|
|
Suddenly, CBS
looks to be gasping
Strong season start bollixed by two bum shows
By Diego Vasquez
They say bad things come in threes. That now
appears to be the case for CBS.
After the week ended Jan. 9, CBS led the 18-49 demo with a 4.0
average, ahead of ABC’s 3.9, NBC’s 3.7 and Fox’s 3.4. Even though it
led by just 0.1, its consistent lineup made CBS easily the strongest
network through midseason, and it looked like it had a chance to run away
with the 18-49 race.
That now looks a lot less likely. The new probability is that
Fox will rise to No. 1 based on the unexpectedly strong return of
"American Idol" while ABC will inch past CBS for No. 2 thanks to
"Lost," "Desperate Housewives" and the unexpectedly
strong "Alias." CBS could drop to as low as third, for three reasons.
Bad thing No. 1: CBS's Wednesday nights are falling a
part.
Take the 10 p.m. timeslot, for instance. During the fourth quarter
of 2004, “CSI: NY” was averaging a 5.6 18-49 rating compared with NBC’s
4.3 average for “Law & Order,” which airs head to head.
But three weeks ago, for the week ended Jan. 9, all that
changed, with “Law & Order” posting a 4.5 18-49 rating while “CSI:
NY” managed only a 4.2. The next week the two shows tied, each with a
4.2 average, and last week an original “L&O” on NBC earned a 4.7
rating against a 3.7 for a repeat of “CSI: NY.”
Part of “CSI: NY’s” problem was its weak lead-in,
the John Goodman comedy “Center of the Universe.” At midseason the
show was averaging just a 3.5 among 18-49s. That show was canceled last
week but by then the damage was done to CBS's Wednesday standing.
Making matters worse for CBS on Wednesdays, Fox’s “American
Idol” will be swiping viewers from just about everywhere, especially
when actual results shows begin.
The second bad thing for CBS is its Thursday night. Its
lineup is not as strong as it could or should be, with the blame falling
on "Survivor” fill-in “Wickedly Perfect.”
“Survivor: Vanuatu” averaged a 7.4 18-49 rating over the
first half of the TV season. “Wickedly Perfect” has averaged only a
2.8, a 62.2 percent decline.
CBS is moving “Wickedly Perfect” to Saturday, replacing
it with "Without a Trace" reruns until “Survivor: Palau”
premieres Thursday, Feb. 17. "Without a Trace" should do
better, but CBS has already paid the price for “Wickedly Perfect's”
poor showing.
The third bad thing for CBS is the end of NFL regular-season
football, meaning no more extra football-related ratings boosts.
Last week, CBS finished first among 18-49s with a 5.6 average
rating, boosted heavily by Sunday’s 15.3 average for the telecast of the
AFC Championship game and the premiere of “Numb3rs.”
But ABC still pulled a respectable 6.8 average on Sunday
night, even against CBS football. And next week the network will resume
its No. 1 position on the strength of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,”
“Desperate Housewives” and to a lesser degree “Boston Legal.”
Fox, which finished second last week among 18-49s with a 5.1
average, boosted by "Idol's” premiere, should be able to maintain
similar ratings for the rest of the season, as long as “Idol” doesn’t
suddenly tank. Further, Fox has final football boost with the Feb. 6 airing of Super Bowl.
