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Don't KO reality
boxing shows just yet
So 'Champ' ate canvas. 'Contender' could
still hit.
By Diego Vasquez
When Fox premiered"The Next Great Champ" last Tuesday, in a rush
to beat NBC’s"The Contender" to the punch, it got socked with ratings that
left the network as dazed as Gerry Cooney after a right cross on the chin.
"Next Great Champ" is leaving Fox’s primetime schedule Sept. 28 to
make room for the MLB playoffs, returning Friday nights starting Oct. 22.
The temptation is to dismiss both "Champ" and the Mark
Burnett-produced"Contender," which debuts in November, based on
"Champ's" initial airing, when it tied at No. 50 among adults 18-49 while
ranking an uninspired No. 67 among total viewers and No. 69 in households.
But a word of caution: Don’t count either show out quite yet. In the
reality genre, shows that are very similar can fare quite differently in the ratings. What
matters is how the concept is executed.
It's quite possible that Burnett's "Contender" will debut to strong
numbers while "Champ" continues to take it on the chin until Fox kicks it off
the schedule.
But no less a possibility is that Fox will make over "Champ,"
fixing what ails it, in time for its return, then see ratings climb. Either scenario is
possible.
The history of the reality genre, though comparatively brief, is replete with
shows that seemed quite similar but were received very differently by viewers. Which show
aired first had nothing to do with it (which is doubly ironic when you consider that Fox
rushed to debut its "Champ" after winning a court ruling in a case brought by
producers of "Contender.")
The best example of a reality show that succeeded where others failed is
Fox's"American Idol," coming as it did after the similarly
themed"Popstars" and"Making the Band."
In 2000, ABC launched"Band" and got a decent start but quickly
tanked, going from a premiere that attracted 11.6 million viewers to a ranking of No. 102
with a 5.0 household rating over six episodes.
"Popstars," aired by the WB the following year, did even worse,
averaging a 2.2 household over 13 episodes to earn a ranking of No. 132.
So critics were real doubtful when Fox marched out"American Idol,"
and of course they were wrong. Last season’s finale pulled in more than 30 million
total viewers.
In the case of"Champ" and"Contender," the big
question, one for which there is no answer yet, is what stomach the American TV viewing
public has for the sport of boxing. Once a fixture of television, boxing has all but
disappeared from the broadcast networks, reflecting the public's longstanding disgust over
the title-fixing scandals, as well as the brutish behavior of fighters like Mike Tyson.
Will viewers who don't routinely follow boxing as a sport be drawn to shows
about boxing?
In this regard, Burnett's"Contender" probably has an edge with
Sylvester Stallone one of its front men, along with"Sugar" Ray Leonard. (Oscar
De La Hoya is Fox’s cover boy.) Stallone is one of the all-time great fictional
boxers, and it may well be the case that Burnett will play up the romance of the sport
while downplaying the brutality.
Who knows? Stallone may pull women who still adore him from "Rocky"
reruns.
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 12 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
| NBC |
6.0 |
6570 |
10 |
3.2 |
8940 |
9 |
3.3 |
4320 |
10 |
| CBS |
5.7 |
6270 |
10 |
3.0 |
8390 |
8 |
2.6 |
3410 |
8 |
| ABC |
4.8 |
5270 |
8 |
2.6 |
7190 |
7 |
2.7 |
3490 |
8 |
| FOX |
4.0 |
4330 |
7 |
2.2 |
6120 |
6 |
2.7 |
3440 |
8 |
| WB |
2.1 |
2260 |
3 |
1.1 |
3100 |
3 |
1.3 |
1640 |
4 |
| UPN |
1.7 |
1850 |
3 |
0.8 |
2350 |
2 |
1.0 |
1250 |
3 |
| PAX |
0.5 |
600 |
1 |
0.3 |
780 |
1 |
0.2 |
230 |
1 |
* Each
rating point is equivalent to 1.084 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 12 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
| CBS |
7.5 |
8190 |
13 |
4.2 |
11570 |
11 |
3.4 |
4440 |
10 |
| NBC |
7.0 |
7570 |
12 |
3.8 |
10610 |
10 |
4.0 |
5160 |
11 |
| ABC |
5.2 |
5690 |
9 |
2.9 |
7990 |
8 |
2.9 |
3740 |
8 |
| FOX |
