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Early Ratings Report: Lower Ratings for World Series and Life on Mars

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October 24th, 2008

Only a quick scan of the early metered market numbers this morning, and CSI will again be the most-watched show. CSI outperformed Grey's Anatomy, but Grey's will surely fare well in the demos.

Last night's World Series game where the Tampa Bay Rays won to even the series at one game each did not perform as well as game one in the early metered market numbers, and appear to be down a little more than 15% versus last year's game two featuring the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.

We'll dig deeper when we see the fast national data, but at this point things are not looking good for Life on Mars, which continued its ratings descent, pulling a 5.6/10 (household rating/share). I'm not ready to jump into "please don't cancel this show! If ABC cancels this show I'll never watch another show on ABC again (until Lost or some major sporting event catches my eye)" mode yet. But, it's too bad. I like this show and this doesn't look like a good sign. I will look for some sliver of hope via the demos when I see them.

Last night's Supernatural was another that wasn't among my favorites. And no iPod product placements. But I was very glad I stayed to the end for the special full lip-sync of Survivor's Eye of the Tiger by Jensen Ackles clip, which cracked me up.

You can check out the full metered market numbers via Marc Berman.

Metered Market Overnight Ratings: This is normally the first available ratings information, and is based on the electronic measurement service that Nielsen provides in 56 of the nation’s largest markets. In each market a sample of homes is selected to represent that individual market. Often, networks or syndicators provide metered market information as an early indicator of a program’s performance. In aggregate, the 56 metered markets represent 79,890,610 homes, or 70% of all U.S. TV households. Preliminary metered market data are available as early as 8:00AM (ET). Final metered market information, reflecting line-up changes, pre-emptions and runovers, are normally available by 3:30PM (ET).

(39) Comments - Add Yours!

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  1. Shawn

    It’s unfortunate that Life On Mars is sliding downward because I like the show too. However, given that there are so many ABC shows that are underperforming, maybe there’s still a spot for this show in the lineup, at least for the short term. They can’t cancel half their primetime schedule after all, right?

  2. Shawn, it could conceivably cancel all the underperforming shows, though doing it in one fell swoop seems highly unlikely.

  3. David

    Why are you watching ABC right now? They canceled “My So Called Life”. You were supposed to stop watching them after they did that. ;)

  4. Vader

    With Wednesday’s in complete disarray (minus Private Practice), Eli Stone doing poorly, and Opportunity Knocks already cancelled, I think ABC will take what it can get from Life on Mars. It wouldn’t completely shock me if they kept it around and tried pairing it with LOST in the spring. Grey’s Anatomy does have an audience, but I highly doubt that audience on Life on Mars’ are even remotely the same. Also, ABC does like the show, which counts for something.

  5. Julia26

    I love Life on Mars and I a bummed to see that it is still sliding… Waiting to see the next set of numbers later today.

  6. STACY

    What annoyed me about Supernatural last night, is that is was advertised as a serious episode and it turned out to me more of a comedic episode. I have no problem with funny episodes; I just don’t like being tricked.

  7. Chris the TV sage

    I’m a fan of LoM as well (although this ep was far worse than the first two and makes me worry it’s about to get Octoberroadisized)… would like to see it move to Wed @ 10 after Lost as well, but that’s up against CSI:NY and I don’t think it can win there (wonder what NBC will use to replace Lipstick Jungle?).

  8. Yeah, I think Life on Mars sticks around, but gets moved mid season. And then most likely canceled in May, if the numbers stay in this range. (Depending on the demo, of course.) ABC wouldn’t want to waste a Grey’s lead in when they may have a much better match up in the works.

  9. Chris, I don’t think ABC is worried with winning, so much as they want to maintain a good amount of Lost’s audience.

  10. I mean they would want to maintain a good amount of Lost’s audience.

  11. my gosh

    I don’t know what will my ABC boss are you going to say about LOM

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