.8 |
18 |
|
19 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
6.8 |
10 |
7541 |
17 |
4.3 |
19 |
|
19 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
6.8 |
11 |
7539 |
21 |
3.5 |
19 |
|
21 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
6.5 |
10 |
7191 |
24 |
3.4 |
21 |
|
22 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED |
NBC |
6.2 |
9 |
6910 |
21 |
3.5 |
22 |
|
22 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
6.2 |
9 |
6852 |
21 |
3.5 |
22 |
|
24 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
6.1 |
9 |
6769 |
27 |
3.2 |
24 |
|
25 |
SUPERNANNY |
ABC |
6.0 |
9 |
6712 |
27 |
3.2 |
25 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Jan. 28 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
14.1 |
18428 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
13.3 |
17412 |
|
3 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
8.9 |
11568 |
|
4 |
CSI |
CBS |
6.7 |
8717 |
|
5 |
HEROES |
NBC |
6.6 |
8569 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
6.1 |
7917 |
|
7 |
24 |
FOX |
5.4 |
7067 |
|
8 |
DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON |
NBC |
5.2 |
6767 |
|
9 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
4.8 |
6295 |
|
10 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.4 |
5717 |
|
11 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
4.3 |
5680 |
|
12 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
4.2 |
5427 |
|
13 |
OLD CHRISTINE |
CBS |
4.1 |
5335 |
|
14 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
3.9 |
5039 |
|
15 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
3.8 |
4919 |
|
15 |
SHARK |
CBS |
3.8 |
4949 |
|
17 |
MEN IN TREES |
ABC |
3.7 |
4865 |
|
17 |
OFFICE |
NBC |
3.7 |
4858 |
|
17 |
SUPERNANNY |
ABC |
3.7 |
4805 |
|
20 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
3.6 |
4638 |
|
20 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
3.6 |
4648 |
|
22 |
COLD CASE(S) |
CBS |
3.5 |
4528 |
|
22 |
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
CBS |
3.5 |
4511 |
|
22 |
WIFE SWAP |
ABC |
3.5 |
4513 |
|
25 |
APPRENTICE 6 |
NBC |
3.4 |
4399 |
|
25 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
3.4 |
4501 |
|
25 |
MY NAME IS EARL |
NBC |
3.4 |
4417 |
|
25 |
NCIS |
CBS |
3.4 |
4453 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 28 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
25.6 |
5926 |
|
2 |
DUELO DE PASIONES M-F |
UNI |
17.2 |
3516 |
|
3 |
MUNDO DE FIERAS M-F |
UNI |
16.9 |
3545 |
|
4 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
15.1 |
2835 |
|
5 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
14.8 |
2789 |
|
6 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
14.6 |
2566 |
|
7 |
BAILANDO BODA SUENOS SUN |
UNI |
14.5 |
3172 |
|
8 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
11.6 |
2396 |
|
8 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI |
UNI |
11.6 |
2276 |
|
10 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
11.2 |
2235 |
|
11 |
LLEGA FBRE OBJ FAMA 1/28(S)-01/28/2007 |
UNI |
7.5 |
1369 |
|
12 |
MARINA M-F |
TEL |
7.0 |
1210 |
|
13 |
VIUDA DE BLANCO M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
1130 |
|
14 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
6.5 |
1270 |
|
15 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
5.5 |
1137 |
|
16 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER II |
TEL |
5.4 |
1101 |
|
17 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
5.3 |
1188 |
|
18 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
4.7 |
912 |
|
18 |
AMOR MIO M-F |
TEL |
4.7 |
957 |
|
20 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
4.5 |
1058 |
|
21 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SAT |
TF |
4.0 |
795 |
|
22 |
FLM SUN 2 |
AZA |
3.8 |
832 |
|
23 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-THU |
TF |
3.6 |
724 |
|
24 |
QUE DICE LA GENTE M-F |
TF |
3.3 |
682 |
|
25 |
SOLO BOXEO TECATE FRI |
TF |
3.0 |
528 |
|
25 |
VAS O NO VAS |
TEL |
3.0 |
468 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 28 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
10.6 |
1997 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
10.3 |
1870 |
|
3 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
7.3 |
1180 |
|
4 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
5.3 |
894 |
|
5 |
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN |
CW |
5.2 |
1108 |
|
6 |
