This post is courtesy of long-time TVbytheNumbers reader Fin, who is very interested in the ratings of shows from the US when they air in the UK.
He's just started (literally yesterday) his own blog, where he will focus from time-to-time on what's going on with American TV in the UK. Here, he takes an in-depth look at how shows from the US performed on his side of the pond during the most recent season.
Enjoy.
A LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND, AMERICA IN BRITISH WATERS
Hello I’m Fin, I like to watch a lot of TV (though generally just over a short time span – I just finished the first four seasons of LOST in a week – and wow it was good). Though I appreciate English TV (I like Being Human) I find it lacks the budget to engage me (especially when it’s obliviously a crap set – I’m looking at you Doctor Who). So there something about me...
As the latest American TV season has come to an end, across the pond most US shows aired in the UK have finished their seasonal run. (Albeit some aired late are being aired into the fall). Since there is less to talk about in the summer I thought that looking into how international airings can help a show or even just looking at how a favourite show is seen over in another country would be interesting. The country I have picked is the UK (mostly because it can pay more than Canada) as the UK has a higher exchange rate, it can pay for up to 32% of some show’s budget (if that show has a $2.5 million budget for instance and the UK broadcaster pays £400,000 which is not uncommon), shows like Heroes, LOST, 24, the Simpsons and Desperate Housewives can give $789,000 or more an episode for the respective Studios. Indeed international airings have helped shows (Keifer Sutherland from 24 seems to think so) in America to continue despite a ratings slump in the US (the same with Heroes and Japan).
| Channel | Show | UK Viewership (Millions) | Previous
Seasonal Viewership |
Studio |
| FIVE | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 3.48 | 3.60 | CBS Productions |
| BBC TWO(+ THREE) | HEROES * | 3.26 | 3.81 | Universal Studios |
| FIVE | CSI: MIAMI | 3.17 | 2.64 | CBS Productions |
| FIVE | THE Mentalist | 2.87 | N/A | Warner Bros. |
| FIVE
FIVE |
CSI: NY | 2.66 | 3.00
2.51 |
CBS Productions |
| CHANNEL4 (+E4/+1) | Desperate Housewives* | 2.50 | 2.48 | ABC Studios |
| CHANNEL4 (+E4/+1) | UGLY BETTY* | 2.09 | 2.09 | ABC Studios |
| ITV | PUSHING DAISIES | 1.17 | 3.78 | Warner Bros. |
The first table is of shows that air on the main five networks so they will automatically get higher viewership than those aired on digital or cable channels.
These are the main shows aired in the UK on broadcast television (although there are shows like E.R. and Law & Order but their timeslots are so bad it’s hard to find their numbers). This season’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation seems to be the number #1 watched show in the UK for 2009 (at least for now I wonder if Flashpoint premiere’s in the autumn that will change), it seems the quality slump for Heroes has pushed it off being the number #1 show for two years in a row (it was #1 in 2008 and 2007).
Ugly Betty seems to struggling since its been off air for months (its low season two ratings and Channel 4 replacing it with Dirty Sexy Money, then Big Brother coming again seem to have left almost 7 months hiatus since the season two finale) and although Ugly Betty is doing as good as season two its only just started and has a lot more episodes on the way. The same can be said for CSI: Miami.
The Mentalist CBS’s surprise hit did very well in the UK premiering to 4.21 million viewer (although the latest episodes have fallen to around 2.5 million) it still did well enough for FIVE to cancel its contract to HOUSE and replace it with The Mentalist (House moved to SkyOne).
Pushing Daisies which was received in the UK much like it was in the US during its first season, amazing reviews but not many viewers stuck around during its first season with 6.36 million at the premiere and ending with 2.70 million viewers. Of course season two’s viewership was hurt by two major things.
- Firstly when Pushing Daisies first season aired it was on Saturday’s which at the time of its airing where in full flow, with ITV airings it best. So moving to Fridays 10:00pm which like in the states is used for dying or weak shows where less is expected. Of course Pushing Daisies performed worse than was bad on Fridays (which is hard) and was moved to 11:35pm where ratings fell below 1mil. In all fairness Pushing Daisies like with the states was given nil to none promotion by either ITV or ABC so blame can go either way (and I find it hard to point blame at an amazing show like Pushing Daisies)
- Furthermore when it was on Saturday at the time it was given the flow of Britain’s Got Talent viewers which can rise to almost 11million viewers so its timeslot was very cosy indeed.
