In the last full week before Thanksiving, Fringe (43%), Smallville (40%) and The Office (34%) posted the largest % ratings increases in Live+ 7 day DVR viewing from their Live+Same Day adults 18-49 ratings (November 16-22). As usual, the highest rated shows overall had the greatest absolute ratings increases, as Grey's Anatomy gained 1.5 adults 18-49 ratings points between its Live+SD and Live+7 periods.
Compare any of the shows below with their networks overall average Live+7 DVR adults 18-49 ratings increases for the week in question: CW (23%), Fox (19%), CBS (16%), ABC (15%), NBC (9%). Why's NBC's % so low? The Jay Leno Show + Sunday Night Football + Saturday Night repeats = 11 hours out of 22 with little DVR potential.
Sadly, the DVR data for the two weeks prior to this week seem to have been lost to the aether forever.
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, so it's not going to save shows with bad Live+SD ratings.
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 (November 16-22):
| 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 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.06 | 6.51 | 1.5 | 29% | 22% |
| 2 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.02 | 6.33 | 1.3 | 26% | 21% |
| 3 | OFFICE | NBC | 3.67 | 4.90 | 1.2 | 34% | 25% |
| 4 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.73 | 4.75 | 1.0 | 27% | 21% |
| 5 | Big Bang Theory, THE | CBS | 5.03 | 6.02 | 1.0 | 20% | 16% |
| 6 | Private Practice | ABC | 3.13 | 4.09 | 1.0 | 31% | 23% |
| 7 | V | ABC | 3.10 | 4.05 | 1.0 | 31% | 23% |
| 8 | Glee | FOX | 3.29 | 4.21 | 0.9 | 28% | 22% |
| 9 | CSI | CBS | 3.55 | 4.43 | 0.9 | 25% | 20% |
| 10 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.01 | 2.88 | 0.9 | 43% | 30% |
| 11 | 30 Rock | NBC | 2.84 | 3.64 | 0.8 | 28% | 22% |
| 12 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 2.43 | 3.22 | 0.8 | 33% | 25% |
| 13 | Modern Family | ABC | 3.70 | 4.47 | 0.8 | 21% | 17% |
| 14 | Criminal Minds | CBS | 3.74 | 4.49 | 0.8 | 20% | 17% |
| 15 | Bones | FOX | 2.66 | 3.38 | 0.7 | 27% | 21% |
| 16 | NCIS | CBS | 4.10 | 4.81 | 0.7 | 17% | 15% |
| 17 | HEROES | NBC | 2.20 | 2.85 | 0.7 | 30% | 23% |
| 18 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.50 | 3.14 | 0.6 | 26% | 20% |
| 19 | Family Guy | FOX | 3.87 | 4.50 | 0.6 | 16% | 14% |
| 20 | How I Met Your Mother | CBS | 3.43 | 4.05 | 0.6 | 18% | 15% |
| 21 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 4.73 | 5.35 | 0.6 | 13% | 12% |
| 22 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 2.59 | 3.17 | 0.6 | 22% | 18% |
| 23 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 3.38 | 3.95 | 0.6 | 17% | 14% |
| 24 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 3.70 | 4.27 | 0.6 | 15% | 13% |
| 25 | Cougar Town | ABC | 3.21 | 3.75 | 0.5 | 17% | 14% |
-
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 (November 16-22):
| 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 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.01 | 2.88 | 0.9 | 43% | 30% |
| 2 | Smallville | CW | 1.07 | 1.50 | 0.4 | 40% | 29% |
| 3 | OFFICE | NBC | 3.67 | 4.90 | 1.2 | 34% | 25% |
| 4 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 2.43 | 3.22 | 0.8 | 33% | 25% |
| 5 | Gossip Girl | CW | 1.21 | 1.59 | 0.4 | 31% | 24% |
| 6 | MELROSE PLACE | CW | 0.81 | 1.06 | 0.3 | 31% | 24% |
| 7 | Private Practice | ABC | 3.13 | 4.09 | 1.0 | 31% | 23% |
| 8 | V | ABC | 3.10 | 4.05 | 1.0 | 31% | 23% |
| 9 | HEROES | NBC | 2.20 | 2.85 | 0.7 | 30% | 23% |
| 10 | Law And Order | NBC | 1.45 | 1.87 | 0.4 | 29% | 22% |
| 11 | GREY'S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.06 | 6.51 | 1.5 | 29% | 22% |
| 12 | 30 Rock | NBC | 2.84 | 3.64 | 0.8 | 28% | 22% |
