For the third week of the season (October 5-11), both Smallville and Dollhouse, received more than a 40% boost from DVR viewing. Of course, because of their low Live+SD ratings, those absolute increases were quite small, not even in the top 25 absolute increases for the week.
Thursday, Friday and 10pm shows continue to keep the DVRs spinning. Heroes is the only top 10 % increase show not in those groups.
Among absolute ratings increases for broadcast shows, there was little to surprise us. The two Live+SD top rated scripted shows for the week, Grey's Anatomy and House were also the biggest absolute ratings gainers after DVR viewing, and in exactly the same amount!
Disclaimer: all the numbers we have seen point to a scenario where the additional days of DVR viewing beyond the Live+SD numbers play almost no role in a shows’ fate. In a recent conversation with the head of research for a broadcast network he agreed that perhaps 10% of the viewing beyond the Live+SD period serves to increase the C+3 commercial ratings that are used to price advertising.
Note that the tables below contain adults 18-49 demo program ratings, not millions of viewers.
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 (October 5-11):
| Rank | Programs | Net | 18-49 Live+SD (rating) | 18-49 Live+7 (rating) | Post Airdate 18-49 Ratings Increase | Post Airdate Increase from DVR Viewing | % of All Viewing By DVR Post Airdate |
| 1 | Smallville | CW | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 44% | 31% |
| 2 | DOLLHOUSE | FOX | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 40% | 29% |
| 3 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 36% | 27% |
| 4 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 32% | 24% |
| 5 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 31% | 24% |
| 6 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.3 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 30% | 23% |
| 7 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 30% | 23% |
| 8 | Vampire Diaries | CW | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 29% | 23% |
| 9 | HEROES | NBC | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 29% | 23% |
| 10 | FLASHFORWARD SP-10/9 | ABC | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 29% | 22% |
| 11 | Bones | FOX | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 28% | 22% |
| 12 | Glee | FOX | 3.3 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 27% | 21% |
| 13 | Gossip Girl | CW | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 27% | 21% |
| 14 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 27% | 21% |
| 15 | Law And Order | NBC | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 27% | 21% |
| 16 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 26% | 21% |
| 17 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 26% | 21% |
| 18 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 26% | 21% |
| 19 | CSI | CBS | 3.5 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 26% | 20% |
| 20 | OFFICE | NBC | 4.8 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 25% | 20% |
| 21 | 90210 | CW | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 25% | 20% |
| 22 | MELROSE PLACE-ENC | CW | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25% | 20% |
| 23 | Private Practice | ABC | 3.7 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 24% | 20% |
| 24 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 23% | 19% |
| 25 | MELROSE PLACE | CW | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 22% | 18% |
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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 absolute adults 18-49 ratings 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 18-49 Demo Percentage Increase From DVR Viewing for Broadcast TV Shows (October 5-11):
| Rank | Programs | Net | 18-49 Live+SD (rating) | 18-49 Live+7 (rating) | Post Airdate 18-49 Ratings Increase | Post Airdate Increase from DVR Viewing | % of All Viewing By DVR Post Airdate |
| 1 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 26% | 21% |
| 2 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 26% | 21% |
| 3 | OFFICE | NBC | 4.8 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 25% | 20% |
| 4 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.3 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 30% | 23% |
| 5 | Glee | FOX | 3.3 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 27% | 21% |
| 6 | CSI | CBS | 3.5 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 26% | 20% |
| 7 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 30% | 23% |
| 8 | Big Bang Theory, THE | CBS | 4.7 | 5.6 | 0.9 | 19% | 16% |
| 9 | Private Practice | ABC | 3.7 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 24% | 20% |
| 10 | Bones | FOX | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 28% | 22% |
| 11 | NCIS | CBS | 4.3 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 19% | 16% |
| 12 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 36% | 27% |
| 13 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 4.6 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 15% | 13% |
| 14 | HEROES | NBC | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 29% | 23% |
| 15 | HELL'S KITCHEN | FOX | 3.3 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 21% | 18% |
| 16 | SURVIVOR: SAMOA | CBS | 3.4 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 21% | 17% |
| 17 | Modern Family | ABC | 3.4 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 21% | 17% |
| 18 | Criminal Minds | CBS | 3.6 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 19% | 16% |
| 19 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 27% | 21% |
| 20 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 32% | 24% |
| 21 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 3.9 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 18% | 15% |
| 22 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 4.4 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 16% | 14% |
| 23 | Family Guy | FOX | 4.6 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 13% | 12% |
| 24 | How I Met Your Mother | CBS | 3.4 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 18% | 15% |
| 25 | Lie To Me | FOX | 3.1 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 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 percentage adults 18-49 ratings 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).
