Ratings [Archive] - Page 4 - The Superhero Hype! Boards

AgentPat

04-07-2006, 03:09 PM

And finally, from Mediaweek...

APRIL 07, 2006
The Programming Insider

Marc Berman

Primetime Thursday Ratings:
CBS Dominates

Thursday 4/06/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 12.4/19, NBC: 6.3/10, ABC: 5.7/ 9, Fox: 3.1/ 5, WB: 3.1/ 5, UPN: 1.8/ 3

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 4/07/05):
WB: +72, ABC: +24, CBS: - 5, NBC: -22, Fox: -30, UPN: -51

----------

Fast National Ratings (Live Plus Same Day data).

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 18.26 million, NBC: 8.55, ABC: 8.19, Fox: 4.46, WB: 3.80, UPN: 2.17

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 5.8/16, NBC: 3.6/10, ABC: 2.9/ 8, Fox: 2.1/ 6, WB: 1.6/ 4, UPN: 0.9/ 3

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor Panama – Exile Island (CBS), CSI (CBS), Without A Trace R (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
American Inventor (ABC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
The Loop (Fox), Primetime Live (ABC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS scored another slam dunk Thursday victory, finishing first in every half-hour courtesy of the unfortunately predictable Survivor Panama – Exile Island (Overnights: 9.5/15; Viewers: 16.40 million; A18-49: 5.6/17), CSI (Overnights: 16.1/24; Viewers: 22.91 million; A18-49: 7.3/19), and a repeat of Without A Trace (Overnights: 11.4/18; Viewers: 15.47 million; A18-49: 4.6/13). Although the powers that be at Survivor tried to fool us into thinking Aras was history, we all knew Austin would be going home, didn’t we? Dopey Danielle should have accepted the immunity idol from superhero Terry. Why didn’t she?

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 are based on the fast nationals.

Once dominant NBC remained out of the competitive Thursday loop with its line-up of the soon-to-conclude Will & Grace (Overnights: #2, 6.6/11; Viewers: #2, 8.27 million; A18-49: #2, 3.1/10), a repeat of My Name Is Earl (Overnights: #2, 6.0/ 9; Viewers: #2, 7.88 million; A18-49: #2, 3.2/ 9), an original installment of My Name Is Earl (Overnights: #2, 7.0/10; Viewers: #2, 10.05 million; A18-49: #2, 4.7/12), a repeat of dud sitcom Teachers (Overnights: #3, 4.9/ 7; Viewers: #3, 7.35 million; A18-49: #3, 3.5/ 9), and a repeat of ER (Overnights: #2, 6.5/11; Viewers: #2, 8.88 million; A18-49: #2, 3.7/10). Has anyone noticed that the once water cooler worthy My Name Is Earl has cooled off quite a bit since moving to Thursday?

ABC remained on the year-to-year plus side on Thursday thanks to recent arrival American Inventor (Overnights: #2, 6.0/ 9; Viewers: #2, 9.27 million; A18-49: #3, 3.6/10 at 9 p.m.), which built from lead-in Extreme Makeover Home Edition: After the Storm (Overnights: #3, 5.1/ 8; Viewers: #3, 7.05 million; A18-49: #3, 2.2/ 7 at 8 p.m.) by a hefty 18 percent in the overnights, 2.22 million viewers and 64 percent among adults 18-49.

At 10 p.m., ABC’s Primetime Live did not capitalize on competing against repeats of CBS’ Without A Trace and NBC’s ER with a modest (and third-place) 6.0/10 in households, 8.26 million viewers and a 3.1/ 8 among adults 18-49. Next week, the returning Commander in Chief moves into the Thursday 10 p.m. hour, with Primetime Live expected to temporarily share the Friday 10 p.m. time period with 20/20. While I understand that ABC wanted to give Geena Davis and company a fresh start, this commander won’t be chief very long opposite Without a Trace and ER.

Fox had a typically bland Thursday with a repeat of That ‘70s Show (Overnights: #5, 3.0/ 5; Viewers: #4, 4.13 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.9/ 6), waiting-to-be-axed The Loop (Overnights: #5, 2.5/ 4; Viewers: #4, 3.65 million; A18-49: #5, 1.7/ 5), and The O.C. (Overnights: #4, 3.5/ 5; Viewers: #4, 5.03 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 6). If The O.C. returns next season, Fox needs to find a better home for it.