| 13 | Glee | FOX | 3.29 | 4.21 | 0.9 | 28% | 22% |
| 14 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.73 | 4.75 | 1.0 | 27% | 21% |
| 15 | Bones | FOX | 2.66 | 3.38 | 0.7 | 27% | 21% |
| 16 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.02 | 6.33 | 1.3 | 26% | 21% |
| 17 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 2.01 | 2.53 | 0.5 | 26% | 21% |
| 18 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.50 | 3.14 | 0.6 | 26% | 20% |
| 19 | 90210 | CW | 1.08 | 1.35 | 0.3 | 25% | 20% |
| 20 | CSI | CBS | 3.55 | 4.43 | 0.9 | 25% | 20% |
| 21 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 1.23 | 1.51 | 0.3 | 23% | 19% |
| 22 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 1.65 | 2.02 | 0.4 | 22% | 18% |
| 23 | Law And Order:SVU | NBC | 2.59 | 3.17 | 0.6 | 22% | 18% |
| 24 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 2.04 | 2.48 | 0.4 | 22% | 18% |
| 25 | Parks and Recreation | NBC | 2.00 | 2.43 | 0.4 | 22% | 18% |
-
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).
-
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.
Really? You’re going to constantly rail on Variety for being an adjunct to network PR and then spin the meaningless percentage increase numbers to produce a yarn that might leave people believing Smallville is a bigger DVR darling than Glee and Castle!?!?
Shame on you and your rose-colored DVR glasses, Bill Gorman!
Guilty as charged!
Hey..I love Smallville (its currently my favorite show) :p
Darlynn, obviously you are not alone, and I in no way was besmirching Smallville or its fans, though I can understand it it comes off seeming like I was. Even though I wasn’t!
heroes 2.85,that’s 0.8 increase…
no. 2.20 to 2.85 is a .65 increase which rounds to .7, not .8
Ah, this is the first week that I think I used ratings to two significant digits, but kept the change to a single digit. I’m not going to go back and even things up this week, but will remain alert to that (I hope) in the future.
WHOO! Go Smallville! We rock!
Thats a pretty good bump for Melrose Place
Yay! I love Smallville.
Everything on Thursday’s in the 9PM hour made the list — in fact everything on Thursday is on the list –LOL
Leno and Vampire Diaries are both on Thursday and they didn’t make the list.
Hey anyone who mocks Smallville is going to hell and im gonna send them there. As u can tell by my name Smallville is my favorite show ever and I am SO HAPPY about this increase!
And Smallville beat a bunch of shows in the demo percent increase! Including The Office!
wowwwwwwwwwww smallville. the best tv show now. Season 10 please.
Again, yay for Fringe!
Smallville always has fantastic DVR numbers, so viewers are obviously watching it, even if not on the day of initial broadcast. The CW would have to be nuts not to renew it for a tenth season. I certainly hope they do, since it’s the only show on the air I schedule my life around. The world would be a much uglier place without Tom Welling on the small screen every week.
OMG Smallville. I am so proud of this show. I am sure Dawn The Devil Ostroff is not happy. But Smallville season 9 been fantastic. Can’t wait till Jan 22 when it comes back on.
No Ugly Betty and Vampire Diaries??? UGH
Kissy, I agree the next few episodes are gonna be epic considering The Smallville movie airs Feb 5 2010 and I am gonna make sure I see that movie when it airs (same goes with the other episodes).
Smallville is definitly gonna get renewed and I had a dream of this cast being in it
Tom Welling-CK
Erica Durance-LL
Justin Hartly-Oliver/Green Arrow
Serinda Swann- Zatanna
Callum Blue-Zod
Pam Grier-Amanda Waller
(some other villain maybe Darkseid)
and Michael McKean-Perry White