HEROES |
NBC |
4.6 |
817 |
|
7 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
4.5 |
880 |
|
8 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.3 |
900 |
|
9 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
4.1 |
663 |
|
9 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
4.1 |
823 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 21 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
AFC CHAMP POST GUN ON CBS |
CBS |
30.5 |
6114 |
|
2 |
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON CBS |
CBS |
27.6 |
5652 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
27.0 |
5740 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
25.9 |
5510 |
|
5 |
AFC CHMP POST GAME ON CBS |
CBS |
23.8 |
4619 |
|
6 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
13.4 |
2513 |
|
7 |
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS |
NBC |
12.2 |
2121 |
|
8 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
11.9 |
2138 |
|
9 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
10.8 |
1995 |
|
10 |
CSI |
CBS |
10.7 |
1871 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.45 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 21 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON CBS(S)-01/21/2007 |
CBS |
NEW ENGLAND AT INDIANAPOLIS |
26.4 |
39 |
29368 |
46695 |
|
2 |
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP(S)-01/21/2007 |
FOX |
NEW ORLEANS AT CHICAGO |
25.1 |
45 |
27967 |
43247 |
|
3 |
FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-GUN(S)-01/21/2007 |
FOX |
NEW ORLEANS AT CHICAGO |
17.6 |
29 |
19580 |
30337 |
|
4 |
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN |
CW |
|
2.9 |
5 |
3236 |
4541 |
|
5 |
NBA ON ABC-SUN 1 |
ABC |
DALLAS AT MIAMI |
2.0 |
4 |
2175 |
2799 |
|
6 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT-2 |
CBS |
IND AT UCONN/LSU AT ARK |
1.5 |
3 |
1647 |
2063 |
|
7 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/21-A(S)-01/21/2007 |
NBC |
INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW |
1.5 |
3 |
1680 |
2182 |
|
8 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/20-C(S)-01/20/2007 |
NBC |
PRO BULL RIDING |
1.4 |
3 |
1601 |
2031 |
|
9 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/21-C(S)-01/21/2007 |
NBC |
FASHION ON ICE |
1.4 |
2 |
1515 |
1944 |
|
10 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT-1 |
CBS |
TEXAS AT VILL/GEORGIA AT BAMA |
1.3 |
3 |
1398 |
1706 |
|
11 |
ABC NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT. |
ABC |
DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE |
1.2 |
3 |
1284 |
1594 |
|
12 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SU |
CBS |
AMA SUPERCROSS-ANAHEIM |
1.2 |
3 |
1335 |
1568 |
|
13 |
POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT |
NBC |
|
0.9 |
5 |
985 |
1066 |
|
14 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/20-B(S)-01/20/2007 |
NBC |
USSA FREESTYLE SKIING |
0.9 |
2 |
996 |
1187 |
|
15 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SUN-2 |
CBS |
MARQUETTE AT PITTSBURGH |
0.8 |
1 |
890 |
1170 |
|
16 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/21-B(S)-01/21/2007 |
NBC |
JEEP ADVENTURE SERIES |
0.8 |
2 |
893 |
1115 |
|
17 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/20-A(S)-01/20/2007 |
NBC |
SNOWBOARDING |
0.7 |
2 |
828 |
993 |
|
18 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN |
UNI |
UNAM VS ATLAS |
0.7 |
2 |
773 |
1157 |
|
19 |
HONDA SKI TOUR SAT(S)-01/20/2007 |
ABC |
|
0.6 |
2 |
702 |
906 |
|
20 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
GUDALAJARA VS TOLUCA |
0.6 |
1 |
646 |
1149 |
|
21 |
SOLO BOXEO TECATE FRI |
TF |
ESCLNTE/PSTRANA-HRNANDZ/OLVERA |
0.4 |
1 |
463 |
725 |
|
22 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEXICAN SUN |
TF |
AMERICA VS SAN LUIS |
0.4 |
1 |
466 |
712 |
|
23 |
FLM SAT 2 |
AZA |
CRUZ AZUL VS PACHUCA |
0.3 |
1 |
344 |
467 |
|
24 |
WWE - RAW |
TEL |
|
0.3 |
1 |
373 |
495 |
|
25 |
FLM SAT 1 |
AZA |
QUERETARO VS VERACRUZ |
0.2 |
0 |
178 |
214 |
|
26 |
FLM SAT 3 |
AZA |
MONARCAS VS ATLANTE |
0.1 |
0 |
97 |
<< |
|
27 |
FLM SUN 1 |
AZA |
U.A. DE G. VS TIGRES |
0.1 |
0 |
79 |
<< |
|
28 |
SABADO DE FUTBOL |
TEL |
REAL MADRID VS REAL BETIS |
0.1 |
0 |
137 |
189 |
|
29 |
FUTBOL TELEMUNDO |
TEL |
ECUADOR VS SWEDEN |
0.1 |
0 |
98 |
176 |
|
* Note: The chart for the week ended Sept. 3 was delayed.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
