|
NBC could almost taste the sweeps
wins across all the major demos, including households and total viewers,
which CBS has owned.
But as quickly as the network built a household and total
viewers lead with the “Friends” and Frasier” finales and the
surprise hit miniseries “10.5,” CBS fought its way back to pull even
through last Friday with strong showings by late-season editions of its
staples “CSI” and “Survivor.”
While NBC still has a comfortable lead in the all-important
18-49 demo for the May sweeps period, CBS had another strong week in
households and total viewers last week and it looks like it will win yet
another sweeps in those two demos.
Yesterday CBS president Les Moonves also claimed the
season-long title among households and total viewers while NBC's Jeff
Zucker proclaimed his network a winner among 18-49s. Both had a
substantial lead heading into this final week of the season.
CBS will more than double its total viewers advantage over
NBC for the season, averaging about 2 million. The two will tie among
25-54s for the first time in more than 20 years.
CBS has looked like a seasoned distance runner, posting an
8.0 average rating in households last week, up from the previous week’s
7.8, although down from an 8.4 two weeks ago that included the very
important "Survivor" season finale.
By contrast, NBC began to look more like a sprinter out of gas,
posting a 6.3 in households last week, down from a 7.6 the previous week
and a 9.5 two weeks ago.
NBC actually finished behind Fox in households and total
viewers last week.
Ironically, while NBC does hold the big lead in 18-49s, it
was the lack of big ratings in that demo last week that may have killed its
hopes for a win in households and total viewers.
Fox stole the most viewers, with the two top shows in 18-49s
last week. “American Idol’s” Tuesday competition posted a 10.0
average rating and the Wednesday results edition brought a 9.8.
CBS had the next two most-watched shows in the demo—“CSI:
Miami,” which set up the forthcoming “CSI: New York” posted a 9.0,
and just plain old “CSI” averaged an 8.8.
For the week Fox finished on top with a 4.4 average in 18-49s
while CBS and NBC tied at 3.4. NBC was particularly uncharacteristic last
week, placing only two shows—and no comedies—in the top 12 (“Law
& Order: SVU” finished No. 5, “Law & Order” No.7).
So the same strategy that had the network giddy as it led
all demos a couple weeks ago—placing key comedy finales early in the
month and depending on dramas late—will likely have NBC looking up at
CBS in households and total viewers on Thursday morning.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY
NETWORK
Ranked on
Households
Week Ending May 23 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.0 |
8700 |
14 |
4.4 |
12140 |
12 |
3.4 |
4380 |
10 |
|
FOX |
6.4 |
6920 |
11 |
3.7 |
10130 |
10 |
4.4 |
5600 |
13 |
|
NBC |
6.3 |
6860 |
11 |
3.5 |
9550 |
10 |
3.4 |
4410 |
10 |
|
ABC |
5.5 |
5980 |
9 |
3.1 |
8460 |
8 |
3.1 |
4020 |
9 |
|
WB |
2.5 |
2730 |
4 |
1.3 |
3720 |
4 |
1.7 |
2130 |
5 |
|
UPN |
1.9 |
2010 |
3 |
1.0 |
2720 |
3 |
1.0 |
1350 |
3 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
590 |
1 |
0.3 |
780 |
1 |
0.2 |
210 |
0 |
|
