|
|
room for 'Fear Factor'
Surprising strength among kids from 2 to 14
By Toni Fitzgerald
When we think of kid viewers, we think of shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants," with shows like NBC's "Fear Factor" pulling more mature audiences.
But that's not the way it was last week, when a special episode of the NBC gross-out reality show drew its best ratings ever overall and proved especially powerful among younger viewers.
The show ranked No. 1 among kids 9-14 and No. 8 among kids 2-11, in a category where cable shows almost always dominate the top 20.
But among 2-11s, “Fear Factor’s” 6.2 rating was just .5 off perennial category leader “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
In fact, “Fear Factor” and “SpongeBob” actually squared off at 8 p.m. on Monday. The Nickelodeon show, which accounted for six of the top 10 spots among 2-11s, drew a 6.1, .1 behind “Fear Factor.”
“Fear Factor” became the first non-Fox program to rank No. 1 among 9-14s in weeks. “Joe Millionaire,” “The Simpsons” and “American Idol” have dominated the category since the February sweeps, but “Fear Factor’s” 8.2 rating was .3 ahead of the Tuesday version of “Idol.”
The older the audience, the farther “Fear Factor” dipped in the ratings, but the show has clearly become a hit.
It ranked in the top 10 for every major demographic while pulling in its biggest viewership ever, thanks to the special trip to Las Vegas.
NBC supersized the episode to 90 minutes and thus also helped “Fear Factor” to another first. The show outdrew an original episode of the CBS hit “Everybody Loves Raymond” among 18-49s at 9 p.m.
For the past two weeks, NBC has pre-empted its older-skewing “Third Watch” and “Crossing Jordan” in favor of 90-minute “Fear Factor” and “Meet My Folks.”
Though some viewers complained of missing those shows, NBC’s move proved smart. Both dramas attract an audience, but not nearly as large as “Fear Factor’s.”
And the “Fear Factor” audience simply doesn’t funnel well into the 9 p.m. “Third Watch.” It is very compatible with the low-brow “Folks,” which ranked No. 22 among 9-14s, No. 14 among 12-17s and No. 14 among 12-24s.
ABC had a dismal week among viewers 18-34 and 18-49. The network had just one show, “Alias,” rank in the top 30 in a week when most shows were in reruns.
Among 18-24s, the only ABC show in the top 30 was No. 28 “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
Even cable’s “WWE Smackdown” on TNN and “Real World” on MTV finished higher than that.
NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” was the only non-primetime show to rank among the top 30 for 18-34s, placing just below “Alias.”
An original episode of NBC’s “Friends” easily outdistanced “American Idol” for No. 1 among 18-34s and 18-24s. “Idol,” it seems, is more popular with the older crowd, where it finished tied for first with CBS’s “CSI” among 18-49s.
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
CSI |
CBS |
10.3 |
13.24 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
10.3 |
13.22 |
|
3 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
10.0 |
12.87 |
|
4 |
E.R. |
NBC |
9.9 |
12.77 |
|
5 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
8.7 |
11.22 |
|
6 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
8.1 |
10.38 |
|
7 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
8.0 |
10.31 |
|
8 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
7.7 |
9.85 |
|
9 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
7.7 |
9.84 |
|
10 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
7.0 |
8.94 |
|
11 |
GOOD MORNING MIAMI |
NBC |
6.4 |
8.22 |
|
12 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
6.3 |
8.08 |
|
13 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.9 |
7.63 |
|
14 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
5.9 |
7.58 |
|
15 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
5.9 |
7.58 |
|
16 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
5.9 |
7.58 |
|
17 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
5.5 |
7.10 |
|
18 |
STILL STANDING |
CBS |
5.4 |
7.01 |
|
19 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
5.4 |
6.99 |
|
20 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
5.2 |
6.62 |
|
21 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
5.2 |
6.62 |
|
22 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
5.0 |
6.43 |
|
23 |
LAW & ORDER 3/12(S)-03/12/2003 |
NBC |
4.6 |
5.92 |
|
24 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
4.5 |
5.83 |
|
25 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
4.5 |
5.81 |
|
26 |
YES, DEAR |
CBS |
4.4 |
5.60 |
|
27 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
4.3 |
5.59 |
|
28 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
4.3 |
5.52 |
|
29 |
BOOMTOWN |
NBC |
4.2 |
5.45 |
|
30 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
4.2 |
5.37 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
11.3 |
7.29 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
9.6 |
6.23 |
|
3 |
E.R. |
NBC |
9.3 |
6.01 |
|
4 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
9.0 |
5.81 |
|
5 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
8.7 |
5.64 |
|
6 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
8.0 |
5.16 |
|
7 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
7.9 |
5.14 |
|
8 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.7 |
4.98 |
|
9 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
7.1 |
4.57 |
|
10 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
6.6 |
4.26 |
|
11 |