Over at the WB, the recent arrival of Supernatural, formerly on Tuesday, remains a compatible addition. Smallville opened with a 3.4/ 5 in the overnights (#4), 4.08 million viewers (#4) and a 1.8/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4t) at 8 p.m., followed by Supernatural at a 2.8/ 4 in the overnights (#5), 3.50 million viewers (#5) and a 1.4/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 9 p.m.

Last in every half hour were repeats of UPN comedies Everybody Hates Chris (Overnights: 2.6/ 4; Viewers: 3.12 million; A18-49: 1.2/ 4), Love, Inc. (Overnights: 1.8/ 3; Viewers: 2.18 million; A18-49: 1.0/ 3), Eve (Overnights: 1.5/ 2; Viewers: 1.71 million; A18-49: 0.7/ 2) and Cuts (Overnights: 1.4/ 2; Viewers: 1.66 million; A18-49: 0.7/ 2).

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/newsletters/proginsider/index.jsp

KikiDee

04-07-2006, 03:55 PM

Mediaweek hasn't posted ratings yet, but a few other sites have their synops up. I just quoted the pertinent info. Not too shabby actually. For Void...

Have you seen "The Loop"? Yep we won't be seeing that one next year. You know what's funny is that one of the main characters is a FOTW from Smallville. It's the younger version of the old guy who was strangling jurors.

avidreader

04-07-2006, 04:47 PM

I cant believe how much the total viewership has gone down. Cyborg gets 6 million and now we're down to 4 million. :confused:

Does that often happen at this time of the season?

On a plus, its great to see that the WB had the highest growth rate.

Max

04-07-2006, 11:12 PM

It tends to suffer due to a long hiatus, and ratings may be similar for next week with the arrival of spring break for kids, Easter, and Passover. Half my family will be out of town on various vacations next week.

Overall, Smallville did really well this season for such a competive night, and it will definitely end May sweeps with good numbers.

triplet

04-10-2006, 08:11 AM

Could the CW be far behind?

Maybe good news for people who don't get Smallville where they are...

Disney to make TV shows available free on Web (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060410/tv_nm/media_disney_dc;_ylt=AvgGnoobLEYs9DOuTzvpts9pMhkF; _ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--):

report Mon Apr 10, 4:45 AM ET

Walt Disney Co. plans to make TV shows such as "Desperate Houswives" and "Lost" available for free over the Internet in an attempt to bring in new advertising revenues, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday.

The plan is expected to be announced later on Monday by Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, the newspaper reported.

Episodes of the ABC shows will contain commercial breaks that viewers will not be able to skip, which Disney hopes will turn the delivery of programs over the Web into a profit-generating business, the Journal said.

The Journal reported that 10 advertisers have already signed up for the initiative, including Ford Motor Co., Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

Episodes of the shows being offered will become available the morning after they air on TV, the Journal reported.

TV broadcasters are looking for new business models to counter the threat posed by digital video recorders like TiVo, which allow consumers to fast-forward through ads. Disney already has a deal to sell downloads of ABC shows through Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store.

Disney was not immediately available for comment.

Cmill216

04-10-2006, 09:30 AM

I just think the show doesn't give enough pub. Funny thing is, EW often has it in its highlights for Thursday nights. It's a great show (and I'm a new viewer). Although, it can be VERY uneven which is a turnoff for some (like going from a truly great ep like "Cyborg" to the supreme dookie "Hypnotic".)

AgentPat

04-14-2006, 02:26 PM

APRIL 14, 2006
The Programming Insider
Marc Berman

Note: The Programming Insider will be on hiatus the week of April 17. See you back on April 24.

Primetime Thursday Ratings:
Another Clean Sweep for CBS

Thursday 4/13/06

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 12.8/21, ABC: 5.2/ 8, NBC: 5.0/ 8, Fox: 3.0/ 5, WB: 3.0/ 5, UPN: 1.9/ 3

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 4/14/05):
ABC: +33, WB: +25, CBS: -17, Fox: -25, NBC: -35, UPN: -46

----------

Note: The fast national rating results for Thursday were not available at press time.