* 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 May 23 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
8.4 |
9150 |
14 |
4.7 |
13090 |
12 |
3.9 |
5010 |
11 |
|
NBC |
7.3 |
7900 |
12 |
4.0 |
11040 |
10 |
4.3 |
5490 |
12 |
|
FOX |
6.0 |
6520 |
10 |
3.5 |
9630 |
9 |
4.0 |
5160 |
11 |
|
ABC |
5.9 |
6370 |
10 |
3.3 |
9000 |
9 |
3.3 |
4190 |
9 |
|
WB |
2.5 |
2660 |
4 |
1.3 |
3650 |
3 |
1.5 |
1900 |
4 |
|
UPN |
2.3 |
2480 |
4 |
1.2 |
3380 |
3 |
1.4 |
1770 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.7 |
710 |
1 |
0.4 |
980 |
1 |
0.2 |
290 |
1 |
|
* Each
rating point is equivalent to 1.084
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 23 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
CSI |
CBS |
16.2 |
26 |
17512 |
1 |
9.2 |
25401 |
|
2 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
14.7 |
24 |
15979 |
3 |
8.4 |
23077 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL
TUESDAY |
FOX |
14.3 |
23 |
15472 |
2 |
8.6 |
23612 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL
WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
13.3 |
20 |
14371 |
4 |
8.1 |
22415 |
|
5 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
12.9 |
22 |
14029 |
5 |
7.1 |
19616 |
|
6 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
12.8 |
20 |
13877 |
5 |
7.1 |
19459 |
|
7 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
12.2 |
20 |
13277 |
7 |
6.7 |
18361 |
|
8 |
EVERYBODY
LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
10.5 |
16 |
11379 |
8 |
5.8 |
16066 |
|
9 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
9.9 |
15 |
10751 |
9 |
5.5 |
15202 |
|
10 |
LAW & ORDER
SVU 5/18(S) |
NBC |
9.8 |
15 |
10599 |
10 |
5.3 |
14670 |
|
11 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
9.4 |
16 |
10154 |
10 |
5.3 |
14527 |
|
12 |
CSI SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
9.3 |
17 |
10114 |
12 |
5.1 |
14104 |
|
13 |
BACHELOR, THE |
ABC |
8.8 |
14 |
9508 |
15 |
4.7 |
13067 |
|
14 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
8.7 |
14 |
9410 |
15 |
4.7 |
12942 |
|
15 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
8.5 |
13 |
9170 |
19 |
4.6 |
12779 |
|
16 |
LAW AND ORDER:
CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
8.3 |
13 |
8973 |
15 |
4.7 |
13036 |
|
17 |
JUDGING AMY |
CBS |
8.2 |
13 |
8889 |
24 |
4.1 |
11309 |
|
18 |
THAT '70S SHOW
FINALE SPL(S) |
FOX |
8.1 |
13 |
8815 |
13 |
4.9 |
13473 |
|
19 |
CSI: MIAMI -
SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.0 |
14 |
8642 |
20 |
4.5 |
12303 |
|
19 |
LAS VEGAS |
NBC |
8.0 |
12 |
8685 |
15 |
4.7 |
12905 |
|
21 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
7.9 |
15 |
8565 |
22 |
4.2 |
11690 |
|
22 |
EXTREME
MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
7.3 |
12 |
7939 |
14 |
4.8 |
13203 |
|
22 |
JAG |
CBS |
7.3 |
13 |
7884 |
22 |
4.2 |
11535 |
|
24 |
AMERICAN IDOL:
FINAL 3(S) |
FOX |
7.1 |
12 |
7706 |
27 |
3.9 |
10777 |
|
24 |
WEST WING |
NBC |
7.1 |
11 |
7716 |
25 |
4.0 |
11031 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 30
PROGRAMS - BROADCAST AND CABLE
Adults 18-49
Week Ending May 23 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
In Millions |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL – TUESDAY |