GOOD MORNING MIAMI |
NBC |
6.5 |
4.19 |
|
12 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
6.0 |
3.86 |
|
13 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
5.9 |
3.82 |
|
14 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
5.8 |
3.75 |
|
15 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
5.5 |
3.59 |
|
16 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
5.4 |
3.49 |
|
17 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
5.1 |
3.29 |
|
18 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
4.8 |
3.08 |
|
19 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
4.7 |
3.06 |
|
20 |
BOSTON PUBLIC |
FOX |
4.3 |
2.80 |
|
21 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
4.3 |
2.77 |
|
22 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
4.3 |
2.76 |
|
23 |
LAW & ORDER 3/12(S)-03/12/2003 |
NBC |
4.1 |
2.64 |
|
24 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
4.1 |
2.64 |
|
25 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
4.0 |
2.57 |
|
26 |
MARRIED BY AMERICA |
FOX |
3.9 |
2.53 |
|
27 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
3.9 |
2.50 |
|
28 |
SATURDAY NIGHT |
NBC |
3.8 |
2.49 |
|
29 |
BOOMTOWN |
NBC |
3.8 |
2.44 |
|
30 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/11(S)-03/11/2003 |
NBC |
3.6 |
2.33 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
8.4 |
2.26 |
|
2 |
E.R. |
NBC |
8.0 |
2.14 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
7.4 |
1.98 |
|
4 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
6.6 |
1.76 |
|
5 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
6.4 |
1.73 |
|
6 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
6.4 |
1.72 |
|
7 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
6.0 |
1.61 |
|
8 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
6.0 |
1.60 |
|
9 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
5.9 |
1.57 |
|
10 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
5.5 |
1.47 |
|
11 |
GOOD MORNING MIAMI |
NBC |
5.5 |
1.47 |
|
12 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
5.4 |
1.46 |
|
13 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
5.1 |
1.38 |
|
14 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
5.1 |
1.38 |
|
15 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
4.4 |
1.19 |
|
16 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.4 |
1.19 |
|
17 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
3.7 |
0.99 |
|
18 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.7 |
0.99 |
|
19 |
REAL WORLD XII |
MTV |
3.5 |
0.95 |
|
20 |
SATURDAY NIGHT |
NBC |
3.5 |
0.93 |
|
21 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
3.3 |
0.90 |
|
22 |
BOSTON PUBLIC |
FOX |
3.2 |
0.86 |
|
23 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
3.2 |
0.86 |
|
23 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/11(S)-03/11/2003 |
NBC |
3.2 |
0.86 |
|
25 |
SIMPSONS SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
3.1 |
0.84 |
|
26 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
3.1 |
0.83 |
|
27 |
MARRIED BY AMERICA |
FOX |
3.0 |
0.79 |
|
28 |
AMER FUNN HM VIDEOS-3/14(S)-03/14/2003 |
ABC |
2.9 |
0.77 |
|
29 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
2.8 |
0.75 |
|
30 |
STILL STANDING |
CBS |
2.7 |
0.71 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
8.2 |
4.25 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
7.6 |
3.94 |
|
3 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
7.3 |
3.76 |
|
4 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
6.7 |
3.47 |
|
5 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
6.5 |
3.36 |
|
6 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
6.4 |
3.30 |
|
7 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
5.9 |
3.05 |
|
8 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
5.9 |
3.04 |
|
9 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
5.8 |
3.02 |
|
10 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
5.8 |
3.02 |
|
11 |
E.R. |
NBC |
5.7 |
2.96 |
|
12 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
5.4 |
2.81 |
|
13 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.7 |
2.40 |
|
14 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
4.5 |
2.35 |
|
15 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
4.5 |
2.32 |
|
16 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
4.4 |
2.29 |
|
17 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
4.4 |
2.27 |
|
18 |
GOOD MORNING MIAMI |
NBC |
4.2 |
2.15 |
|
19 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
3.9 |
2.04 |
|
20 |
SIMPSONS SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
3.6 |
1.87 |
|
21 |
BOSTON PUBLIC |
FOX |
3.5 |
1.82 |
|
22 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
3.5 |
1.82 |
|
23 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
3.3 |
1.71 |
|
24 |
GEORGE LOPEZ |
ABC |
3.2 |
1.66 |
|
25 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
3.2 |
1.63 |
|
26 |
SATURDAY NIGHT |
NBC |
3.1 |
1.59 |
|
27 |
WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY |
ABC |
3.0 |
1.57 |
|
28 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
3.0 |
1.56 |
|
29 |
STILL STANDING |
CBS |
2.9 |
1.51 |
|
30 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
2.9 |
1.51 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
9.1 |
2.27 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
9.0 |
2.23 |
|
3 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
8.2 |
2.03 |
|
4 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
7.2 |
1.79 |
|
5 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
