Premiere week (September 21-27) DVR viewing numbers are in and Dollhouse had the largest % increase in both 18-49 rating and average viewership. Will that save the show or is it already too late?
One trend that's immediately obvious this season is that the network PR departments are completely behind the touting of DVR numbers, whether they matter to their bottom line or not!
For those who have followed DVR viewing in the past, there aren't a whole lot of surprises in the the week's numbers. Show's targeted at younger viewers tend to be more viewed by DVR (CW shows, many Fox shows, and some NBC shows). CBS and ABC shows are not DVR viewed in nearly the same % as the competition's. I'll do some more analysis on days and timeslots in the future.
And as has always been the case, shows with big absolute viewership numbers have big absolute DVR viewership numbers.
Because of emerging practices in the TV media, and our access to the relevant data, we're making a pretty fundamental change in the way we present DVR data. Up until now, we used the show's Live program rating or viewership as the base upon which the Live+7 day DVR viewing was added. Now, the press seems to be standardizing around using Live+Same Day DVR viewing as the base for the calculations, plus our access to Live ratings is somewhat erratic and restricted. While there are both positive and negative aspects to basing increases on Live+SD, after discussion, Robert and I decided to make the change.
Note that the first two table below contains adults 18-49 demo program ratings, and the other two contain average viewership data.
To see previous weeks most DVR'd TV Shows lists click here.
Those of you interested in DVR viewing numbers might enjoy:
When Do DVR’d Shows Get Watched? Same Night or After?
Doing My Part To Combat DVR Misinformation
Largest 18-49 Demo Increase From DVR Viewing for Broadcast TV Shows (Sept 21-27):
| Rank | Programs | Net | 18-49 Live+SD (rating) | 18-49 Live+7 (rating) | Post Airdate Increase from DVR Viewing | % of All Viewing By DVR Post Airdate |
| 1 | Smallville | CW | 1.00 | 1.50 | 50% | 33% |
| 2 | DOLLHOUSE | FOX | 1.00 | 1.50 | 50% | 33% |
| 3 | 90210 | CW | 1.00 | 1.40 | 40% | 29% |
| 4 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.30 | 3.20 | 39% | 28% |
| 5 | MELROSE PLACE | CW | 0.80 | 1.10 | 38% | 27% |
| 6 | Gossip Girl | CW | 1.10 | 1.50 | 36% | 27% |
| 7 | Law And Order | NBC | 1.20 | 1.60 | 33% | 25% |
| 8 | HEROES | NBC | 2.80 | 3.70 | 32% | 24% |
| 9 | Bones | FOX | 2.80 | 3.60 | 29% | 22% |
| 10 | THE Mentalist | CBS | 3.60 | 4.60 | 28% | 22% |
| 11 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 1.80 | 2.30 | 28% | 22% |
| 12 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.30 | 2.90 | 26% | 21% |
| 13 | Glee | FOX | 3.10 | 3.90 | 26% | 21% |
| 14 | OFFICE | NBC | 3.90 | 4.90 | 26% | 20% |
| 15 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 2.80 | 3.50 | 25% | 20% |
| 16 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 1.20 | 1.50 | 25% | 20% |
| 17 | CSI | CBS | 4.10 | 5.10 | 24% | 20% |
| 18 | Vampire Diaries | CW | 1.70 | 2.10 | 24% | 19% |
| 19 | AMERICA'S Top Model 7 | CW | 1.30 | 1.60 | 23% | 19% |
| 20 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 6.70 | 8.20 | 22% | 18% |
| 21 | Parks and Recreation | NBC | 1.80 | 2.20 | 22% | 18% |
| 22 | HOUSE | FOX | 6.80 | 8.20 | 21% | 17% |
| 23 | SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED | FOX | 2.50 | 3.00 | 20% | 17% |
| 24 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 4.10 | 4.90 | 20% | 16% |
| 25 | How I Met Your Mother | CBS | 3.60 | 4.30 | 19% | 16% |
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The 18-49 Demo Increase From DVR Viewing ranks which of the top broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest % of increase in viewing by DVR in their adults 18-49 Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows after the airdate on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
Largest DVR Audiences for Broadcast TV Shows (Sept 21-27):
| Rank | Programs | Net | Persons Live+SD (000s) | Persons Live+7 (000s) | DVR Viewers Past Airdate (000s) | % of All Viewing By DVR Past Airdate |
| 1 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 17,061 | 20,029 | 2,968 | 14.8% |
| 2 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 15,089 | 18,040 | 2,951 | 16.4% |
| 3 | HOUSE | FOX | 17,268 | 20,148 | 2,880 | 14.3% |
| 4 | CSI | CBS | 16,039 | 18,258 | 2,219 | 12.2% |
| 5 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 12,502 | 14,469 | 1,967 | 13.6% |