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor Panama – Exile Island (CBS), CSI (CBS), Without A Trace (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
That ‘70s Show (Fox), The Loop (Fox), Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS scored another clean Thursday sweep, courtesy of Survivor Panama – Exile Island (Overnights: 9.2/16), CSI (Overnights: 16.0/25) and Without A Trace (Overnights: 13.2/21). Once the national ratings are released, CBS will also, of course, dominate in total viewers and adults 18-49. As for Survivor Panama – Exile Island, next week the real fun should finally begin given that Terry is still safe and all his former tribe members are gone. You go, Cirie!

Although the return of ABC’s Commander in Chief sunk to a series low 6.0/10 in the overnights at 10 p.m., two positives worth noting was growth of 18 percent out of American Inventor at 9 p.m. (#2: 5.1/ 8), and an advantage over a repeat of NBC’s competing ER (Overnights: #3, 5.1/ 8) of also 18 percent. Let’s see what happens next week when Commander in Chief faces repeats of both Without A Trace and ER (and on April 27 when the competition is all original).

Earlier in the evening, an 8 p.m. added installment of American Inventor was third in the hour with a 4.6/ 8. As a reminder, fast national results were not available at press time.

Over at NBC, Will & Grace (5.0/ 9) followed by two repeat episodes of My Name Is Earl (8:30 p.m.: 4.9/ 8; 9 p.m.: 5.4/ 8) ranked second in the overnights from 8- 9:30 p.m. A repeat of The Office at 9:30 p.m. (which I don’t understand what all the fuss is about) was third with a 4.4/ 7.

Fox had a typically lackluster Thursday courtesy of the soon-to-depart That ‘70s Show (Overnights: #4, 2.9/ 5), inane sitcom The Loop (Overnights: #5, 2.4/ 4), and fading The O.C. (Overnights: #4, 3.3/ 5), which avoids being labeled a loser due to growth of 37 percent out of The Loop.

On the WB, relocated Supernatural (#5, 2.8/ 4) remains a comfortable fit out of Smallville (#4, 3.1/ 5), with retention of 90 percent in the overnights. UPN finished last in every half hour in the overnights with its combination of Everybody Hates Chris (2.7/ 5), Love, Inc. (1.7/ 3), Eve (1.7/ 3) and Cuts (1.6/ 2). As expected, only Everybody Hates Chris will remain in production on The CW next season.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/newsletters/proginsider/index.jsp

Kryptonsucks89

04-15-2006, 09:26 PM

Im glad Smallville and Supernatural are doing so well...The O.C needs to find a new day because they got a ****ty timeslot. Everyone thinks its fading, its acutally getting better imo and needs to be seen lol

Kane

04-15-2006, 09:50 PM

I used to like the OC in its first season. I hate it now. Its turned into such boring repetitive tripe. The show losts its charm.

Kryptonsucks89

04-16-2006, 11:15 AM

I used to like the OC in its first season. I hate it now. Its turned into such boring repetitive tripe. The show losts its charm.

I agree with you that the 2nd season and 3/4 of the 3rd season have been repeating trends, but im starting to like where the last quarter of the 3rd season is going. The first season without question was the best. But i dont think its the shows problem tho, i think its the genre. People just arent tuning into these type shows anymore.

NHawk19

04-17-2006, 05:15 PM

avidreader

04-17-2006, 07:44 PM

I actually embody this whole argument . . .havent been able to see an ep in like 3 weeks :( . Timing is off or I'm on vacation etc.

This seems like a reasonable argument. I was just over at Ksite and the ratings change was lower for every network right across the board.

Serene

04-17-2006, 10:18 PM

I actually embody this whole argument . . .havent been able to see an ep in like 3 weeks :( . Timing is off or I'm on vacation etc.

Do you need the episodes, NHawk?

RakuMon

04-18-2006, 08:39 AM

Smallville was actually pre-empted in the Baltimore, MD area on Thursday.
Fortunately they re-aired it over the weekend, but I can tell you that I also didn't watch it on Thursday night.

Cmill216

04-18-2006, 08:48 AM

I can never watch the new and recent episodes on Thursdays cause I'm always out.

I catch up on all the old episodes with HDNet.

triplet

04-18-2006, 08:48 AM

Smallville was actually pre-empted in the Baltimore, MD area on Thursday.
Fortunately they re-aired it over the weekend, but I can tell you that I also didn't watch it on Thursday night.

