Fox Sweeps All Categories, Edges CBS in Viewers
Contrary to my previous predictions, Fox edged CBS for the average viewer crown for the week of April 7-13, although by a mere 20,000 average viewers. I figured, with most of its regular shows back with new episodes, that CBS was untouchable for the rest of the season weekly average viewer and adults 25-54 crowns. I obviously was too hasty, as Fox gained a little over half a million average viewers from the previous week, and CBS, with only a single NCAA primetime game on April 7, fell back more than 1 million average viewers from the previous week
Fox also won all the age demographic categories; winning the weekly races for adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54 pretty comfortably over CBS which was second in each race. This week's results cause me to reassess my earlier prediction that "CBS seems assured of total viewer and 25-54 wins for the remainder of the season." It just might be a horse race for weekly viewers and not so close for adults 25-54. All CBS has left to bring back this season is Rules of Engagement (April 14) and Moonlight (April 25), hardly powerhouses. While Fox still has Bones (April 14), Back to You (April 16) which together should balance the new CBS adds, and the blockbuster House (April 28) which should sweep away the competition.
ABC again finished third in average viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and fourth in adults 18-34, behind the Hispanic youth power of Univision. The return of Desperate Housewives helped ABC gain about a half million average viewers from the previous week, but with Fox adding a million they lost ground. The return of Grey's Anatomy (April 24) will help boost ABC, but the other returning shows According to Jim, Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty aren't likely to make a big dent. ABC continues to settle into being the third/fourth place finisher on a weekly basis from here on out.
NBC again finished fourth in average viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and fifth in adults 18-34. NBC's Thursday night line up (30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, ER) filled out last week yet it only added about 300,000 average viewers. Forget my prediction they might be competitive with ABC before Grey's Anatomy returns. Jeff Zucker and his folks are in a world of hurt. Law & Order (April 23) and Law & Order: SVU (April 15) should mute the pain a bit, but my thought that NBC would be fighting ABC for third/fourth place finishes for the rest of the season might have been a bit too hopeful.
CW lost almost 150,000 average viewers from the previous week, threatening to vanish from the radar screen entirely. They still await the return of both Gossip Girl (April 21) and Supernatural (April 24) to join their train wreck of a season.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As one of my favorite staples on ESPN’s Around the Horn — Denver Post columnist Woody Paige — always says: YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE.
“Idol Gives Back” may not be the jewel regular Idol is, but had you seen three Idols instead of the normal two, you might have predicted differently.
As one of my favorite staples on ESPN's Around the Horn — Denver Post columnist Woody Paige — always says: YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE.
“Idol Gives Back” may not be the jewel regular Idol is, but had you seen three Idols instead of the normal two, you might have predicted differently.
I await the day that TV advertisers see the value in the quality of viewers and not just quantity.
Supernatural has a ardent fan base that is not only loyal to the television program, but also to its sponsors.
Call the CW a train wreck if you want, but I’d challenge you to find as fiercely loyal fans for any other program on television today.
I await the day that TV advertisers see the value in the quality of viewers and not just quantity.
Supernatural has a ardent fan base that is not only loyal to the television program, but also to its sponsors.
Call the CW a train wreck if you want, but I'd challenge you to find as fiercely loyal fans for any other program on television today.
LindsayW, while we don’t have viewer income or gender information, be sure that the networks and their advertisers do.
They do look at both quality and quantity. That’s why some shows [like 30 Rock, which supposedly has very good income demographics] are renewed when their overall viewer numbers are terrible.
My “train wreck” remark about the CW season points more to the fact that they’re doing more than 20% worse on an average viewer basis this season vs. last season. If 20% of viewers can leave you in a single season, that’s not “fiercely loyal”.
LindsayW, while we don't have viewer income or gender information, be sure that the networks and their advertisers do.
They do look at both quality and quantity. That's why some shows [like 30 Rock, which supposedly has very good income demographics] are renewed when their overall viewer numbers are terrible.
My “train wreck” remark about the CW season points more to the fact that they're doing more than 20% worse on an average viewer basis this season vs. last season. If 20% of viewers can leave you in a single season, that's not “fiercely loyal”.
The CW may have had train wreck of a season but Supernatrual definitely was the exception.
Like LindsayW said the fans of Supernatural are very loyal and supporters of the show.
The CW may have had train wreck of a season but Supernatrual definitely was the exception.
Like LindsayW said the fans of Supernatural are very loyal and supporters of the show.
Wont argue The CW IS a train wreck but Supernatural is the show that stops it going Kaboom completley..for me anyway
Wont argue The CW IS a train wreck but Supernatural is the show that stops it going Kaboom completley..for me anyway
I’m a SN fan too but there’s no denying that the CW IS a trainwreck.
I'm a SN fan too but there's no denying that the CW IS a trainwreck.
I echo the sentiments experessed here. I love the adventures of Sam & Dean, but the CW is a trainwreck.
I echo the sentiments experessed here. I love the adventures of Sam & Dean, but the CW is a trainwreck.
As stated by others, Supernatural fans will never argue with you on the subject of the CW being a trainwreck, but Supernatural is the exception on the CW. Supernatural is probably the best show on television today, but it lacks the support of it’s own network even though it is among their top rated.
As stated by others, Supernatural fans will never argue with you on the subject of the CW being a trainwreck, but Supernatural is the exception on the CW. Supernatural is probably the best show on television today, but it lacks the support of it's own network even though it is among their top rated.
well, the SN fanz really r fiercely loyal!!! since this is fr the entire CW’s (including so much of the crap), line up, the viewers of course are going down, but the SN fanz, they r LOYAL–the one’s who really truely care, and i don’t mean the casual viewers , who just tune in fr the eye candy!!!
well, the SN fanz really r fiercely loyal!!! since this is fr the entire CW's (including so much of the crap), line up, the viewers of course are going down, but the SN fanz, they r LOYAL–the one's who really truely care, and i don't mean the casual viewers , who just tune in fr the eye candy!!!
I sometimes do wish that Supernatural could be on some other network, becasue CW as a network for Supernatural, is totally useless.
This show deserves so much better, it is the one of the best show on television History..
I sometimes do wish that Supernatural could be on some other network, becasue CW as a network for Supernatural, is totally useless.
This show deserves so much better, it is the one of the best show on television History..