| 6 | FRINGE | FOX | 5,766 | 7,733 | 1,967 | 25.4% |
| 7 | NCIS | CBS | 20,612 | 22,537 | 1,925 | 8.5% |
| 8 | Criminal Minds | CBS | 15,852 | 17,760 | 1,908 | 10.7% |
| 9 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 14,223 | 16,122 | 1,899 | 11.8% |
| 10 | Bones | FOX | 9,150 | 11,016 | 1,866 | 16.9% |
| 11 | Big Bang Theory, THE | CBS | 12,976 | 14,810 | 1,834 | 12.4% |
| 12 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 18,750 | 20,526 | 1,776 | 8.7% |
| 13 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 13,639 | 15,386 | 1,747 | 11.4% |
| 14 | OFFICE | NBC | 7,479 | 9,182 | 1,703 | 18.5% |
| 15 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 13,646 | 15,303 | 1,657 | 10.8% |
| 16 | HEROES | NBC | 6,107 | 7,725 | 1,618 | 20.9% |
| 17 | Glee | FOX | 6,649 | 8,255 | 1,606 | 19.5% |
| 18 | Good Wife, THE | CBS | 13,867 | 15,390 | 1,523 | 9.9% |
| 19 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 8,105 | 9,610 | 1,505 | 15.7% |
| 20 | CASTLE | ABC | 9,269 | 10,747 | 1,478 | 13.8% |
| 21 | CSI: NY | CBS | 15,067 | 16,466 | 1,399 | 8.5% |
| 22 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 8,390 | 9,787 | 1,397 | 14.3% |
| 23 | FORGOTTEN, THE | ABC | 9,544 | 10,806 | 1,262 | 11.7% |
| 24 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 8,760 | 9,941 | 1,181 | 11.9% |
| 25 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 5,423 | 6,560 | 1,137 | 17.3% |
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The Largest DVR Audiences ranks which of the top broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest number average viewers by DVR in their Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows after the airdate on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
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Greatest % Of DVR Viewing for Broadcast TV Shows (Sept 21-27):
| Rank | Programs | Net | Persons Live+SD (000s) | Persons Live+7 (000s) | DVR Viewers Past Airdate (000s) | % of All Viewing By DVR Past Airdate |
| 1 | DOLLHOUSE | FOX | 2,503 | 3,417 | 914 | 26.7% |
| 2 | FRINGE | FOX | 5,766 | 7,733 | 1,967 | 25.4% |
| 3 | MELROSE PLACE | CW | 1,438 | 1,902 | 464 | 24.4% |
| 4 | Smallville | CW | 2,576 | 3,389 | 813 | 24.0% |
| 5 | 90210 | CW | 1,995 | 2,617 | 622 | 23.8% |
| 6 | Gossip Girl-MON | CW | 1,979 | 2,581 | 602 | 23.3% |
| 7 | HEROES | NBC | 6,107 | 7,725 | 1,618 | 20.9% |
| 8 | Glee | FOX | 6,649 | 8,255 | 1,606 | 19.5% |
| 9 | OFFICE | NBC | 7,479 | 9,182 | 1,703 | 18.5% |
| 10 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 2,664 | 3,270 | 606 | 18.5% |
| 11 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 5,423 | 6,560 | 1,137 | 17.3% |
| 12 | Vampire Diaries | CW | 3,806 | 4,602 | 796 | 17.3% |
| 13 | Bones | FOX | 9,150 | 11,016 | 1,866 | 16.9% |
| 14 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 15,089 | 18,040 | 2,951 | 16.4% |
| 15 | SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED | FOX | 5,510 | 6,552 | 1,042 | 15.9% |
| 16 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 8,105 | 9,610 | 1,505 | 15.7% |
| 17 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 17,061 | 20,029 | 2,968 | 14.8% |
| 18 | Parks and Recreation | NBC | 4,090 | 4,799 | 709 | 14.8% |
| 19 | HOUSE | FOX | 17,268 | 20,148 | 2,880 | 14.3% |
| 20 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 8,390 | 9,787 | 1,397 | 14.3% |
| 21 | AMERICA'S Top Model 7 | CW | 2,826 | 3,287 | 461 | 14.0% |
| 22 | HELL'S KITCHEN | FOX | 6,778 | 7,877 | 1,099 | 14.0% |
| 23 | BEAUTIFUL LIFE | CW | 1,047 | 1,214 | 167 | 13.8% |
| 24 | Law And Order | NBC | 6,271 | 7,271 | 1,000 | 13.8% |
| 25 | CASTLE | ABC | 9,269 | 10,747 | 1,478 | 13.8% |
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The % of Total viewing by DVR table ranks which of the top broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest % of viewing by DVR in their Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows after the airdate on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
Definitions:
DVR (Time-shifted) Viewing – Program ratings for national sources are produced in three streams of data –Live, Live+Same Day (Live+SD) and Live+7 Day. Time shifted figures account for incremental viewing that takes place with DVRs. Live+Same Day(Live+SD) include viewing during the same broadcast day as the original telecast, with a cut-off of 3:00AM local time when meters transmit daily viewing to Nielsen for processing. Live+7 Day ratings include incremental viewing that takes place during the 7 days following a telecast.