6.8 |
1.70 |
|
6 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
6.7 |
1.66 |
|
7 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
6.6 |
1.64 |
|
8 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
6.4 |
1.59 |
|
9 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
5.9 |
1.46 |
|
10 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
5.7 |
1.41 |
|
11 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
5.2 |
1.28 |
|
12 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.9 |
1.22 |
|
13 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
4.9 |
1.21 |
|
14 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
4.7 |
1.16 |
|
15 |
WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY |
ABC |
4.6 |
1.15 |
|
16 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
4.6 |
1.14 |
|
17 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
4.3 |
1.06 |
|
18 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
4.2 |
1.05 |
|
19 |
SIMPSONS SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
4.1 |
1.03 |
|
20 |
GEORGE LOPEZ |
ABC |
4.1 |
1.03 |
|
21 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
4.0 |
0.99 |
|
22 |
BOSTON PUBLIC |
FOX |
3.9 |
0.96 |
|
23 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
3.8 |
0.95 |
|
24 |
YU-GI-OH - WB |
WB |
3.7 |
0.92 |
|
25 |
MOVIE, USA |
USA |
3.5 |
0.87 |
|
26 |
MY WIFE AND KIDS |
ABC |
3.5 |
0.86 |
|
27 |
E.R. |
NBC |
3.3 |
0.82 |
|
28 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
3.3 |
0.82 |
|
29 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
3.3 |
0.81 |
|
30 |
POKEMON - WB |
WB |
3.2 |
0.80 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
8.2 |
2.06 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
7.9 |
1.98 |
|
3 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
7.7 |
1.94 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
7.5 |
1.88 |
|
5 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
7.0 |
1.77 |
|
6 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
6.3 |
1.58 |
|
7 |
OLIVER BEENE |
FOX |
6.0 |
1.51 |
|
8 |
SURVIVOR: AMAZON |
CBS |
5.9 |
1.49 |
|
9 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
5.7 |
1.44 |
|
10 |
YU-GI-OH - WB |
WB |
5.5 |
1.39 |
|
11 |
WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY |
ABC |
5.4 |
1.37 |
|
12 |
POKEMON - WB |
WB |
5.4 |
1.35 |
|
13 |
CSI |
CBS |
5.1 |
1.29 |
|
14 |
CEDRIC ENTERTAINER: PRESN |
FOX |
5.0 |
1.27 |
|
15 |
STATIC SHOCK - WB |
WB |
4.9 |
1.23 |
|
16 |
POKEMON-3/15-WB(S)-03/15/2003 |
WB |
4.9 |
1.22 |
|
17 |
JACKIE CHAN ADV - WB |
WB |
4.8 |
1.20 |
|
18 |
MUMMY - WB |
WB |
4.7 |
1.18 |
|
19 |
SIMPSONS SPL(S)-03/16/2003 |
FOX |
4.7 |
1.17 |
|
20 |
KING OF THE HILL |
FOX |
4.6 |
1.15 |
|
21 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
4.4 |
1.10 |
|
22 |
MEET MY FOLKS 3/10(S)-03/10/2003 |
NBC |
4.4 |
1.10 |
|
23 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
4.3 |
1.08 |
|
24 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
4.2 |
1.06 |
|
25 |
GEORGE LOPEZ |
ABC |
4.2 |
1.05 |
|
26 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
4.1 |
1.04 |
|
27 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
4.0 |
1.02 |
|
28 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
4.0 |
1.00 |
|
29 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
4.0 |
0.99 |
|
29 |
MY WIFE AND KIDS |
ABC |
3.9 |
0.99 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
TOP 30 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
& CABLE TV |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.7 |
2.66 |
|
2 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.6 |
2.62 |
|
3 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.5 |
2.61 |
|
4 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.4 |
2.57 |
|
5 |
JIMMY NEUTRON |
NICK |
6.4 |
2.55 |
|
6 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
6.4 |
2.54 |
|
7 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.2 |
2.47 |
|
8 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
6.2 |
2.46 |
|
9 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
6.1 |
2.45 |
|
10 |
JIMMY NEUTRON |
NICK |
6.1 |
2.43 |
|
11 |
JIMMY NEUTRON |
NICK |
6.1 |
2.43 |
|
12 |
HEY ARNOLD |
NICK |
6.0 |
2.40 |
|
13 |
WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY |
ABC |
6.0 |
2.39 |
|
14 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.9 |
2.37 |
|
15 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.9 |
2.34 |
|
16 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.8 |
2.31 |
|
17 |
HEY ARNOLD |
NICK |
5.7 |
2.30 |
|
18 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
5.7 |
2.29 |
|
19 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.6 |
2.23 |
|
19 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.6 |
2.23 |
|
21 |
ROCKET POWER |
NICK |
5.5 |
2.22 |
|
22 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.5 |
2.18 |
|
23 |
RUGRATS |
NICK |
5.4 |
2.17 |
|
24 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
5.4 |
2.16 |
|
25 |
POKEMON-3/15-WB(S)-03/15/2003 |
WB |
5.3 |
2.13 |
|
26 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
5.3 |
2.12 |
|
27 |
POKEMON - WB |
WB |
5.3 |
2.11 |
|
28 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
5.3 |
2.10 |
|
29 |
RUGRATS |
NICK |
5.2 |
2.09 |
|
30 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
5.2 |
2.08 |
|
Source: MTV Networks, based on data from Nielsen Media Research |
||||
March 21, 2003© 2003 Media Life
-Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.
Printer-Friendly
Version | Send
to a Friend
Cover Page | Contact
Us