Hey, Raku...

Were you aware that avies are now 75x75 for your post level?

FYI in case you want to move up to the bigger version of that avie...

NHawk19

04-18-2006, 11:00 AM

Do you need the episodes, NHawk?

Just PM'd you thanks :)

RakuMon

04-18-2006, 04:39 PM

Hey, Raku...

Were you aware that avies are now 75x75 for your post level?

FYI in case you want to move up to the bigger version of that avie...
I didn't know. Thanks. Anyone want to make me a 75x75 Bale-Batman/Welling-Supes Avie?

triplet

04-18-2006, 11:05 PM

I didn't know. Thanks. Anyone want to make me a 75x75 Bale-Batman/Welling-Supes Avie?

Uhm, I did dude... when I made you the one you're using.

Don't you still have it?

Luckily, I do...

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7149/finest75x752di.gif

RakuMon

04-19-2006, 09:05 AM

Uhm, I did dude... when I made you the one you're using.

Don't you still have it?

Luckily, I do...

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7149/finest75x752di.gif
Oh yeah, I do have it. Thanks Trip!

KikiDee

04-21-2006, 12:39 PM

From Zap2it

Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 20, 2006

Thursday was a pretty lackluster ratings night across the board, with even CBS suffering a drop from its usual lofty numbers. Those numbers, were, however, more than enough to win the night.

CBS averaged an 11.1 rating/18 share in primetime, leaving second-place ABC, 4.9/8, in the dust. A night of reruns on NBC took third with a 4.0/7. FOX, 3.2/5, came in fourth, beating out The WB, 2.4/4, and UPN, 1.8/3.

Among adults 18-49, CBS' 5.3 rating was more than double that of its closest competitor, NBC (2.6). ABC finished third in the demographic with a 2.4, with FOX not far behind at 2.2. The WB averaged 1.8 and UPN 1.1.

"Survivor: Panama -- Exile Island" won the 8 p.m. hour for CBS with a 9.7/16. ABC's "American Inventor" took second with a 4.0/7, beating reruns of "Will & Grace" and "My Name Is Earl" on NBC. An hour of "That '70s Show" averaged 2.8/5 for FOX, topping the 2.6/5 The WB got from "Smallville." UPN trailed with "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Love, Inc."

A "CSI" rerun, 12.3/20, grabbed the night's biggest rating for CBS at 9 p.m. ABC improved to 5.5/9 with a second hour of "American Inventor." NBC stayed in third with a second "Earl," 4.9/8, and "The Office," 3.9/6. "The O.C." posted a 3.6/6 for FOX. "Supernatural" kept The WB in front of UPN, which went with "Eve" and "Cuts."

CBS finished its night with "Without a Trace," which delivered an 11.5/19 at 10 p.m. "Commander In Chief" averaged 5.2/9 for ABC, while NBC's "ER" repeat scored a 4.2/7.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

NHawk19

04-21-2006, 01:53 PM

Any word on the key demos? SV was kicking butt before but now it everything just seems to have slowed.

Supershizzle

04-21-2006, 02:36 PM

KikiDee

04-21-2006, 03:35 PM

I've never understood where Zap2It got their numbers. They're ALWAYS off across the board. You're better off with MediaWeek. That and Nielsen direct (dont think they have a site) are what people in the "biz" go by.

I'm not sure where they get them either and they always tend to be low.
You notice the disclaimer at the bottom on how they supposedly gather them and that they are apt to change.

avidreader

04-21-2006, 03:45 PM

I've never understood where Zap2It got their numbers. They're ALWAYS off across the board. You're better off with MediaWeek. That and Nielsen direct (dont think they have a site) are what people in the "biz" go by.

Dont advertisers and networks base all their programming on the Mediaweek stats?

Mediaweek are on hiatus this week.

I keep a close eye on Gilmore Girls stats as well, and its interesting to note that they have pretty much been on par with Smallville all season and in the last couple of weeks their numbers have also been the same as Smallville.

I think the Spring Break is really having an effect.

Pickle-El

04-21-2006, 10:04 PM

Dont advertisers and networks base all their programming on the Mediaweek stats?

Mediaweek are on hiatus this week.