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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.
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 the 2009-2010 season, 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.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data:©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
One question about the DVR ratings. When we get the overnights, does that count just the people who watched live or people who watched the show at somepoint that night?
erm okay the melrose place encore had a bigger DVR boost then the original airings…..is tuesday @ 9 a particulary busy timeslot then?
the overnight live+SD (and weekly Live+SD) counts anyone who watched live and anyone who watched on DVR up to 3am the following morning.
oh or is it the smaller the numbers the bigger the % increase…i’ll stop answering my own questions now……
Mickey, it did not have a bigger boost, it merely had a larger percentage increase because the numbers were so small. In absolute terms the first airing got twice as much boost.
Dollhouse will at least get to show the rest of the episodes, so I’m happy. It’s always good to see Fringe doing good and Smallville only has about 1 more season left anyway. FlashForward is doing great too.
Thanks Rob, I find that sort of confusing to be honest. As an Advertiser you think they would only care about who actually watches live. I know when I watch with a PVR, I FF through the commercials.
Advertisers and networks have agreed to buy/sell ads based on C3 data (average commercial viewing, rather than average program viewing, live plus 3 days of DVR).
Our experience is that most people skip the ads most of the time via DVR, but advertisers have agreed to pay for the ones who don’t for up to 3 days after the show aired.
I may be in the minority, but I think for a show that’s been on for 9 seasons now, the writers of Smallville aren’t doing a half bad job of keeping the show fairly interesting. I doubt if in the beginning they every thought the show would go on as long as it has. Has it been “better” in past seasons? Sure. But it’s still a lot more watchable that a number of the other programs on today.
I watched smallville for about 3 seasons … might have to go back and watch the rest someday. I heard it got pretty poor tho … soap operish I think.
Community’s jump to a 2.4 is promising, considering that night it was up against a baseball game.
TVBTN guys, do you think Fringe’s large DVR bump will make any difference in its chances for renewal (which seem good but it has some chance of cancellation given its drop)?
do networks care about live + seven?…that’s not going to save a show. Studios should as it may tell if there is a fan base for potential dvd sales once it is cancelled.
did we ever post the season to date C3 year-to-year comparisons for all 5 nets…can we do a separate posting for that? I must have missed it, sorry!!
TY, we have never received C3 ratings directly. Occasionally, typically at the start of a season, we see press reports (or direct Nielsen reports on their site) with the C3 ratings for the top 20 shows for premiere week. If any other site is getting C3 numbers they’re not publishing them, so I doubt we are alone.
Where did Supernatural end up on the DVR lists? Didn’t make it into the top 25, I see.
shoot…got it. thanks!
Thanks for the Smallville pic! I was getting tired of seeing Dollhouse pics.LOL
CW Press Release says, Smallville’s live+7 viewer total is 3.02mil.
Is that correct? Sounds about right.
Is the absolute viewer list available yet? I saw CBS & CW posted releases. Also, I read somewhere that the full numbers (Live + 7) are put into each series Season to Date average. Is that true? If so, what’s the rationale since I didn’t think they mattered to advertisers?
i don’t like the percentage stats, as both shows are so low a very small gain gives a high percentage, they are not even close to the top 25 shows DVRed
meaning that a show like NCIS needs a huge 1.7 increrase to its 4.3 to get 40% increase, that is more than the the rating for dollhouse or smallville after the DVR increase.
To Robert or Bill: Is there any Live+7 info on Eastwick?