Desperate Housewives actually increased over the second half of its fifth season which is something the show certainly struggles with in the US. Its seems its timeslot of Wednesday 10:00pm has become the flagship imported show timeslot for Channel 4 (with Ugly Betty now airing there).
Heroes: the numbers used to make Heroes average viewership per episode are made up by two airings. BBC Two will air an episode at 9:00pm (which mostly pulls in around 2million), but as BBC Three airs next week’s episode an hour later I felt that the million or so viewers who watch the pre-airing beforehand should be included in the show’s viewership, as BBC Three’s airing is not a repeat I felt it has a right to be included.
Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty: Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty both have a similar system used as Heroes (they are pre-aired on Sunday by E4) but Channel 4 also has a +1 channel which airs the shows an hour later, as the adverts are the same I felt this should also be used in making an episodes overall viewership.
| Channel | Show | Latest UK Average Viewership | Previous
Seasonal Viewership |
Studio |
| SkyOne | LOST | 1.13 | 1.18 | ABC Studios |
| BBC THREE | Family Guy | 0.91 | 0.74 | 20th Century FOX |
| SkyOne
ITV2 |
House | 0.87 | 2.17
0.77 |
Universal Studios
Warner Bros. |
| SkyOne | Bones | 0.83 | 0.84 | 20th Century FOX |
| SkyOne | 24 | 0.70 | 0.54 | 20th Century FOX |
| SkyOne | Lie To Me | 0.64 | N/A | 20th Century FOX |
| Living | Ghost Whisperer* | 0.63 | 0.66 | ABC Studios |
| Living | Grey’s Anatomy* | 0.61 | 0.53 | ABC Studios |
| SkyOne | Fringe | 0.60 | N/A | Warner Bros. |
| Living | America’s Next Top Model* | 0.57 | N/A | N/A |
| Living | Criminal Minds* | 0.56 | 0.52 | CBS Productions |
| Living | Eleventh Hour* | 0.38 | N/A | Granada Productions |
| Sci-Fi UK | Knight Rider* | 0.37 | N/A | Universal Studios |
| Virgin 1 | Terminator: TSCC* | 0.36 | 0.57 | Warner Bros. |
| Virgin 1 | Chuck* | 0.33 | 0.35 | Warner Bros. |
| Living | Private Practise* | 0.33 | 0.35 | ABC Studios |
| Sci-Fi UK | Dollhouse* | 0.32 | N/A | Mutant Enemy Productions |
| Sci-Fi UK | Eli Stone* | 0.26 | 0.22 | ABC Studios |
| Living | Lipstick Jungle* | 0.24 | 0.27 | Universal Studios |
| Sci-Fi UK | My Own Worst Enemy* | 0.08 | N/A | Universal Studios |
This second table depicts shows aired mostly on cable channels and some on freeview, channels that have fewer viewers than the main five.
These are the main shows aired in the UK on cable or freeview, despite having less viewers it is important to note that a cable channel like SkyOne pays up to £500,000 for an episode of one show, an example is 24 or LOST (which it stole the rights from Channel 4). Thus, high numbers on cable channels can still mean a lot of money for American production companies. Although I won’t go in to detail on these shows I will say a few things. The few shows have done badly in the US have reflected this in the UK (I’m looking at you My Own Worst Enemy). Another is that as UK cable channels (apart from SkyOne and E4) struggle to produce original programming so rely heavily on imported American shows. Thirdly and most sadly I do not have the ratings for E4 shows such as Smallville, 90210 or even Dirty Sexy Money (which when I did see the numbers did outstanding for an 11pm show on E4). However I will be able to see the numbers of these shows in the future (I can’t now because they only stay around for say a week).
Shows with *: these shows have aired on plus +1 channels as well meaning that the numbers are often pushed up by being aired an hour later as well (but the same adverts) but only by around 200,000 viewers.
Side-Note: As with many shows the numbers for some shows such as House or Ugly Betty will change (and I will update you on them) as they are still airing.