5.2 |
5670 |
9 |
3.0 |
8300 |
8 |
3.5 |
4490 |
10 |
| WB |
2.2 |
2380 |
4 |
1.2 |
3240 |
3 |
1.3 |
1700 |
4 |
| UPN |
2.1 |
2320 |
4 |
1.1 |
3140 |
3 |
1.3 |
1640 |
4 |
| PAX |
0.6 |
680 |
1 |
0.3 |
940 |
1 |
0.2 |
280 |
1 |
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.084 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 12 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
JOEY |
NBC |
12.1 |
20 |
13286 |
1 |
6.7 |
18550 |
2 |
NFL FOOTBALL SPEC
OPENER(S) |
ABC |
11.4 |
20 |
12488 |
2 |
6.1 |
16879 |
3 |
2004 NFL SHOWCASE(S) |
ABC |
9.7 |
16 |
10683 |
3 |
5.3 |
14706 |
4 |
APPRENTICE 2 |
NBC |
9.3 |
14 |
10211 |
4 |
5.1 |
14048 |
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
9.1 |
14 |
10000 |
5 |
4.8 |
13314 |
6 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
8.3 |
14 |
9056 |
8 |
4.2 |
11724 |
7 |
CSI: MIAMI
SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.2 |
14 |
9036 |
6 |
4.5 |
12533 |
8 |
MEDICAL
INVESTIGATION 9/9(S) |
NBC |
8.0 |
13 |
8817 |
8 |
4.2 |
11780 |
9 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-POST |
FOX |
7.7 |
14 |
8397 |
7 |
4.3 |
11831 |
10 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.5 |
12 |
8225 |
10 |
3.9 |
10767 |
11 |
MEDICAL
INVESTIGATION |
NBC |
7.4 |
13 |
8067 |
10 |
3.9 |
10796 |
12 |
LAW AND ORDER WED
9PM |
NBC |
7.3 |
12 |
8039 |
14 |
3.7 |
10299 |
13 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
7.1 |
11 |
7762 |
14 |
3.7 |
10406 |
14 |
60 MINUTES II |
CBS |
7.0 |
12 |
7720 |
17 |
3.6 |
9885 |
15 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
6.9 |
13 |
7602 |
17 |
3.6 |
9933 |
15 |
AMAZING RACE: 5 |
CBS |
6.9 |
11 |
7582 |
10 |
3.9 |
10846 |
15 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
6.9 |
11 |
7601 |
17 |
3.6 |
9990 |
15 |
DATELINE FRI |
NBC |
6.9 |
13 |
7593 |
14 |
3.7 |
10349 |
15 |
EVERYBDY LOVES
RAYMND-SPC(S) |
CBS |
6.9 |
11 |
7543 |
13 |
3.8 |
10578 |
15 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
6.9 |
11 |
7592 |
17 |
3.6 |
9920 |
21 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN
SP(S) |
CBS |
6.4 |
10 |
7039 |
17 |
3.6 |
9913 |
22 |
BIG BROTHER 5-TUE |
CBS |
6.3 |
10 |
6903 |
25 |
3.5 |
9761 |
22 |
NAVY NCIS |
CBS |
6.3 |
10 |
6850 |
26 |
3.3 |
9056 |
24 |
FATHER OF THE PRIDE |
NBC |
6.2 |
10 |
6789 |
17 |
3.6 |
9892 |
25 |
HAWAII-S(S) |
NBC |
6.1 |
10 |
6716 |
17 |
3.6 |
9932 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending September 12 |
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
JOEY |
NBC |
7.5 |
9768 |
2 |
NFL FOOTBALL SPEC
OPENER(S) |
ABC |
7.2 |
9294 |
3 |
APPRENTICE 2 |
NBC |
6.6 |
8528 |
4 |
2004 NFL SHOWCASE(S) |
ABC |
5.9 |
7681 |
5 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-POST |
FOX |
5.3 |
6834 |
6 |
AMAZING RACE: 5 |
CBS |
5.1 |
6624 |
7 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.5 |
5791 |
7 |
MEDICAL
INVESTIGATION 9/9(S) |
NBC |
4.5 |
5870 |
9 |
BIG BROTHER 5-TUE |
CBS |
4.4 |
5655 |
10 |
FATHER OF THE PRIDE |
NBC |
4.3 |
5532 |
10 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
4.3 |
5584 |
12 |
CSI: MIAMI
SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
4.0 |
5199 |
13 |
HAWAII-S(S) |
NBC |
3.9 |
5086 |
13 |
THAT '70S SHOW |
FOX |
3.9 |
5111 |
15 |
MEDICAL
INVESTIGATION |
NBC |
3.8 |
4907 |
16 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
3.7 |
4863 |
17 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL
SPEC-FRI(S) |
ABC |
3.5 |
4491 |
17 |
BIG BROTHER 5-THU |
CBS |
3.5 |
4553 |
17 |
SCRUBS |
NBC |
3.5 |
4527 |
17 |
SIMPSONS-9/12
7:30P(S) |
FOX |
3.5 |
4527 |
21 |
EVERYBDY LOVES
RAYMND-SPC(S) |
CBS |
3.4 |
4414 |
21 |
TRADING SPOUSES |
FOX |
3.4 |
4473 |
21 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
3.4 |
4461 |
24 |
BERNIE MAC |
FOX |
3.2 |
4155 |
24 |
FOX MOVIE
SPEC-SUN(S) |
FOX |
3.2 |
4120 |
24 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.2 |
4096 |
24 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN
SP(S) |
CBS |
3.2 |
4117 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
CABLE TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 12 |
BASIC CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