FOX |
10.0 |
12.83 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL – WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
9.8 |
12.57 |
|
3 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
9.0 |
11.56 |
|
4 |
CSI |
CBS |
8.8 |
11.34 |
|
5 |
LAW & ORDER: SVU |
NBC |
7.4 |
9.57 |
|
6 |
THAT 70’S SHOW FINALE |
FOX |
6.7 |
8.60 |
|
7 |
LAW & ORDER |
NBC |
6.5 |
8.36 |
|
8 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
6.3 |
8.10 |
|
9 |
THE BACHELOR |
ABC |
6.0 |
7.73 |
|
10 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
5.7 |
7.34 |
|
10 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
5.7 |
7.30 |
|
12 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME ED. |
ABC |
5.3 |
6.80 |
|
13 |
LAW & ORDER: SVU 5/18 |
NBC |
5.2 |
6.73 |
|
13 |
LAS VEGAS |
NBC |
5.2 |
6.65 |
|
15 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
5.1 |
6.53 |
|
15 |
24 |
FOX |
5.1 |
6.60 |
|
17 |
THAT 70’S SHOW |
FOX |
4.9 |
6.27 |
|
18 |
CROSSING JORDAN |
NBC |
4.8 |
6.18 |
|
19 |
THE SWAN |
FOX |
4.4 |
5.62 |
|
19 |
THE SIMPSONS |
FOX |
4.4 |
5.70 |
|
21 |
LAW & ORDER: CI |
NBC |
4.3 |
5.51 |
|
22 |
ACCORDING TO JIM 9 P.M. |
ABC |
4.2 |
5.41 |
|
22 |
AMERICAN IDOL: FINAL 3 |
FOX |
4.2 |
5.41 |
|
24 |
CSI SPECIAL |
CBS |
4.1 |
5.34 |
|
25 |
ALIAS |
ABC |
3.7 |
4.70 |
|
25 |
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE |
FOX |
3.7 |
4.82 |
|
25 |
AMERICAN IDOL: PHENOMENON |
FOX |
3.7 |
4.78 |
|
25 |
CSI: MIAMI – SPECIAL |
CBS |
3.7 |
4.77 |
|
29 |
LESS THAN PERFECT |
ABC |
3.6 |
4.62 |
|
29 |
LAW & ORDER: CI 5/20 |
NBC |
3.6 |
4.63 |
|
Source: ABC Networks, based on
data from Nielsen Media Research
|
|
CABLE TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 16 |
|
BASIC CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBA PLAYOFFS
(LAKERS/TIMBERWOLVES) |
TNT |
5661 |
5.2 |
8163 |
|
2 |
NBA PLAYOFFS
(LAKERS/TIMBERWOLVES) |
TNT |
4903 |
4.5 |
7034 |
|
3 |
NBA PLAYOFFS
(KINGS/TIMBERWOLVES) |
TNT |
4755 |
4.4 |
6344 |
|
4 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT
(WWE RAW ZONE) |
SPIKE |
3853 |
3.6 |
5288 |
|
5 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3492 |
3.2 |
4753 |
|
6 |
RW/RR CHALLENGE: INFERNO |
MTV |
3464 |
3.2 |
4461 |
|
7 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3228 |
3.0 |
4499 |
|
8 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT
(WWE RAW) |
SPIKE |
3142 |
2.9 |
4240 |
|
9 |
REAL WORLD XIV |
MTV |
3063 |
2.8 |
4228 |
|
10 |
NEXTEL CUP RACE
(NEXTEL ALL STAR- CHARLTTE) |
FX |
2987 |
2.8 |
4799 |
|
11 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2942 |
2.7 |
3826 |
|
12 |
NBA PLAYOFFS-CONF SEMIS L
(NETS/PISTONS) |
ESPN |
2863 |
2.6 |
3817 |
|
13 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2854 |
2.6 |
3575 |
|
14 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2836 |
2.6 |
3355 |
|
15 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2809 |
2.6 |
3726 |
|
PAY CABLE |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
|
1 |
SOPRANOS, THE |
HBO |
6009 |
5.5 |
9532 |
|
2 |
DEADWOOD |
HBO |
2912 |
2.7 |
4349 |
|
3 |
WCB: 5/22/04
(JONES JR. VS. TARVER) |
HBO |
1976 |
1.8 |
2709 |
|
4 |
WCB: 5/22/04 (PRE 2) |
HBO |
1786 |
1.6 |
2347 |
|
5 |