|
PRIMETIME
AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 23 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
10.3 |
11240 |
16 |
5.9 |
16310 |
14 |
5.6 |
7230 |
14 |
|
NBC |
7.1 |
7740 |
11 |
3.9 |
10750 |
9 |
3.9 |
5010 |
10 |
|
FOX |
7.0 |
7680 |
11 |
4.3 |
11950 |
10 |
5.1 |
6630 |
12 |
|
ABC |
6.4 |
7010 |
10 |
3.6 |
10010 |
9 |
3.8 |
4920 |
9 |
|
WB |
2.1 |
2300 |
3 |
1.1 |
3130 |
3 |
1.3 |
1640 |
3 |
|
UPN |
2.0 |
2200 |
3 |
1.1 |
3050 |
3 |
1.2 |
1530 |
3 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
520 |
1 |
0.3 |
700 |
1 |
0.2 |
210 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is
equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 23 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.5 |
9270 |
14 |
4.7 |
13060 |
12 |
4.1 |
5320 |
11 |
|
ABC |
6.7 |
7400 |
11 |
3.8 |
10500 |
10 |
3.9 |
5080 |
11 |
|
NBC |
6.7 |
7300 |
11 |
3.6 |
10060 |
9 |
3.7 |
4820 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.5 |
6060 |
9 |
3.2 |
8780 |
8 |
3.5 |
4540 |
9 |
|
WB |
2.3 |
2530 |
4 |
1.2 |
3470 |
3 |
1.4 |
1850 |
4 |
|
UPN |
2.3 |
2560 |
4 |
1.2 |
3440 |
3 |
1.4 |
1820 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
480 |
1 |
0.2 |
630 |
1 |
0.1 |
190 |
0 |
|
* Each
rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 23 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP |
CBS |
25.8 |
38 |
28291 |
1 |
16.0 |
44334 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
18.3 |
27 |
20017 |
2 |
12.1 |
33575 |
|
3 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
16.1 |
22 |
17596 |
4 |
9.3 |
25949 |
|
4 |
AFC CHMP POST GAME |
CBS |
16.0 |
23 |
17558 |
4 |
9.3 |
25750 |
|
5 |
NUMB3RS PREVIEW(S) |
CBS |
15.7 |
24 |
17187 |
6 |
9.0 |
24921 |
|
6 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
15.2 |
22 |
16622 |
3 |
9.6 |
26711 |
|
7 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
13.9 |
22 |
15207 |
7 |
7.9 |
22039 |
|
8 |
E.R. |
NBC |
12.5 |
20 |
13711 |
10 |
6.8 |
18821 |
|
9 |
CSI |
CBS |
12.2 |
18 |
13408 |
10 |
6.8 |
19033 |
|
10 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
11.9 |
17 |
12989 |
9 |
6.9 |
19245 |
|
10 |
LOST |
ABC |
11.9 |
18 |
13021 |
8 |
7.1 |
19694 |
|
12 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
11.3 |
16 |
12408 |
13 |
6.5 |
18144 |
|
13 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED |
ABC |
10.8 |
15 |
11789 |
12 |
6.6 |
18290 |
|
14 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
10.2 |
17 |
11181 |
17 |
5.4 |
15123 |
|
14 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
10.2 |
16 |
11132 |
15 |
5.5 |
15340 |
|
16 |
BOSTON LEGAL |
ABC |
9.8 |
16 |
10745 |
15 |
5.5 |
15339 |
|
17 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
9.7 |
15 |
10678 |
14 |
5.6 |
15551 |
|
18 |
MEDIUM |
NBC |
9.4 |
15 |
10264 |
18 |
5.2 |
14439 |
|
19 |
NCIS |
CBS |
9.3 |
14 |
10204 |
18 |
5.2 |
14529 |
|
20 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
9.2 |
15 |
10103 |
20 |
4.9 |
13620 |
|
21 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
8.2 |
12 |
9035 |
21 |
4.8 |
13212 |
|
21 |
JOEY |
NBC |
8.2 |
13 |
8932 |
22 |
4.5 |
12545 |
|
23 |
DATELINE FRI |
NBC |
8.0 |
14 |
8767 |
27 |
4.1 |
11356 |
|
23 |
JUDGING AMY |
CBS |
8.0 |
13 |
8807 |
27 |
4.1 |
11530 |
|
25 |
CSI FRIDAY-SPCL(S) |
CBS |
7.9 |
13 |
8633 |
25 |
4.3 |
11826 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25
PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending January 23 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON CBS(S) |
CBS |
17.6 |
22916 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY |
FOX |
14.0 |
18221 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
11.2 |
14599 |
|
3 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
11.2 |
14484 |
|
