 |
Fox's
still strong,
even as Olympics soar
Holding onto sweeps
lead, thanks to Super Bowl
By Kevin Downey
It may seem that the other networks
wither away and die when the Olympics are on, but that hasn’t been the case
for most networks through the first three days of the winter Games.
NBC easily ranked No. 1 in all major demographics last week, as expected,
with record-breaking viewing levels for the Games.
But Fox is holding on as the top-ranked network through the first
11 days of the February sweeps, which are used by local affiliates to set
advertising rates, on the strength of the nearly 87 million people who
watched Super Bowl XXXVI earlier this month.
Although Fox’s standing will change as NBC continues airing the
Salt Lake City winter Olympics, Fox now has an 8.1 adult 18-49 rating
through Sunday while NBC has a 7.8.
The other networks are well behind, understandably. ABC has a 3.3, CBS has a 3.2, UPN
has a 2, and the WB has a 1.5.
Even with the Olympics dominating viewing, though, some of the
networks maintained or improved ratings last week compared to previous
weeks.
That partially reflects the networks' return to original episodes
for the sweeps.
It is especially true for the smaller networks, which
typically target the younger viewers that NBC is actively trying to lure
back to the Games.
The WB, for example, had a 1.8 adult 18-49 rating for the week,
which is 20 percent better than it had the prior week and nearly 13 percent
better than it has averaged this season. The network’s highest-rated shows were
"7th Heaven" and "Smallville," both of which aired before the
Olympics kicked off. The shows had ratings comparable to programs like CBS’s
"The Guardian" and ABC’s "The Chair."
Fox dropped only one-tenth of a point from the season average
it had before the Super Bowl.
The network did well with a lineup consisting mostly of its regular
shows.
"Malcolm in the Middle," for example, may have gotten a boost from
airing after the Super Bowl postgame, when its audience shot up to 21.4
million. The show's audience was two-thirds that size last week, but
"Malcolm" still ranked as Fox’s
top show in the 18-49 demographic with a 6.2 rating.
And UPN only dropped one-tenth of a point from its season
average, although it was the least affected of all the networks by the Olympics,
since it has no weekend programming.
The network’s highest-rated shows were
"Enterprise" and "Buffy."
Meanwhile, CBS and ABC experienced predictable ratings
declines against the winter Games.
CBS’s adult 18-49 rating fell 15 percent below its season average,
while ABC’s rating dropped nearly 18 percent.
For the week, NBC averaged a 9.3 adult 18-49 rating to Fox’s
3.9, CBS’s 3.3, ABC’s 3.2, UPN’s 1.9, and the WB’s 1.8.
NBC also won in households with a 14.4 rating and 23 share.
Its three nights of Olympic coverage all ranked in the top 10 with
an average of more than 29 million viewers. The opening ceremonies last
Friday had an audience in excess of 45.5 million.
CBS had an 8.1/13, ABC had a 5.7/9, Fox had a 5.2/8, UPN had a
2.8/4, and the WB had a 2.6/4.
|
FEBRUARY
SWEEPS-TO-DATE
Ranked on Adults 18-49
January 31-February 10, 2002
|
|
|
Adults 18-49 |
People 2+ |
| Net |
Rtg% |
Share |
(000) |
|
Fox |
8.1 |
20 |
19215 |
|
NBC |
7.8 |
20 |
19764 |
|
ABC |
3.3 |
8 |
8960 |
|
CBS |
3.2 |
8 |
11218 |
|
UPN |
2.0 |
5 |
4784 |
|
WB |
1.5 |
4 |
3557 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
RANKED
ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week