I keep a close eye on Gilmore Girls stats as well, and its interesting to note that they have pretty much been on par with Smallville all season and in the last couple of weeks their numbers have also been the same as Smallville.

I think the Spring Break is really having an effect.

I think it's the sub-par episodes....notice that Smallville's highest rated episodes are mostly VERY- mythology based?

G&M do this EVERY year...then they try to win you over with a great finale. :(

AgentPat

04-21-2006, 10:11 PM

I think it's the sub-par episodes....notice that Smallville's highest rated episodes are mostly VERY- mythology based?

G&M do this EVERY year...then they try to win you over with a great finale. :(Selective bolding, Pickle? Here, try again...

Dont advertisers and networks base all their programming on the Mediaweek stats?

Mediaweek are on hiatus this week.

I keep a close eye on Gilmore Girls stats as well, and its interesting to note that they have pretty much been on par with Smallville all season and in the last couple of weeks their numbers have also been the same as Smallville.

I think the Spring Break is really having an effect.

Pickle-El

04-21-2006, 10:27 PM

Selective bolding, Pickle? Here, try again...

Maybe, their writing is taking nights off too? I mean, from the 100th episode of about 6.5 Million viewers, it's been a pretty steady decline in viewership.

Oh yeah, last time I checked Spring Break didn't last more than a month. I think it would be selective to overlook that, and blame it strictly on the break. And not on the usual 2nd half 'coasting' the show tends to do throughout the seasons.

My brother who watches Smallville all time is even getting sick of certain things....I didn't even respond when he said, 'They're running out of ideas.' (This was RIGHT after the 1st scene and obvious 'Saw' inspiration)

Maybe the audience feels that way too? And they're just waiting for last few episodes that will eventually set-up a kickass finale. I mean really, what are they missing now? Or let me ask you this, and be completely honest...

Right now, as of April 21st, are Smallville episodes 'Must See TV' for its audiences and general viewers? And has it been for the last few weeks?

AgentPat

04-22-2006, 12:03 AM

Maybe, their writing is taking nights off too? I mean, from the 100th episode of about 6.5 Million viewers, it's been a pretty steady decline in viewership.

Oh yeah, last time I checked Spring Break didn't last more than a month. I think it would be selective to overlook that, and blame it strictly on the break. And not on the usual 2nd half 'coasting' the show tends to do throughout the seasons.Instead of blaming SV's writers for episodes you (or your brother) are not enjoying as much, what you SHOULD be doing is comparing the ratings of other shows that have had a typical (Sept/Oct - May/June) broadcast run as SV in the same TV season. Look at trends and not just single episodes. Go look up ELC - UPN's most hyped sitcom - and report back the diminished ratings over its life this year. Note that at least THREE shows that have aired in SV's time slot have been axed - Alias and That 70's Show, and Joey - a Friends spinoff - was even *moved* to get it away from Thursday nights and it was STILL axed. And The O.C. is currently on the bubble, I believe.

Ratings are NOT indicative of a show's quality. They never have been. If ratings fall, it could be any number of reasons. You can't automatically ass-u-me it's the show's fault, especially when there's Nielsen data available showing a drop in ratings across the board for ALL shows.

It really bugs me when people try to use ratings to "prove" some kind of point, when the truth of the matter is, a Neilsen Family doesn't even have to be in the room WATCHING a show in order to have their "viewing" habits recorded for posterity.

I believe the highest rated SV episode ever was Lineage. LINEAGE?!! :confused: Do folks even *remember* what that episode was about? (I do, but I'm just making a point.)

My brother who watches Smallville all time is even getting sick of certain things....I didn't even respond when he said, 'They're running out of ideas.' (This was RIGHT after the 1st scene and obvious 'Saw' inspiration)Well, I spoke with my mother today (she watches the show all the time too) and she loved the episode. I asked her if it reminded her of Saw. She said she didn't see that movie. Oh. Well that was easy - I didn't see it ether, so we moved on. Simple.

Respectfully, build a bridge and get over it. So what if it resembled another show or movie. If it was entertaining in some way, it did what it was supposed to do. If you didn't find it entertaining, and you haven't been enjoying the show for well over half a season, jeeze... you do know what my response to that is, right? :p

Or let me ask you this, and be completely honest...