5 |
AFC CHMP POST GAME ON CBS(S) |
CBS |
9.9 |
12861 |
|
6 |
NUMB3RS PREVIEW(S) |
CBS |
9.2 |
11933 |
|
7 |
E.R. |
NBC |
8.7 |
11257 |
|
8 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
7.8 |
10146 |
|
9 |
APPRENTICE 3 |
NBC |
7.4 |
9576 |
|
9 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P |
ABC |
7.4 |
9659 |
|
9 |
LOST |
ABC |
7.4 |
9601 |
|
12 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
6.3 |
8162 |
|
13 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
6.1 |
7866 |
|
14 |
CSI |
CBS |
6.0 |
7803 |
|
15 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.9 |
7644 |
|
16 |
BOSTON LEGAL |
ABC |
5.8 |
7530 |
|
16 |
MEDIUM |
NBC |
5.8 |
7501 |
|
18 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
5.6 |
7268 |
|
19 |
JOEY |
NBC |
5.3 |
6851 |
|
19 |
POINT PLST PRVW SP-1/19(S) |
FOX |
5.3 |
6820 |
|
21 |
LAS VEGAS |
NBC |
4.8 |
6261 |
|
22 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
4.7 |
6105 |
|
22 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
4.7 |
6112 |
|
24 |
24 |
FOX |
4.5 |
5819 |
|
24 |
KING OF QUEENS |
CBS |
4.5 |
5900 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
CABLE TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 23 |
|
BASIC CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
MONK (3010 MONK & RED
HERRING) |
USA |
3917 |
3.6 |
5508 |
|
2 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3762 |
3.4 |
4710 |
|
3 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3540 |
3.2 |
4627 |
|
4 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3528 |
3.2 |
4488 |
|
5 |
LAW & ORDER |
TNT |
3494 |
3.2 |
4458 |
|
6 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3395 |
3.1 |
4349 |
|
7 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3364 |
3.1 |
4212 |
|
8 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW
ZONE) |
SPIKE |
3356 |
3.1 |
4761 |
|
9 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) |
SPIKE |
3319 |
3.0 |
4831 |
|
10 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3188 |
2.9 |
3979 |
|
11 |
DANNY PHANTOM |
NICK |
3107 |
2.8 |
3934 |
|
12 |
LAW & ORDER: SVU |
USA |
3054 |
2.8 |
3696 |
|
13 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3046 |
2.8 |
3915 |
|
14 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2981 |
2.7 |
3853 |
|
15 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2955 |
2.7 |
3852 |
|
PAY CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
RUNDOWN, THE |
HBO |
1628 |
1.5 |
2428 |
|
2 |
WCB: 1/22/05 (MAYWEATHER VS
BRUSELES) |
HBO |
1458 |
1.3 |
2098 |
|
3 |
WCB: 1/22/05 (PRE 2) |
HBO |
1358 |
1.2 |
1961 |
|
4 |
WCB: 1/22/05 (DIAZ VS PETER) |
HBO |
1333 |
1.2 |
1923 |
|
5 |
WCB: 1/22/05 (POST) |
HBO |
1238 |
1.1 |
1733 |
|
* Ratings based on 109.6
million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.096 million
homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
9.5 |
10439 |
|
2 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
8.6 |
9421 |
|
3 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
8.1 |
8829 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
7.8 |
8602 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
6.9 |
7519 |
|
6 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
6.4 |
6980 |
|
7 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
6.3 |
6894 |
|
8 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.9 |
6492 |
|
9 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
5.8 |
6336 |
|
10 |
DR. PHIL SHOW |
KIN |
5.6 |
6105 |
|
11 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
5.5 |
6056 |
|
12 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
4.4 |
4853 |
|
13 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
4.0 |
4383 |
|
14 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.9 |