(000) |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
1 |
NFL
REGULAR SEASON L (CHIEFS/BRONCOS) |
ESPN |
7527 |
6.9 |
10109 |
2 |
CHEVY
ROCK N ROLL 400 |
TNT |
3829 |
3.5 |
5881 |
3 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3435 |
3.1 |
4335 |
4 |
NFL
PRIME TIME L |
ESPN |
3337 |
3.0 |
4580 |
5 |
LAW
& ORDER |
TNT |
3266 |
3.0 |
4236 |
6 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3264 |
3.0 |
3991 |
7 |
WWE
ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW ZONE) |
SPIKE |
3226 |
2.9 |
4388 |
8 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3225 |
2.9 |
4097 |
9 |
WWE
ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) |
SPIKE |
3209 |
2.9 |
4393 |
10 |
LAW
& ORDER |
TNT |
3140 |
2.9 |
3988 |
11 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3035 |
2.8 |
3894 |
12 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2996 |
2.7 |
3991 |
13 |
C.S.I.
(ONE HIT WONDER) |
SPIKE |
2984 |
2.7 |
4254 |
14 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2958 |
2.7 |
3595 |
15 |
LAW
& ORDER |
TNT |
2935 |
2.7 |
3558 |
PAY CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
(000) |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
1 |
SIX FEET UNDER |
HBO |
2558 |
2.3 |
3729 |
2 |
X2 |
HBO |
1462 |
1.3 |
2181 |
3 |
ENTOURAGE |
HBO |
1374 |
1.3 |
1978 |
4 |
BAD 9/11/04 |
HBO |
1081 |
1.0 |
1367 |
5 |
INTOLERABLE CRUELTY |
HBO |
1055 |
1.0 |
1333 |
*
Ratings based on 108.4 million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.084 million
homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 29\ |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
US
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
7.5 |
8148 |
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.3 |
6871 |
3 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN
(AT) |
KIN |
5.8 |
6266 |
4 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW
(AT) |
KIN |
5.6 |
6079 |
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5.2 |
5634 |
6 |
FRIENDS-SYN (AT) |
WB |
4.9 |
5297 |
7 |
ENTERTAINMENT
TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.6 |
4954 |
7 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
4.6 |
4938 |
9 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.4 |
4759 |
10 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
WKND |
KIN |
4.3 |
4646 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 5 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
1 |
AMARTE ES MI PECADO
M-F |
UNI |
23.1 |
2515 |
2 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE
M-F |
UNI |
22.9 |
2500 |
3 |
DON FRANCISCO
PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
18.0 |
1961 |
4 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
17.6 |
1917 |
5 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED.
ESP TUE |
UNI |
17.1 |
1868 |
5 |
MUJER DE MADERA M-F |
UNI |
17.1 |
1868 |
7 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
16.7 |
1824 |
8 |
ESCUELITA VIP FRI |
UNI |
15.5 |
1687 |
9 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
15.2 |
1657 |
10 |
VUELO 93
9/12(S)-09/12/2004 |
UNI |
13.7 |
1492 |
11 |
HORA
PICO...EXTRA-SUN |
UNI |
13.2 |
1441 |
12 |
CASA DE LA RISA FRI |
UNI |
12.4 |
1351 |
13 |
N BELLEZA-MEXICO 04
9/12(S)-09/12/2004 |
UNI |
11.8 |
1292 |
14 |
PASION DE GAVILANES
M-F |
TEL |
8.1 |
883 |
15 |
HORA DERBEZ SAT |
UNI |
7.4 |
811 |
16 |
PRISIONERA M-F |
TEL |
6.6 |
724 |
17 |
GITANAS M-F |
TEL |
5.9 |
649 |
18 |
TE VOY-ENSENAR A
QUERER M-F |
TEL |
5.6 |
611 |
19 |
CINE LAS ESTREL
9/6/04(S)-09/06/2004 |
TF |
4.5 |
488 |
20 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
4.3 |
467 |
21 |
RIPLEY'S |
TEL |
4.0 |
433 |
22 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-F |
TF |
3.9 |
427 |
23 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
3.8 |
411 |
23 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
3.8 |
411 |
25 |
SOLO BOXEO |
TF |
3.7 |
400 |
*
Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK SPORTS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 5 |
| # |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
| | |