Ending February 10, 2002
|
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS
|
PERSONS
2+ |
ADULTS
18-49 |
|
Net
|
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
|
NBC |
14.4 |
15230 |
23 |
8.9 |
24050 |
22 |
9.3 |
11880 |
23 |
|
CBS |
8.1 |
8550 |
13 |
4.4 |
11840 |
11 |
3.3 |
4230 |
8 |
|
ABC |
5.7 |
6020 |
9 |
3.2 |
8740 |
8 |
3.2 |
4100 |
8 |
|
FOX |
5.2 |
5490 |
8 |
3.1 |
8430 |
7 |
3.9 |
5000 |
10 |
|
UPN |
2.8 |
2920 |
4 |
1.7 |
4540 |
4 |
1.9 |
2420 |
5 |
|
WB |
2.6 |
2720 |
4 |
1.5 |
4110 |
4 |
1.8 |
2290 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.9 |
900 |
1 |
0.5 |
1220 |
1 |
0.3 |
410 |
1 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
RANKED ON
HOUSEHOLDS
Sept. 24, 2001 through Feb. 10,
2002
|
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS
2+ |
ADULTS
18-49 |
|
Net
|
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
SHR |
|
NBC |
8.4 |
8820 |
14 |
4.7 |
12690 |
12 |
5.0 |
6360 |
13 |
|
CBS |
8.3 |
8720 |
13 |
4.6 |
12480 |
12 |
3.9 |
5000 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.8 |
7140 |
11 |
3.8 |
10380 |
10 |
3.9 |
4920 |
10 |
|
FOX |
6.3 |
6680 |
10 |
3.8 |
10240 |
10 |
4.4 |
5570 |
12 |
|
UPN |
2.8 |
2970 |
4 |
1.7 |
4540 |
4 |
2.0 |
2490 |
5 |
|
WB |
2.5 |
2650 |
4 |
1.4 |
3850 |
4 |
1.6 |
2080 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.9 |
960 |
1 |
0.5 |
1300 |
1 |
0.3 |
430 |
1 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK TV
RANKED
ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending February 10, 2002
|
|
|
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS
2+ |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WNTR OLYM OPEN CEREM |
NBC |
25.5 |
42 |
26893 |
1 |
16.9 |
45562 |
|
2 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
17.8 |
28 |
18753 |
4 |
10.6 |
28636 |
|
3 |
E.R. |
NBC |
17.6 |
28 |
18534 |
6 |
10.1 |
27353 |
|
3 |
WNTR OLYM SUN PRIME 1 |
NBC |
17.6 |
27 |
18581 |
2 |
11.2 |
30201 |
|
5 |
FRIENDS- SPCL. |
NBC |
17.2 |
26 |
18154 |
5 |
10.4 |
28085 |
|
6 |
WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 1 |
NBC |
17.1 |
30 |
18069 |
3 |
10.9 |
29409 |
|
7 |
CSI |
CBS |
15.8 |
23 |
16623 |
8 |
9.1 |
24638 |
|
8 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
15.5 |
23 |
16340 |
7 |
9.4 |
25298 |
|
9 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
13.5 |
20 |
14294 |
9 |
7.8 |
20935 |
|
10 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
12.6 |
20 |
13274 |
10 |
7.0 |
18946 |
|
11 |
FRASIER |
NBC |
12.2 |
18 |
12901 |
10 |
7.0 |
18986 |
|
12 |
JUST SHOOT ME |
NBC |
11.7 |
17 |
12302 |
10 |
7.0 |
18928 |
|
12 |
WEST WING |
NBC |
11.7 |
18 |
12339 |
13 |
6.7 |
18143 |
|
14 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
11.6 |
19 |
12218 |
16 |
6.2 |
16698 |
|
15 |
BECKER |
CBS |
11.4 |
17 |
12062 |
14 |
6.4 |
17314 |
|
16 |
CSI-8PM |
CBS |
11.3 |
17 |
11953 |
14 |
6.4 |
17242 |
|
17 |
JAG |
CBS |
11.0 |
17 |
11648 |
17 |
6.1 |
16417 |
|
18 |
JUDGING AMY |
CBS |
10.0 |
16 |
10527 |
18 |
5.3 |
14340 |
|
19 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
9.1 |
14 |
9634 |
18 |
5.3 |
14187 |
|
20 |
CBS WEDNESDAY MOVIE- SPCL
("Diagnosis Murder") |
CBS |
9.0 |
14 |
9535 |
28 |
4.6 |
12534 |
|
21 |
MY WIFE AND KIDS |
ABC |
8.9 |
14 |
9359 |
18 |
5.3 |
14426 |
|
22 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
8.6 |
14 |
9103 |
25 |
4.7 |
12659 |
|
22 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
8.6 |
13 |
9083 |
