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Broadcast recap

November sweeps: Winners and losers

CBS's 'Big Bang Theory' is the month's MVP, hitting series highs

By Toni Fitzgerald

November 28, 2012

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NBC easily won the November sweeps among adults 18-49, its first such victory in nine years.

But the MVP of sweeps was on a different network.

CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” was one of the few programs to post a series high during the month, and it continues to power the network’s Thursday lineup, which is fighting with Fox for No. 1 on the night.

“Bang” set new records for biggest audience twice during sweeps, peaking with 17.39 million total viewers for its Nov. 15 episode, which also drew a season-high 5.5 18-49 rating.

It finished as the month’s highest-rated scripted series on broadcast in the demo.

“Bang” is so strong that repeats of the show airing on other nights often win or at least place second in their timeslot, an impressive feat.

That’s helpful for CBS, which is trudging through an uncharacteristically down season.

The network has already canceled two of its four new shows, and its Monday night comedy lineup has seen big declines after anchor “Two and a Half Men” moved to Thursdays.

“Bang’s” performance is all the more remarkable because the show is in its sixth season. It’s rare, though not unheard of, for a show to hit a series high this far into its run.

Along with “Bang,” here are the November sweeps’ other big winners, as well as the big losers.

WINNERS

NBC

The network rode “Sunday Night Football” and its first fall edition of “The Voice” to No. 1. After so many years of struggle, the network has much to be happy about. It has finished first in all but one week this fall, and it has the season’s top-rated new drama, “Revolution,” and new comedy, “Go On.”

ABC’s “Good Morning America”

“GMA” won a sweeps period among adults 25-54 for the first time in 17 years, cementing its position as the new top a.m. program following nearly two decades of dominance by “Today.” “Good Morning America Saturday” also logged its first-ever November sweeps win, while “GMA Sunday” drew its biggest sweeps audience in total viewers (3.479 million).

DVRs

Viewers continued the shift to more delayed viewing. Through mid month, three shows (“Modern Family,” “Revolution” and “Bang”) are averaging more than 4 million DVR viewers each episode. To put that in perspective, barely 4 million viewers watched NBC’s now-canceled “Animal Practice” live.

CW’s “Arrow”

It’s rare for a new show to become a network’s most-watched program, but “Arrow” proved its strong debut numbers were no fluke, leading the CW throughout the sweeps period.

LOSERS

ABC’s new dramas

The network axed “666 Park Avenue” and “Last Resort” after they drew low ratings. Give the network credit for trying something different: The spooky “Park” and adventure-heavy “Resort” were unlike any other dramas on broadcast. Unfortunately for ABC, viewers didn’t care.

Tuesday night comedies

As predicted, the six young-skewing comedies airing from 9 to 10 p.m. seem to be cannibalizing each other’s audiences. ABC’s “Happy Endings” and “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” are drawing the lowest ratings, but even Fox’s hit “New Girl” and NBC’s “Go On,” the strongest shows in the hour, have lost steam.

Soon-to-end series

“Private Practice” and “Gossip Girl” struggled as they neared the end of their runs, both posting series-low numbers.

“The Mob Doctor”

After a long hiatus during the baseball playoffs, the show returned to the same dismally low ratings. Fox still hasn’t canceled it, though, mainly because it has nothing to put in its place. The show that’s slated to take “Mob’s” timeslot at midseason, “The Following,” is too promising to rush onto the schedule early.

***

In broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 25:

Among adults 18-49, NBC was first for the week with a 3.2 average rating and a 9 share, followed by CBS at 2.8/8, ABC at 2.6/7, Fox at 2.5/7, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 0.8/2, Telemundo at 0.5/1, TeleFutura and ION at 0.3/1, Estrella and Azteca at 0.1/0 and MundoFox at 0.0/0.

Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 7.6; 2. NBC's "NFL Thursday Special" 7.1; 3. ABC's "Saturday Night Football" 5.1; 4. Fox's "The OT" 5.0; 5. NBC's "Football Night in America" 4.3.

Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 20.85 million; 2. NBC's "NFL Thursday Special" 19.21 million; 3 CBS's "NCIS" 16.48 million; 4. ABC's "Saturday Night Football" 16.06 million; 5. CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" 15.13 million.

Show on the rise: ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, 8 p.m. The reality competition is having its lowest-rated season ever, but it bounced back a bit last week, rising 14 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.1 to a 2.4.

Show on the decline: NBC's "Whitney," Tuesday, 8 p.m. In its second week back the comedy posted a 1.1 among 18-49s, down 21 percent from a 1.4 the previous week.

WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 25
Network	Households			People 2+			Adults 18-49
Network	Rtg%	(000)	Shr	Rtg%	(000)	Shr	Rtg%	(000)	Shr
CBS	7.3	8390	12	4.0	11540	10	2.8	3500	8
ABC	5.9	6710	9	3.2	9150	8	2.6	3280	7
NBC	5.5	6270	9	3.1	8890	8	3.2	4060	9
FOX	4.2	4800	7	2.4	6930	6	2.5	3120	7
UNI	2.0	2250	3	1.3	3700	3	1.5	1900	4
CW	1.2	1370	2	0.6	1840	2	0.8	950	2
ION	0.7	840	1	0.4	1060	1	0.3	380	1
TEL	0.6	740	1	0.4	1200	1	0.5	650	1
TF	0.4	420	1	0.2	710	1	0.3	390	1
ETV	0.1	150	0	0.1	230	0	0.1	110	0
AZA	0.1	90	0	0.0	140	0	0.1	70	0
MFX	0.0	50	0	0.0	80	0	0.0	50	0
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or 1. 142 million homes Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback. Source: Nielsen

SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 25
Network	Households			People 2+			Adults 18-49
Network	Rtg%	(000)	Shr	Rtg%	(000)	Shr	Rtg%	(000)	Shr
NBC	5.6	6390	9	3.3	9460	8	3.2	4030	9
CBS	5.2	5960	9	2.9	8340	7	1.8	2310	5
ABC	5.0	5740	8	2.8	8160	7	2.1	2640	6
FOX	3.6	4080	6	2.2	6240	5	2.2	2760	6
UNI	1.7	1920	3	1.2	3350	3	1.4	1710	4
ION	0.8	910	1	0.4	1180	1	0.3	390	1
CW	0.8	870	1	0.4	1220	1	0.4	510	1
TEL	0.6	700	1	0.4	1210	1	0.5	660	1
TF	0.4	460	1	0.3	800	1	0.3	410	1
ETV	0.1	140	0	0.1	240	0	0.1	100	0
AZA	0.1	70	0	0.0	110	0	0.0	60	0
MFX	0.0	40	0	0.0	60	0	0.0	40	0
*Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or 1. 142 million homes Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing. Source: Nielsen

TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 25
#	PROGRAMS	Net	HOUSEHOLDS			PERSONS 2+
#	PROGRAMS	Net	Rtg%	Shr	(000)	#	Rtg%	(000)
1	NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	12.6	19	14359	1	7.2	20854
2	SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	10.5	16	11983	3	6.0	17474
3	NBC NFL TH SPECIAL(S)	NBC	10.1	20	11582	2	6.6	19211
3	NCIS	CBS	10.1	16	11539	4	5.7	16475
5	NCIS: LOS ANGELES	CBS	9.6	15	10913	6	5.2	15129
6	SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL	ABC	9.4	16	10707	5	5.5	16059
7	DANCING WITH THE STARS	ABC	9.3	14	10664	8	4.9	14276
8	DANCING W/STARS RESULTS	ABC	8.6	13	9824	10	4.5	13013
9	OT, THE	FOX	8.1	12	9247	9	4.7	13496
10	FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3	NBC	7.8	12	8928	11	4.4	12799
11	NBC NFL TH PRE-KICK(S)	NBC	7.4	15	8412	7	5.0	14450
12	60 MINUTES	CBS	7.2	11	8248	13	3.8	11087
13	CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL(S)	CBS	7.0	12	7947	12	4.0	11529
14	CASTLE	ABC	6.8	11	7725	16	3.6	10363
15	CSI – SPECIAL(S)	CBS	6.7	12	7654	14	3.7	10770
16	MENTALIST, THE	CBS	6.5	11	7393	17	3.5	10150
16	VEGAS	CBS	6.5	11	7389	17	3.5	10115
16	VOICE	NBC	6.5	10	7402	14	3.7	10597
19	GOOD WIFE, THE	CBS	6.3	9	7160	20	3.3	9447
20	2 BROKE GIRLS	CBS	6.1	9	6967	19	3.4	9744
21	HAWAII FIVE-0	CBS	5.9	10	6688	26	3.1	9016
22	AMAZING RACE 21	CBS	5.8	8	6649	20	3.3	9578
22	MIKE & MOLLY	CBS	5.8	9	6670	23	3.2	9249
22	VOICE-TUE	NBC	5.8	9	6613	20	3.3	9469
25	SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES-SP(S)	CBS	5.5	9	6266	23	3.2	9373
0Source: Nielsen

TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Adults 18-49 Week Ending Nov. 25
Rank	Program	Net	Rtg%	(000)
1	NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	7.6	9614
2	NBC NFL TH SPECIAL(S)	NBC	7.1	8964
3	SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	5.9	7446
4	SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL	ABC	5.1	6432
5	NBC NFL TH PRE-KICK(S)	NBC	5.0	6363
5	OT, THE	FOX	5.0	6371
7	FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3	NBC	4.3	5482
8	VOICE	NBC	3.7	4708
9	2 BROKE GIRLS	CBS	3.4	4331
9	VOICE-TUE	NBC	3.4	4295
11	SIMPSONS	FOX	3.3	4211
12	ONCE UPON A TIME	ABC	3.1	3881
13	NCIS	CBS	3.0	3807
14	FAMILY GUY	FOX	2.9	3624
14	HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER	CBS	2.9	3633
14	MIKE & MOLLY	CBS	2.9	3633
17	NCIS: LOS ANGELES	CBS	2.8	3556
17	X-FACTOR-THU TKG 8P(S)	FOX	2.8	3521
19	CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL(S)	CBS	2.7	3465
20	REVOLUTION	NBC	2.6	3247
20	SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME	ABC	2.6	3257
22	AMAZING RACE 21	CBS	2.5	3116
23	CSI – SPECIAL(S)	CBS	2.4	2996
23	DANCING WITH THE STARS	ABC	2.4	3018
25	SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES-SP(S)	CBS	2.3	2952
Source: Nielsen

SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 18
#	PROGRAMS	Net	Rtg	P2+ (000)
1	LATIN GRAMMY 12 11/15(S)-11/15/2012	UNI	19.9	4856
2	AMORES VERDADEROS MTW.F..	UNI	18.0	4480
3	POR ELLA SOY EVA MTW.F..	UNI	17.0	4198
4	MIRA QUIEN BAILA 3 SUN	UNI	16.1	3852
5	NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS 11/15(S)-11/15/2012	UNI	15.5	3561
6	REFUGIO PARA AMOR MTW.F..	UNI	15.2	3568
7	AMOR BRAVIO MTW.F..	UNI	15.1	3727
8	SAL Y PIMIENTA SUN	UNI	12.0	2895
9	SABADO GIGANTE SAT	UNI	9.4	2361
10	C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR M-F	TEL	7.3	1547
11	PABLO ESCOBAR: PAT MAL MTW.F..	TEL	7.2	1629
12	THALIA..HABITAME S 11/18(S)-11/18/2012	UNI	7.0	1522
13	SAL Y PIMIENTA M LG 11/17(S)-11/17/2012	UNI	6.7	1425
14	FUTBOL ESTELAR LEON S	TEL	6.3	1624
15	FUTBOL ESTELAR 11/15(S)-11/15/2012	TEL	5.8	1248
16	CORAZON VALIENTE M-F	TEL	5.7	1293
17	ROSA DIAMANTE M-F	TEL	5.4	1205
18	CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN	TF	5.1	1246
19	CINE MILLONARIO	TEL	4.5	1499
20	ROSA DIAMANTE MTW.F..	TEL	4.4	972
21	FLM WED 2	AZA	4.3	905
22	CINEPLEX 3 SAT	TF	4.1	996
23	CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2	TF	3.9	981
24	FLM WED 1	AZA	3.2	705
25	YO ME LLAMO SUN	TEL	3.0	751
Source: Nielsen

HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 18
#	PROGRAMS	Net	Rtg	P2+(000)
1	NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	6.6	1378
2	40TH ANNIV AMER MUSIC AWD(S)-11/18/2012	ABC	5.0	1195
2	VOICE	NBC	5.0	1254
4	VOICE-TUE	NBC	4.6	1025
5	BIG BANG THEORY, THE	CBS	4.4	820
6	X-FACTOR-WED	FOX	4.2	859
7	DANCING WITH THE STARS	ABC	4.0	838
8	MODERN FAMILY	ABC	3.7	905
9	SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	3.6	804
10	TWO AND A HALF MEN	CBS	3.5	652
10	X-FACTOR-THU	FOX	3.5	731
Source: Nielsen

AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES Ranked on Households Week Ending Nov. 18
#	PROGRAMS	Net	Rtg	P2+(000)
1	NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	15.7	2909
2	SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	11.6	2135
3	GRAMMY SALUTE-W. HOUSTON	CBS	10.9	2042
4	SCANDAL	ABC	10.4	1796
5	FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3	NBC	8.9	1661
6	60 MINUTES	CBS	8.7	1547
7	PERSON OF INTEREST	CBS	8.3	1586
8	NCIS: LOS ANGELES	CBS	8.1	1464
9	VEGAS	CBS	7.2	1243
10	X-FACTOR-WED	FOX	7.0	1419
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. Source: Nielsen