Comments on: Ratings Tuesday: NCIS Beats Dancing With the Stars, ABC Tops Debate Coverage

By: TVFanNYC

TVFanNYC — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:12:17 +0000

Matt, at least part of ABC’s Debate numbers can be attributed to having Dancing With the Stars as a lead in to the debate.

By: FrankJ

FrankJ — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:32:34 +0000

Robert, I found out the other day that WB also produces Fringe (or at least, it’s listed under the Warner Brothers studios section of iTunes along with Chuck and Terminator). Has me wondering if the ratings for TSCC pick up even a bit if WB would be able to make FOX an even better deal on episode price. Cutting the cost on Fringe with such high ad rates may be enough to get Warner Brothers their Terminator tie in at least through their movie.

Anyway, wishful thinking, I know, but still, something to ponder.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:25:55 +0000

I’m surprised. I didn’t think that the Presidential debates figured into the ratings since all the networks cover it. Nevertheless, it’s shocking to see such a huge gap in the debate coverage ratings between ABC and the rest of the news divisions.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:21:02 +0000

Oh, yes, I wasn’t arguing that. I was just referring to keeping a dying show around simply because the DVD sales are so hot, like ABC did with Scrubs. If T:SCC were to be profitable in DVD sales, but not ads, WB would be the only one benefiting from that, so CBS wouldn’t want it around.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:35:50 +0000

Julia, I’m not sure of the count but a fair number of the Monday thru Thursday shows are produced by Warner Bros., including Gossip Girl and Privileged. I’m on the iPhone right now (and no 3G) or I’d look up how many shows are CBS/Paramount on those days. I think it’s fewer shows than WB though CBS is definitely the managing partner.

As for TSCC sadly I fear it is doomed. I’ll be extremely surprised if it lives on anywhere after its Fox run. It’s too bad. Last Monday’s episode was one of its best but it’s bled off too many viewers.

By: Julia

Julia — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:41:17 +0000

Rachel, if Terminator was a huge hit on DVD, then it’s possible that WB would want to keep it going. Of course, CW isn’t as much WB as it was supposed to be. It was supposed to be a 50/50 split between WB and CBS, but it seems CBS went in there and just took over. I’m sure the profits are still split, but CBS wouldn’t have any DVD advantage to want to keep a WB show, so they would probably veto it.

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:49:49 +0000

True, Bill. I just thought Terminator had more of a potential chance since it’s actually made by Warner Brothers, and of course the CW used to be the WB. Ah well, I’d rather it stay with Fox, so hopefully it will.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:46:31 +0000

The entire “If my show fails on network X, maybe network Y will take it” event is such a long shot that it’s not worth talking about.

Yeah, I know it’s happened a couple times (Scrubs!), but it usually takes special circumstances and still is incredibly rare.

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:44:50 +0000

Okay then, the CW can instead just stick to their brilliant programming plans (namely Sunday night) that include such hits as “In Harms Way.”

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:41:11 +0000

Cw would never take on Terminator, if it can lose half it’s audience between 1 season, whos to say it won’t do that between 2 and 3?
If it did it would rate lower than CW’S shows and it aint even in their target audience:))

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:41:04 +0000

Oops, I didn’t even answer any of your questions, Johnthemon. Heh, whoops! My bad. Well, I’m not a pro at this stuff so Bill or Robert would certainly know better than me. I’m just trying to hope for the best.

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:39:50 +0000

Well, if these five and a half million people who continue to be faithful to Terminator each week choose to be loyal to the SHOW (and not just the show on the NETWORK, aka Fox), then those viewers would carry over to the CW and that would be their highest rated show, right? Yeah, I’m probably being too optimistic about the ratings if the show moved there. Hm, well I would like to think that at least SOME channel would pick it up, even if it’s a cable one.

By: Johnthemon

Johnthemon — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:30:50 +0000

if Fox terminates Terminator I hope CW picks it up, but it doesn’t seem likely, for one thing, where would they put it? For another it doesn’t line up with their current “target audience”.

By: hmm

hmm — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:50:31 +0000

looks like it will be a walk in the park for idol to be nr 1 for another year. with all these low numbers from its biggest competitors, like DWTS. idol can lose like 40 % of last season’s audience (which they wont do, obviously) and still be nr 1 basically. the only threat might be CSI though, but Im not even sure about that one, it seems to be down too.

By: Rachel P

Rachel P — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:47:35 +0000

I agree that Fox should move Terminator to a more fitting time. You know it’d get tons of viewers if it aired after House. *sigh* I just hate seeing a great show getting treated like this.

Oh, but I did have a thought… since Warner Brothers makes the actual show or whatever, would there be a chance that if Fox chose to drop it, the CW would pick it up? I’d rather it be on Fox, but as long as it stays on the air I’ll be happy.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:37:35 +0000

Wopa, Julia, it could have been a contributing factor, it will be interesting to see the final results.

By: bleh

bleh — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:23:40 +0000

Also, didn’t no one get kicked out of Dancing with the Stars since whatsherface was injured and pulled out voluntarily? Maybe the fact that nothing happened made some people tune out.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:01:29 +0000

Can anyone tell me when the next new episode of 90210 airs, i’ve searched everywhere and can’t find out. It is off the air next week & the week after that but will it be back in 2 weeks?

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:56:23 +0000

On the West Coast, DWTS Results aired at 9pm, so the finals will tell a different story.