Right now, as of April 21st, are Smallville episodes 'Must See TV' for its audiences and general viewers? And has it been for the last few weeks?
http://www.patcostello.com/smileys/confused.gif

You asking me to read the minds of 5 million people? How the heck do I know? LOL I can only tell you what I know about my own viewing habits...

SV is more than just "must see TV." It's appointment television. I take my phone off the hook, I shut my cell phone off, and every light in the house goes dark. I run TWO SVHS decks (don't have TIVO - shoot me) to record first run episodes (two in case something happens to one of 'em) and I watch the show in my living room in HD on a 36" Sony Wega. My husband will watch the show with me if he's not working. Don't talk. Don't mumble. Don't even breathe! I postponed the closing on my home mortgage refinancing because the attorneys involved initially booked the conference on a Thursday night. My house could be on FIRE and I'd want to wait till the commercial before calling 911. This kind of behavior is status quo for SV night (whenever it airs), and will remain that way till the very last episode ever.

As to the laments about this season... I think it's been the best so far. The show gets better and better every year, with a slight hiccup during the fourth season, which I'm happy to overlook. I'm a fan. That's what fans do. If we like something, we learn to appreciate it while we still have it because ya never know when it might be taken away. It's an interesting axiom to live by, in fact. Give it a try sometime. :)

KikiDee

04-22-2006, 12:12 AM

I know I only highlighted SV's portion of that article no matter how accurate, but did you read the ratings for the other shows? They were all bad. ABC was in second place with a 4.9 out of 8. That sucks for a major network. CBS only pulled in 11 million with CSI and it normally has an 18 million share if not more.

Point is the weather's getting nicer, kids spring sports are in full swing and vacations abound. There's just not that many people watching TV right now.

As for "Must See TV" I agree with Pat. It is for me. My husband takes care of Thursday night soccer practice duty because I have a date with my TV.

Pickle-El

04-22-2006, 01:15 AM

Instead of blaming SV's writers for episodes you (or your brother) are not enjoying as much, what you SHOULD be doing is comparing the ratings of other shows that have had a typical (Sept/Oct - May/June) broadcast run as SV in the same TV season. Look at trends and not just single episodes.

Look at the trend of the 2nd half of SEASONS of Smallville. It's pretty much the same trend. I see a W in that trend....(notice the roller coaster)

Go look up ELC - UPN's most hyped sitcom - and report back the diminished ratings over its life this year.

The UPN ain't really something to compare SV too. It's a dead fish for a reason..

Note that at least THREE shows that have aired in SV's time slot have been axed - Alias and That 70's Show, and Joey - a Friends spinoff - was even *moved* to get it away from Thursday nights and it was STILL axed. And The O.C. is currently on the bubble, I believe.

Alias just had a season premiere. That 70's show isn't 'That 70's Show' without Topher and Kelso. And, Joey has been in trouble since its 2nd episode.

Ratings are NOT indicative of a show's quality. They never have been. If ratings fall, it could be any number of reasons.

But they are indicative of who's interested in the show at that particular moment. This isn't 'American Idol' where you can lose 5 million viewers on a given night and it won't matter...The consistency of the show is what makes me roll my eyes. One week, I'm thinking THIS Is why I watch Smallville. The next, I'm thinking.....How is this 'Superman in training' again?

You can't automatically ass-u-me it's the show's fault, especially when there's Nielsen data available showing a drop in ratings across the board for ALL shows.

I couldn't tell you...(My brother is the Neilson Media Employee....true story) :)

I just don't like seeing Smallville going from 6.5 Million one week, to the low 4's the next....And it usually follows the 'build up' episode, followed by filler for a few episodes. The guys behind the scenes KNOW this. They've been doing it for a few years now. They can get away with it, plain and simple. They know you'll be back for 'May Sweeps' and the Finale.

It really bugs me when people try to use ratings to "prove" some kind of point, when the truth of the matter is, a Neilsen Family doesn't even have to be in the room WATCHING a show in order to have their "viewing" habits recorded for posterity.

I don't really know how it works....Family members aren't allowed to have a box and keep the Neilson money that you are compensated. ;)

I believe the highest rated SV episode ever was Lineage. LINEAGE?!! :confused: Do folks even *remember* what that episode was about? (I do, but I'm just making a point.)