DVR Viewers Past Airdate - How many people watched the show on their DVRs within 7 days following the airdate
% of All Viewing By DVR Past Airdate - Of the total viewing of that particular episode, what percentage was done via DVR.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data:©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
this made me happy. but then i remembered this post: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/03/say-goodbye-to-dollhouse-part-ii-the-dvr-numbers-wont-matter/29390
do DVR numbers really not mean much except for good PR?
Wish I could say hopefull but I am sticking to we’ll see. I just hope we at least get all 13 episodes … oh hang on there’s the hope …….
it’s also worth noting that Brothers, Dollhouse’s lead in, got a 0% increase in DVR.
@ grr_argh
WELL spotted man. You are absolutely right. it just goes to show what a horrendous lead-in it has been to dollhouse.
YAY!! Smallville …now where is my “Smallville is awesome” DVR gloating Press Release CW? they dod one everytime Vampire Diaries farts, so I demand one NOW
Nice gains for Smallville!
At least Dollhouse has a lead in. Smallville on the other hand is all by itself. Stupid CW!
I already posted this question in another thread, but it really does belong here: how much of an impact will DVR ratings have on Dollhouse’s fate? If a rerun of House brings in a larger audience than Whedon’s show, why would Fox stick with the latter? Dollhouse may end up with higher DVR numbers, but how many of those viewers will bother watching the commercials? Those watching House live won’t have that option. Isn’t that scenario more appealing to advertisers?
Could you post the new Broadcast Top 25 Lists that result out of these DVR numbers?
All DVR proves is that people didn’t care enough to put aside some time, and sit through the commercials.
If people were willing to pay to see Dollhouse, that would mean something.
But please note, the DVD sales for S1 were almost as bad as the ratings.
Any Good News is Good!
And really, as long as Dollhouse continues to be produced, then that’s all that the fans (and the haters) can ask for.
Congrats to Smallville fans too.
Is it fair to summarize the situation as such:
Dollhouse, even with Live+7 numbers, is still the worst non-Friday performer on Fox? Is still the worst non-Friday, non-CW show in primetime?
Dollhouse is a new kind of show, one that may be able to continue based on different vectors. (Online, DVD, international and Live Ratings)
Sure, it doesn’t do a lot of business on Live TV, but if the DVR numbers stay strong, and it upticks a bit (again, from ep4 on it rocks) it could stay.
The larger News Corp. view could be: okay, with Live, DVR, online, international, we have a fan base of (x) million people. FOX Broadcasting breaks even, 20th makes out overseas, and maybe the DVD fills out nicely over the next few years. If the show can continue at a good price point (lower budget), it could be a profitable brand for the corporation over the long run.
Some would call it low hanging fruit, I would call it a good investment in genre programming that keeps the FOX brand young and on the edge.
@ pisher
Or perhaps just perhaps, people go out on a friday night making it a lousy night to put any shows on. It has nothing to do with commercials
Exactly Ali. The whole landscape of viewing is changing dramatically, especially with the younger viewers. Id say Dollhouse and Smallville target a fair share of young viewers who find other ways of watching it especially because they are the least likely demo to stay in on Fridays to watch tv.
It looks like Castle did pretty well for ABC via DVR.
It was the ABC show with the largest 18-49 demo increase and the 4th largest DVR audience.
Perhaps that might help to keep it from being canceled?
“All DVR proves is that people didn’t care enough to put aside some time, and sit through the commercials.”
On a Friday night at 9? Are you serious?
No Live viewer numbers this time around?
Tom, here are the bottom 10 (with the worst at the very bottom) when it came to Live+7 18-49 ratings:
DOLLHOUSE-09/25/2009
GOSSIP GIRL-MON-09/21/2009
SUPERNATURAL-09/24/2009
COPS-09/26/2009
48 HOURS MYSTERY-09/26/2009
90210-09/22/2009
ONE TREE HILL-MON-09/21/2009
MELROSE PLACE-09/22/2009
BROTHERS-09/25/2009
BEAUTIFUL LIFE-09/23/2009
edit: technically with the level of detail we’ve seen so far (rounded to 10th of ratings point) Dollhouse, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Cops, and 48 Hours Mystery all were tied.
Hooray for Smallville!!