25 |
4.7 |
12626 |
|
24 |
YES, DEAR |
CBS |
8.5 |
12 |
8974 |
22 |
4.9 |
13306 |
|
25 |
GUARDIAN, THE |
CBS |
8.4 |
12 |
8884 |
28 |
4.6 |
12515 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
CABLE TV
RANKED
ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending February 3, 2002
|
|
BASIC CABLE |
| |
|
|
House-
holds |
House- holds |
Persons
2+ |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Net |
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
WWF ENTERTAINMENT (WWF RAW
ZONE) |
TNN |
3875 |
3.7 |
5885 |
|
2 |
WWF ENTERTAINMENT (WWF RAW) |
TNN |
3837 |
3.6 |
6074 |
|
3 |
STATE OF THE UNION 2002(S)-
01/29/2002 |
FOXNC |
3090 |
2.9 |
5024 |
|
4 |
ST UNION/ ANALYSIS(S)-
01/29/2002 |
FOXNC |
3007 |
2.9 |
4881 |
|
5 |
REAL WORLD XI |
MTV |
2891 |
2.7 |
3613 |
|
6 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2511 |
2.4 |
3906 |
|
7 |
MOVIE, USA (DELTA FORCE) |
USA |
2475 |
2.3 |
3485 |
|
8 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2463 |
2.3 |
3681 |
|
9 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2413 |
2.3 |
3486 |
|
10 |
ST UNION/DEM RESPONSE(S)-
01/29/2002 |
FOXNC |
2374 |
2.2 |
3792 |
|
11 |
HEY ARNOLD |
NICK |
2347 |
2.2 |
3486 |
|
12 |
RUGRATS |
NICK |
2331 |
2.2 |
3630 |
|
13 |
SATURDAY MOVIE (KILLING SECRET,
THE) |
LIF |
2330 |
2.2 |
2966 |
|
14 |
PRIME MOVIE (SWEET TEMPTATION) |
LIF |
2321 |
2.2 |
2866 |
|
15 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2310 |
2.2 |
3651 |
|
PAY CABLE |
| |
|
|
House-
holds |
House- holds |
Persons
2+ |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Net |
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
SEX AND THE CITY(S)-02/03/2002 |
HBO |
3153 |
3.0 |
4344 |
|
2 |
WCB: JONES, JR. VS. KELLY
(JONES, JR. VS. KELLY) |
HBO |
3011 |
2.9 |
4652 |
|
3 |
CHARLIES ANGELS |
HBO |
2826 |
2.7 |
4616 |
|
4 |
WCB: JONES, JR. VS. KELLY (PRE
2) |
HBO |
2742 |
2.6 |
4291 |
|
5 |
WCB: JONES, JR. VS. KELLY
(HOPKINS VS. DANIELS) |
HBO |
2619 |
2.5 |
3936 |
|
Total U.S. ratings and household projections are based on
105.5 million TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SYNDICATION
RANKED
ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending January 27, 2002
|
|
|
|
|
Households |
Households |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Syndicator |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
10.4 |
11013 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
8.8 |
9260 |
|
3 |
FRIENDS-SYN (AT) |
WB |
7.7 |
8120 |
|
4 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
CTS |
7.1 |
7449 |
|
5 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
6.7 |
7071 |
|
6 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN |
KIN |
6.3 |
6605 |
|
6 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
6.3 |
6604 |
|
8 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
CTS |
5.8 |
6163 |
|
9 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5.7 |
5987 |
|
10 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
4.3 |
4550 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending February 10, 2002
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI*
Rtg% |
Projection (000) |
|
1 |
AMIGAS Y RIVALES-TUE |
UNV |
30.7 |
3133 |
|
2 |
AMIGAS Y RIVALES-WED |
UNV |
27.3 |
2784 |
|
3 |
DERECHO DE NACER-WED |
UNV |
27.2 |
2771 |
|
4 |
AMIGAS Y RIVALES-FRI |
UNV |
27.0 |
2753 |
|
4 |
AMIGAS Y RIVALES-MON |
UNV |
27.0 |
2751 |
|
6 |
NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS
2/7(S)-02/07/2002 |