Could that be part of the reason ABC is so far above everyone else in the 9pm hour?

By: Wopa

Wopa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:45:04 +0000

On the West Coast, DWTS Results aired at 9pm, so the finals will tell a different story.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:42:39 +0000

Gusar, if you assume age demos are all that matters, TSCC had one bright spot vs. PB.

Oct 6: TSCC better 18-49, PB better 18-34.
Sept 29: Tied 18-49, PB better 18-34.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:42:08 +0000

Gusar, in the demo, Prison Break was tied with TSCC last week, and off by .1 this week. Hardly enough to make up for being above TSCC the first several weeks.

By: daniela

daniela — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:41:59 +0000

Bill, as well as smart and talented, you are beautiful.
I’m from Brazil.

By: Gusar

Gusar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:28:34 +0000

Bill, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Prison Break in the last two weeks have worse ratings than Terminator?

The thing is though, PB is a Fox production which gives it preferential treatment, even if you don’t factor in syndication. Excuse the language, but this just utterly and completely sucks!

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:25:50 +0000

Even if it turns out that DWTS did stay around this level for the results show ABC isn’t about to go canceling it. Profit-wise, it would still probably be one of their biggest payoffs.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:20:48 +0000

Cameron, of course I like to play up the competition, but I don’t think you can project DWTS’s future off last nights results. It was a time slot change on a special night that easily could have caught people off guard. Plus 8pm is a more lightly viewed hour in general.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:12:01 +0000

NCIS claimed another scalp. The Tuesday results show for Dancing With The Stars isn’t as popular as it used to be. Should ABC be worried? It’s amazing to see this spin off from JAG actually become more popular than its predecessor.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:06:34 +0000

At the rate CW is going, One Tree Hill is going to last until all the actors all die from old age.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:04:20 +0000

Seriefan, thanks for commenting from Holland.

It’s unlikely Terminator gets beyond 13 episodes this year.

Prison Break is in better shape, both because of its ratings and because it nearly has enough episodes (100) for syndication.

I’d be surprised if Ugly Betty doesn’t ultimately get renewed for another year, but I’m going to guess that fans may have some significant worrying to do about its future in the Spring at this rate.

One Tree Hill is very strong, no need to worry about it.

By: Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands

Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:03:12 +0000

Hi Holly, wel if Prison Break getting the axe, i am fine with it. But TERMINATOR!? OMG… Such al great show, and i know the ratings are bad buth if FOX just move the show to Tuesdays after House en Fringe to monday 8 the ratings are getting better i think…

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:00:24 +0000

Seriefan, One Tree Hill and Ugly Betty are fine. They will finish this season and probably both come back next year. Prison Break and Terminator are not doing well. Right now, it is likely that Terminator will get only 13 episodes this season. Prison Break could still air its full 22 episodes.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:58:27 +0000

Eddie, based on that logic, shouldn’t CBS have won the debate ratings?

By: Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands

Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:53:00 +0000

@ Gusar: i like Privileged, but it is’nt a top show. I hope the show is nog getting cancelled, but if it is, i would not verry upset over it

By: Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands

Seriefan, from Holland - The Netherlands — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:50:49 +0000

Hi Bill, first: sorry for my bad english! i am a huge fan of the US shows Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Prison Break, One Tree Hill and Ugly Betty. De ratings of these shows ar low i heard, and i have peace with cancellation for Prison Break, buw if Terminator and One Tree Hill and Ugly Betty get cancelled i would be VERRY sad…

Can you tell me how likley in percent (%) per show it is that these shows are going to be cancelled?

greetings from Holland!!!

By: Gusar

Gusar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:50:12 +0000

Nice to see viewership for Privileged go up. But even in CW terms, it’s not doing well enough to get beyond the initial 13 episodes, right? Damn shame, but oh well, won’t be such a big deal for me. But I am sharing Outlander’s concern though, about that show starring Summer Glau.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:28:51 +0000

Wow, the ratings are way up for this Presidential Debate over the first one. I knew with Dancing with the Stars being the lead-in, that ABC would win the night hands down.

By: R.G.

R.G. — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:16:18 +0000

Well at least “Circus” With The Stars went down in ratings- I want that show gone in the next 3 years!…Hey….I do have realistic goals you know.

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:46:45 +0000

They have put way too much marketing behind 90210 to cancel it. It really is fairly lousy, though – especially considering the other CW shows have done much better against the debate, by a tune of about half a million viewers.

Priveledged is a goner, though!

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:41:14 +0000

Thanks Bill!:)

By: Anony

Anony — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:39:25 +0000

It’s interesting to see how bad NBC has been doing overall – but appears to have some strength amoung 18-34 lately. Wonder how that will end up turning out?

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:35:24 +0000

90210 has the highest average 18-49 audience for any CW show so far this season. If its current audience holds up, there is no chance that it gets cancelled.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:29:20 +0000

Bill, could you please tell me if 90210 is doing good for the CW? I don’t want it cancelled by the end of the season:( do you think it’s chances for renewal are good?

Thanks

By: Outlander

Outlander — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:25:16 +0000

Pretty healthy decline in the ratings for the debate from the 9 to 10pm hours. Guess it wasn’t just the pundits who thought the debate was boring this time!

Good for NCIS, too. It not only beat DWTS in overall ratings, it also won 18-49 and nearly won 18-34. If only certain other preferred shows of mine — *cough* those starring Summer Glau — could have similar mojo.