Information on ‘BARB’ and how it measures TV audiences: BARB commissions contractors to provide research services, including the production of audience viewing figures, on its behalf. The audience measurement contracts are held by the following companies - RSMB, Ipsos MORI, AGB Nielsen Media Research and TNS.
BARB Gold Standard data generally refers to the consolidated data which incorporates live and timeshift viewing and is the official estimate of television viewing.
These averages taken over the course of a shows run were taken from Barb.co.uk, for around five to six shows there are gaps of one or two episodes (their episode rating is missing). However as these gaps will most likely have little difference to a shows general average I decided to leave the show in the table. These problems only occur with small cable shows (none on broadcast).
interesting
Very informative. Too bad Pushing Daisies also suffered a big ratings drop.
I hope we could see more international ratings for US shows in the future
In my country US shows don’t really rate well here. American Idol is probably the top US show here in the Philippines because they receive media coverage. Plus the first airing of the show here is just an hour or two delayed from its US airing (same goes for Survivor and Amazing Race). And for the scripted shows, they are aired here months (or even years) delayed from its US airing although for some shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Smallville, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters we are just two to three weeks behind from the US airing.
interesting, different countries have such different tastes, i live in australia and if anyone is interested, it’s only the very high profile US shows that are aired before 9:30. apparantly our favourite US shows are bones/castle (they are aired back to back) NCIS, scrubs, 2.5men, and desperate housewives. a lot of your CBS crime shows have bombed in recent years and been ripped off air/pushed to late night after only a few episodes; the CSI franchise, without a trace, flashpoint, eleventh hour, ect. ect. even the mentalist which stars simon baker (australian) hasn’t rated well at all.
one thing i find interesting about US ratings is that shows last. Aussie big brother started huge but then ratings dropped and i was axed last year. Australian idol is doing really bad and will probably be it’s last season, dancing with the stars, so you think you can dance, the biggest loser, ect. they will all be lucky to last another year or two wheras in america they will be on for years. it’s kind of good because we are always getting fresh shows, but it sucks if you are a fan.
forg, I don’t think all networks think that same week airings help a show, generally because if the show is off for weeks veiwers aren’t going to suddenly return ( for the UK, shows have limited runs of a few weeks so its unusual). I mean take Heroes it aired around one or two weeks after the US in the autumn (fall) and its first part of the season averaged 3.75 million, but when it returned in the spring (and its hard for UK networks to suddenly repromote the return of the show as february/january is the return of another cadre of shows) it averaged only 2.82 million veiwers. (Of course some of this was due to a timeslot change). It seems to work for channels like Living or ITV2 to start shows in january and let them have a long run where veiwers generally stick.
I find polls so interesting, because they never reflect what I watch or most of my friends. Granted most of us are educated nerds. We enjoy Big Bang Theory, Bones, Eureka AND we watch a lot of BBC shows because we don’t care for most of the US TV.
So thank goodness for Netflix and rentals. Maybe one of these days we will get polled for our interest and nerds and trekkies will rule the airwaves.
…especially when it’s obliviously a crap set – I’m looking at you Doctor Who …
I presume you mean the early Doctor Who. The latest 21st Century version has lots of budget and lots of special effects.
Greg, although i’ll admit that Doctor Who at times has good sets, especially in the fourth season but at the same time some of the sets and costumes have looked terrible (I remember watching an episode of the third season and it was just not realisitic). I mean lets face it, the terminator show had a better way to do robots than Doctor Who’s cybermen (who look like tin cans). Though the effects in the final episode of Doctor Who were good, I think the one thing the show has going for it is good writing and generally good acting.
Great read. Always interesting to see how TV is faring outside the US.
“Though the effects in the final episode of Doctor Who were good, I think the one thing the show has going for it is good writing and generally good acting.”
Those were always the two things that DW did well on. The writing and acting. Both in the classic and current series.
Interesting.
For comparison’s sake, what’s the viewership of a few British shows? What’s considered good, okay, and bad (and for which network)?
Also, as for Doctor Who, I know a lot of viewers (British, American, and others) who have major issues with a lot of the recent writing. Journey’s End didn’t go over too well, as just one example.