UNV |
26.9 |
2741 |
|
7 |
DERECHO DE NACER-TUE |
UNV |
26.5 |
2704 |
|
8 |
DERECHO DE NACER-MON |
UNV |
24.9 |
2539 |
|
9 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNV |
24.4 |
2487 |
|
10 |
LO QUE NO VIO P.NSTRO
2/8(S)-02/08/2002 |
UNV |
23.6 |
2404 |
|
11 |
INTRUSA TUE |
UNV |
22.1 |
2256 |
|
12 |
INTRUSA MON |
UNV |
21.2 |
2164 |
|
13 |
INTRUSA WED |
UNV |
20.9 |
2130 |
|
14 |
INTRUSA FRI |
UNV |
20.6 |
2100 |
|
15 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNV |
19.7 |
2013 |
|
16 |
AQUI Y AHORA-TUE |
UNV |
19.2 |
1955 |
|
17 |
DISENADOR AMBOS SEXOS FRI |
UNV |
16.8 |
1713 |
|
18 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNV |
15.7 |
1605 |
|
19 |
HORA PICO-FRI |
UNV |
15.1 |
1543 |
|
20 |
MJR.CASOS V.R ED. ESP SUN |
UNV |
12.5 |
1280 |
|
SPANISH LANGUAGE CABLE NETWORKS |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI Rating |
Projection (000) |
|
1 |
QUE LOCOS (WED) |
GALA |
0.7 |
75 |
|
2 |
QUE LOCOS (SUN) |
GALA |
0.6 |
65 |
|
2 |
CONCIERTA INTIMIDAD (SUN) |
GALA |
0.6 |
63 |
|
2 |
CON GANAS |
GALA |
0.6 |
60 |
|
2 |
VIDEOMIX (SUN) |
GALA |
0.6 |
58 |
|
2 |
LUCHA LIBRE |
GALA |
0.6 |
56 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index
NHTI ratings and projections are based on 10.2 million
Hispanic TV homes in the U.S.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
SPORTS
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending February 3, 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
House-
holds |
House-
holds |
House-
holds |
Persons 2+ |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
SUPER BOWL XXXVI(S)-
02/03/2002 |
FOX |
NEW ENGLAND VS ST
LOUIS |
40.4 |
61 |
42664 |
86801 |
|
2 |
WWF SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
3.9 |
6 |
4118 |
6649 |
|
3 |
NBA BASKETBALL GM
2-SUN |
NBC |
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
AT DALLAS |
3.8 |
8 |
3957 |
5188 |
|
4 |
AT&T PBL BCH NTL
PRO-SUN(S)- 02/03/2002 |
CBS |
|
3.4 |
7 |
3578 |
4819 |
|
5 |
CHEVY SKATING SPEC-
TACULAR(S)- 02/03/2002 |
ABC |
|
3.0 |
6 |
3117 |
4538 |
|
6 |
AT&T PBL BCH NTL
PRO-SAT(S)- 02/02/2002 |
CBS |
|
3.0 |
8 |
3128 |
4155 |
|
7 |
NBA BASKETBALL |
NBC |
IND AT WASH/ MIAMI
AT NEW YORK |
3.0 |
8 |
3153 |
3763 |
|
8 |
NBA BASKETBALL- SAT
GM2 |
NBC |
PHILA-
DELPHIA AT MIL-
WAUKEE |
2.8 |
6 |
3004 |
3974 |
|
9 |
NBA BASKETBALL- SAT |
NBC |
PORTLAND AT UTAH |
1.9 |
5 |
2050 |
2643 |
|
10 |
NHL ALL-STAR GAME-
ABC(S)- 02/02/2002 |
ABC |
|
1.8 |
5 |
1863 |
2676 |
|
11 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-
SUN-1 |
CBS |
MICH STATE AT
ILLINOIS |
1.8 |
4 |
1866 |
2325 |
|
12 |
WINTER X-GAMES-
2/3(S)- 02/03/2002 |
ABC |
|
1.6 |
4 |
1658 |
2242 |
|
13 |
WINTER X GAMES-
2/2(S)- 02/02/2002 |
ABC |
|
1.4 |
4 |
1503 |
2333 |
|
14 |
CBS SPORTS SPEC-
TACULAR- SUN. |
CBS |
M.LYNCH CELEBRITY
SKI CLASSIC |
1.4 |
4 |
1527 |
1774 |
|
15 |
ABC NCAA BASKETBALL-
SUN. |
ABC |
VA AT MO/DEPAUL AT
UNLV |
1.2 |
3 |
1310 |
1881 |
|
16 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-
SAT-1 |
CBS |
UNC AT GEORGIA TECH |
1.2 |
3 |
1262 |
1485 |
|
17 |
COLLEGE ALL-STAR
SKILLS(S)- 02/02/2002 |
FOX |
|
1.2 |
3 |
1269 |
1731 |
|
18 |
ROYAL CARIB CLSC(S)-
02/01/2002 |
PAX |
|
0.2 |
1 |
164 |
209 |
|
19 |
WAL-MART FLW TOUR |
PAX |
|
0.1 |
0 |
143 |
151 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
February 13, 2002 © 2002 Media Life
- Kevin
Downey
is a staff writer for Media Life.

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