As with overall viewership, FOX completely dominated and held every slot in the top five. Perhaps it's the stock market, perhaps it's the cold gray weather in San Francisco, or that I feel about as good as the weather... But when I look at the gap between the #1 show and the #5 show, and the gap between #5 and everything else, I wonder how any of the network executives (save perhaps at FOX, this week) are allowed to keep their jobs.
FOX took 6 out of the top 10 spots, NBC took 3, and CBS, just one. In terms of the top 10, ABC was completely shut out, and only had one show in the entire top 20 (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at #13).
OK, perhaps it's just jealousy. I always dreamed of growing up and making millions and millions of dollars for mediocre performance. It never happened (not the millions and millions, at least), but it's good to know it's not completely outside the realm of possibility.
| RANK | PROGRAMS | ORIG | P18-49 rating (LIVE+SD) | # OF PERSONS 18-49 (LIVE+SD) (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP(S) | FOX | 20.6 | 27,022 |
| 2 | FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-GUN(S) | FOX | 16.7 | 21,853 |
| 3 | American Idol-TUESDAY | FOX | 13.8 | 18,130 |
| 4 | American Idol-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 12.6 | 16,519 |
| 5 | FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST(S) | FOX | 9.4 | 12,299 |
| 6 | DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON | NBC | 5.0 | 6,567 |
| 7 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 4.6 | 6,081 |
| 8 | AMERICAN GLADIATORS | NBC | 4.6 | 5,990 |
| 9 | CSI: MIAMI (R ) | CBS | 4.3 | 5,580 |
| 10 | TERMINATOR: SRH CNR CHRON | FOX | 4.2 | 5,536 |
| 11 | Apprentice 7 | NBC | 4.0 | 5,265 |
| 12 | Two and a Half Men (R ) | CBS | 3.8 | 4,992 |
| 13 | Extreme Makeover:HOME ED. | ABC | 3.8 | 4,959 |
| 14 | SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 3.7 | 4,852 |
| 15 | Law And Order | NBC | 3.6 | 4,780 |
| 16 | CSI (R ) | CBS | 3.5 | 4,604 |
| 17 | E.R. | NBC | 3.4 | 4,512 |
| 18 | DONT FORGET THE LYRICS | FOX | 3.4 | 4,488 |
| 19 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 3.4 | 4,420 |
| 20 | PRISON BREAK | FOX | 3.3 | 4,338 |
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
how is Nip/Tuck so far for season 5. Heard the premiere did well, but nothing since. How has it been in December and January so far?
Selena, we only see the cable top 40, and are allowed to post only the top 20.
Regardless, our adults 18-49 data covers only broadcast shows, and sadly, not cable.
how is Nip/Tuck so far for season 5. Heard the premiere did well, but nothing since. How has it been in December and January so far?
Selena, we only see the cable top 40, and are allowed to post only the top 20.
Regardless, our adults 18-49 data covers only broadcast shows, and sadly, not cable.
Can you share why on earth you would only be allowed to post the Top 20?
That makes exactly zero sense to me. You should be able to post every single rating for every single show if you think it's appropriate.
Nielsen prohibits us, and any press, from publishing more than 20 in each list.
They are concerned about eroding the value of their paid product which is completely understandable.
Thanks for the answer, Bill
That's an interesting reason. How much do you give away for free before your customers stop paying…
it depends on the customer. There is *huge* value in the full data for some. Others are more…miserly.
It would seem that the vast majority of Nielsen's tv ratings revenues come from ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX (the broadcast networks themselves, not necessarily the production companies making shows). I can certainly understand Nielsen's difficulty with walking the line of making information available while not upsetting its best customers.
Can you share why on earth you would only be allowed to post the Top 20?
That makes exactly zero sense to me. You should be able to post every single rating for every single show if you think it’s appropriate.
Also to an extent, we don't know how much we don't see.
We know there is lots more demographic data we don't see and lots more data on cable shows and commercial ratings, which we see none of.
Nielsen prohibits us, and any press, from publishing more than 20 in each list.
They are concerned about eroding the value of their paid product which is completely understandable.
I've had a chance, way back when, to see very detailed Nielsen info and it was great reading! I wish I had access to that on a regular basis!
Something that may or may not be a factor is that it's a lot easier to claim a cable show is a “big hit” when ratings data is unavailable to most journalists.
but all of those journalists would be able to get an idea of what the top 40 cable shows were and what the #'s for the # 40 show were.
I'd personally be hard pressed to describe anything not making the Cable “Top 40″ as a “hit”. Cult sensation perhaps, but not a hit.
Thanks for the answer, Bill
That’s an interesting reason. How much do you give away for free before your customers stop paying…
it depends on the customer. There is *huge* value in the full data for some. Others are more…miserly.
It would seem that the vast majority of Nielsen’s tv ratings revenues come from ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX (the broadcast networks themselves, not necessarily the production companies making shows). I can certainly understand Nielsen’s difficulty with walking the line of making information available while not upsetting its best customers.
Also to an extent, we don’t know how much we don’t see.
We know there is lots more demographic data we don’t see and lots more data on cable shows and commercial ratings, which we see none of.
I’ve had a chance, way back when, to see very detailed Nielsen info and it was great reading! I wish I had access to that on a regular basis!
Something that may or may not be a factor is that it’s a lot easier to claim a cable show is a “big hit” when ratings data is unavailable to most journalists.
but all of those journalists would be able to get an idea of what the top 40 cable shows were and what the #’s for the # 40 show were.
I’d personally be hard pressed to describe anything not making the Cable “Top 40″ as a “hit”. Cult sensation perhaps, but not a hit.