WCB: 5/22/04 (MAYWEATHER
VS. CORLEY) |
HBO |
1650 |
1.5 |
2160 |
|
* Each rating point is
equivalent to 108.4 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
8.2 |
8919 |
|
2 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
7.4 |
7999 |
|
3 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.8 |
7335 |
|
4 |
DR. PHIL SHOW |
KIN |
5.9 |
6425 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5.8 |
6323 |
|
6 |
FRIENDS-SYN (AT) |
WB |
5.5 |
5982 |
|
7 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.4 |
5865 |
|
8 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
5.3 |
5788 |
|
9 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
5.2 |
5680 |
|
10 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
5.0 |
5432 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 23 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
|
1 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE MON |
UNI |
23.0 |
2430 |
|
2 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE TUE |
UNI |
22.1 |
2340 |
|
3 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE WED |
UNI |
21.9 |
2313 |
|
4 |
BAJO LA MISMA PIEL TUE |
UNI |
21.5 |
2273 |
|
5 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE THU |
UNI |
20.8 |
2201 |
|
6 |
BAJO LA MISMA PIEL WED |
UNI |
19.4 |
2054 |
|
6 |
BAJO LA MISMA PIEL THU |
UNI |
19.4 |
2050 |
|
8 |
AMAR OTRA VEZ THU |
UNI |
19.2 |
2028 |
|
9 |
BAJO LA MISMA PIEL MON |
UNI |
19.1 |
2017 |
|
10 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE FRI |
UNI |
19.0 |
2012 |
|
11 |
AMAR OTRA VEZ TUE |
UNI |
18.9 |
1999 |
|
11 |
AMAR OTRA VEZ MON |
UNI |
18.9 |
1998 |
|
13 |
AMAR OTRA VEZ WED |
UNI |
18.6 |
1963 |
|
14 |
BAJO LA MISMA PIEL FRI |
UNI |
17.6 |
1855 |
|
15 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
16.4 |
1731 |
|
16 |
NOT UNI PRESENTA 5/20(S)-05/20 |
UNI |
16.3 |
1728 |
|
17 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
16.2 |
1715 |
|
18 |
AMAR OTRA VEZ FRI |
UNI |
16.1 |
1703 |
|
19 |
ESCUELITA VIP FRI |
UNI |
15.3 |
1618 |
|
20 |
AL FILO DE LA LEY TUE |
UNI |
13.3 |
1405 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television
Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
NETWORK
SPORTS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending May 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
PREAKNESS
(S)-
5/15 |
NBC |
|
7.7 |
19 |
8324 |
11646 |
|
2 |
NBA PLAYOFFS
ON ABC
THU 1(S) 5/13 |
ABC |
LA AT
SAN ANT. |
6.0 |
10 |
6474 |
8551 |
|
3 |
NBA PLAYOFFS
ON ABC-SUN 1 |
ABC |
MINN. AT
SACRA |
3.9 |
10 |
4201 |
5502 |
|
4 |
BYRON NELSON
GOLF-SU(S)
5/16 |
CBS |
|
3.8 |
10 |
4143 |
5296 |
|
5 |
WWE
SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
3.1 |
5 |
3340 |
4451 |
|
6 |
BYRON NELSON
GOLF-SA(S)
5/15 |
CBS |
|
2.9 |
8 |
3135 |
3915 |
|
7 |
NBC SPORTS
SPECIAL
5/16(S) |
NBC |
GYM |
1.9 |
6 |
2089 |
2710 |
|
8 |
NHL PLAYOFFS
ON ABC
SAT 6(S)
5/15 |
ABC |
TAMPA
AT
PHILA |
1.2 |
3 |
1302 |
1506 |
|
9 |
INDY 500 TIME
TRIALS-SAT(S)
5/15 |
ABC |
|
1.1 |
3 |
1186 |
1421 |
|
10 |
NBC SPORTS
SPEC. 5/15(S) |
NBC |
BOXING |
0.9 |
2 |
945 |
1173 |
|
11 |
NBC ARENA
FOOTBALL |
NBC |
VAR.
TEAMS
AND TIMES |
0.8 |
2 |
835 |
979 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