4291 |
|
14 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.9 |
4256 |
|
16 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3.8 |
4151 |
|
17 |
MALCOLM IN-MIDDLE SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.6 |
3934 |
|
18 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.5 |
3810 |
|
19 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.4 |
3704 |
|
20 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
3.2 |
3550 |
|
20 |
WILL & GRACE-SYN (AT) |
WB |
3.2 |
3538 |
|
20 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
3.2 |
3487 |
|
23 |
KING OF QUEENS-SYN (AT) |
SPT |
3.0 |
3275 |
|
23 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
3.0 |
3270 |
|
23 |
COPS-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.0 |
3256 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending January 23 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
|
1 |
AMOR REAL M-F |
UNI |
26.5 |
2893 |
|
2 |
RUBI M-F |
UNI |
25.3 |
2757 |
|
3 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
20.8 |
2274 |
|
4 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
19.6 |
2143 |
|
5 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
18.2 |
1990 |
|
6 |
MUJER DE MADERA M-F |
UNI |
18.0 |
1962 |
|
6 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP TUE |
UNI |
18.0 |
1960 |
|
8 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
17.7 |
1935 |
|
9 |
HOSPITAL EL PAISA FRI |
UNI |
16.7 |
1821 |
|
10 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
14.8 |
1611 |
|
11 |
G GLESS MJR IMITADOR
1/22(S)-01/22/2005 |
UNI |
14.7 |
1603 |
|
12 |
ESCUELITA FRI |
UNI |
14.6 |
1591 |
|
13 |
JAULA-SUN |
UNI |
14.1 |
1539 |
|
14 |
PARODIA-SUN |
UNI |
14.0 |
1524 |
|
15 |
VER PARA CREER-SUN |
UNI |
13.8 |
1505 |
|
16 |
ANITA NO TE RAJES M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
730 |
|
17 |
GITANAS M-F |
TEL |
6.2 |
684 |
|
18 |
MUJER EN EL ESPEJO M-F |
TEL |
6.1 |
661 |
|
19 |
RIPLEY'S |
TEL |
5.6 |
611 |
|
19 |
TE VOY-ENSENAR A QUERER M-F |
TEL |
5.6 |
611 |
|
21 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
5.5 |
600 |
|
22 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
5.0 |
543 |
|
23 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
4.5 |
491 |
|
24 |
FACTOR MIEDO |
TEL |
4.1 |
445 |
|
25 |
100 MEXICANOS DIJERON M-F |
TF |
3.8 |
416 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television
Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
SPORTS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
AFC DIV.
PLAYOFF-SU(S)-1/16 |
CBS |
IND AT
NEW ENG |
23.2 |
40 |
25372 |
37980 |
|
2 |
FOX NFC
PLAYOFF
SUN(S)-1/16 |
FOX |
MINN AT
PHILA |
19.4 |
41 |
21317 |
29968 |
|
3 |
AFC DIV.
PLAYOFF-SA(S)-1/15 |
CBS |
NY JETS
AT PITTS |
18.2 |
36 |
20001 |
29401 |
|
4 |
FOX NFC
PLAYOFF-SAT(S)
1/15 |
FOX |
ST LO
AT ATL |
14 |
24 |
15343 |
23700 |
|
5 |
U.S. FIG. SKTNG
CH-8PM(S)-01/15 |
ABC |
|
4.6 |
8 |
5067 |
6821 |
|
6 |
WWE
SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
3.8 |
6 |
4143 |
5953 |
|
7 |
U.S. FIG. SKTNG
CH-4PM(S)1/15 |
ABC |
|
2.1 |
5 |
2352 |
2792 |
|
8 |
ABC NCAA BBALL-SAT. |
ABC |
VAR. TEAMS
AND TIMES |
1.9 |
5 |
2039 |
2647 |
|
9 |
ALL AM. H.S.
FTBALL(S)-1/15 |
NBC |
|
1.6 |
4 |
1778 |
2274 |
|
10 |
NCAA BBALL
SAT-1 |
CBS |
SYR AT
PROV/
LVLLE AT
CIN |
1.4 |
4 |
1541 |
1891 |
|
11 |
NCAA BBALL
SUN-1 |
CBS |
MICH ST
AT WISC |
1.1 |
2 |
1184 |
1517 |
|
12 |
NBC SPORTS
SPEC 1/16-B(S) |
NBC |
USAA SKIING |
0.9 |
2 |
953 |
1185 |
|
13 |
NBC SPORTS
SPEC. 1/16-A(S) |
NBC |
CHAMP'S
TOUR
SPEC |
0.7 |
1 |
754 |
975 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
Jan 26, 2005
©
2005
Media Life
-
Diego Vasquez is a staff writer for
Media Life.
|
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