It’s important to understand in the UK that a season (series) of a show is traditionally shown week to week without breaks (i.e. a 22 episode show will be shown over 22 weeks with no repeats…if Christmas Day or Boxing Day fall on it’s transmission day then it may take a break). This presents different scheduling problems from those that exist in the States where a 22 episode show may have to be stretched out over 28-36 weeks.
We also have two major evening soaps that transmit 3 times a week (Eastenders and Coronation Street) and they get viewing figures around 10m each IIRC, UK soaps are more ‘set in the real world’ then US soaps though (although the necessity of story lines mean an excessive amount of deaths and affairs of course).
US Shows can (and do) do very well here, but because of the nature of modern communications a US show that loses (or doesn’t get) buzz will tend to lose steam here very quickly.
It’s also interesting to understand that TV transmission here falls into two main categories.
1. Freeview/Freesat – This transmits about 30 channels of totally free to air programmes. BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, BBC HD, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, ITV HD, Channel 4, More 4, E4, Film4 , Five, Fiver, Five US, Virgin 1, Yesterday (History), Dave (Comedy), TMF and 4 Music (Music Channels), Assorted News Channels.
2. Sky Satellite – This transmits hundreds of channels at costs of $20-$70 per month depending on what you want. There are just over 7m paid subscribers (I’ve taken out Sky’s habit of including free to air subscribers from it’s numbers).
There is also a Virgin cable network but it’s reach is less then 1m people.
While the fragmentation of channels in the UK is causing the same decrease in ratings as in the US an interesting comparison would be in 1986 (IIRC) the Christmas episode of Eastenders (where Den dumped Angie) was watched by 30m people, That’s was over 50% of the population and nearer 65% of England’s population (Eastenders doesn’t do as well in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as it’s set in London). These days a show that got north of 12m viewers would be considered a monster hit.
I have to laugh when I hear the Networks (both UK and US) complaining about the reduction of viewer numbers due to fragmentation, frankly it’s a supply and demand market and simplistically there are too many networks for the number of quality shows available. If one US network disappeared, CW being the obvious one would anyone really care? (well besides Dawn).
If one US network disappeared, CW being the obvious one would anyone really care? (well besides Dawn).
I would care only because I would lose Supernatural.
“For comparison’s sake, what’s the viewership of a few British shows??”
You can check BARB website for a start
http://www.barb.co.uk/
weekly channels recap
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyViewingSummaryOverview
weekly top 30 for BBC1, ITV1, BBC3, C4 and Five
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview?_s=3
and weekly top 10 for multichannels offerings
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammes?_s=3
Never thought I would see the day when Heroes has more viewers than LOST
@andrea2
Thanks for the barb links, very useful.
Thanks for including Pushing Daisies on that list! Do comedies like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory air over in England?
ok as a UK reader interested in all things USTV inc how my fave show perform its good to see this sort of thing so all the world can see how shows perform. Also Virgin Media cable reaches at least 3.5million suscribers not 1million as someone said, Personnally the US writers strike killed Ugly Betty in the Uk in my opinion, i mean channel 4 showed season2 episodes 1-10 a few weeks after the Us screenings then didnt show the 2nd half till october 2008!!!
Also prsonnally i like that some shows get shown all in 1 go from january ahows like Buffy did very well like that a few years ago but the new system of 1/2 a season from oct to christmas then the 2nd half from march or so the christmas break is logical especially in christian counrties that mainly celebrate christmas
anyway rant over lol!!!
RJ – Yes we do get comedies. The Big Bang Theory is shown quite late at night on Channel 4 (also on E4, one of the digital channels), the same with My Name Is Earl.
Two and a Half Men is shown on satellite.
Two and a half men and the big bang theory do air in the UK, however I don’t really know their exact numbers (for seasonal averages). Two and a half men from what I’ve seen pulls in around 150,000 to 200,000 (remember that these are like season two episodes as the show is far behind the US in the UK – at least for this channel). The show does air on ComedyCentral (which is a tiny cable channel) and its the highest rated show on the channel so I’m sure that its numbers are very good in comparison to the network .As for the Big Bang Theory as it airs on E4′s comedy thursday night, it generally gets a good veiwership but I can’t really give exact numbers without lying. (Sorry)
How big is the TV viewing universe in the UK? I mean, I know that the UK has about 60MM population, but how many television households does that translate to?
Very interesting post, by the way. Thanks much.