I believe it was 'Rosetta'. Followed by Crusade or something like that....'Super'-centric eppys, huh?

Well, I spoke with my mother today (she watches the show all the time too) and she loved the episode. I asked her if it reminded her of Saw. She said she didn't see that movie. Oh. Well that was easy - I didn't see it ether, so we moved on. Simple.

Cool.

Respectfully, build a bridge and get over it.

^^^^^^:O hehehehehehehehe

If it were only so easy....

So what if it resembled another show or movie. If it was entertaining in some way, it did what it was supposed to do.

It did. It humanized Lionel quite a bit. It was my brothers initial reaction that made me think....'You're right, they are running thin aren't they? And yet, still I watch...Why am I watching this filler again? Oh yeah, because I want to see Clark doing some cool ass ****! AND, I wanna know what the hell is going to happen with Dr. Fine and Lex in regards to Clark's future.'

If you didn't find it entertaining, and you haven't been enjoying the show for well over half a season, jeeze... you do know what my response to that is, right? :p

I do find *something* entertaining about Smallville every Thursday....It's just that after the last 2 seasons arcs, I feel like there's only so much story to tell before Clark becomes his destiny. The Mayo is pretty thin around the edges these days.

http://www.patcostello.com/smileys/confused.gif

You asking me to read the minds of 5 million people? How the heck do I know? LOL I can only tell you what I know about my own viewing habits...

SV is more than just "must see TV." It's appointment television. I take my phone off the hook, I shut my cell phone off, and every light in the house goes dark. I run TWO SVHS decks (don't have TIVO - shoot me) to record first run episodes (two in case something happens to one of 'em) and I watch the show in my living room in HD on a 36" Sony Wega. My husband will watch the show with me if he's not working. Don't talk. Don't mumble. Don't even breathe! I postponed the closing on my home mortgage refinancing because the attorneys involved initially booked the conference on a Thursday night. My house could be on FIRE and I'd want to wait till the commercial before calling 911. This kind of behavior is status quo for SV night (whenever it airs), and will remain that way till the very last episode ever.

I'm saying, you don't hear avid fans say, 'Dang. Last nights episode was amazing THE MOST UNEXPECTED THING HAPPENED...'

It's like, guys, throw you expected fanbase a bone here and there...remind them why they keep watching. Keep THEM on their toes a little, you know you'll get big numbers with the 'bigger' episodes. Don't let complacency set in, simply because you can.

As to the laments about this season... I think it's been the best so far. The show gets better and better every year, with a slight hiccup during the fourth season, which I'm happy to overlook. I'm a fan. That's what fans do.

The bad part about your post here is, that I HAVE overlooked quite a bit of hiccups over the YEARS. I just finally got sick of it. I mean, there is supposedly 1 more season after this right? How many more episodes like 'Thirst' (And you know there will be a few) do we have to sit through before a 'Crusade' and then the eventual money shot?

If we like something, we learn to appreciate it while we still have it because ya never know when it might be taken away. It's an interesting axiom to live by, in fact. Give it a try sometime. :)

I've got one for you,

'It's better to burnout, than to fade away.'

Super_Ludacris

04-22-2006, 07:32 AM

The OC fall from grace is something suprising

BaK

04-22-2006, 08:41 AM

Here is the current ranking from one of the torrent sites:

Top Searches

1. lost
2. smallville
3. Family Guy
4. 24
5. king kong
6. xbox
7. prison break
8. psp
9. stargate
10. desperate housewives

Super_Ludacris

04-22-2006, 08:47 AM

Here is the current ranking from one of the torrent sites:

Top Searches

1. lost
2. smallville
3. Family Guy
4. 24
5. king kong
6. xbox
7. prison break
8. psp
9. stargate
10. desperate housewives

I download torrents of those shows

AgentPat

04-22-2006, 12:51 PM

Look at the trend of the 2nd half of SEASONS of Smallville. It's pretty much the same trend. I see a W in that trend....(notice the roller coaster)And what I'm saying is there's nothing inherently unusual about a scripted series that dips in ratings near the end of each season (spring). You keep saying that it's indicative of W (whatever that means - Writing? - W could apply to a lot of things, so be specific LOL), and I'll keep saying you're oversimplifying the situation. It's like saying the motion picture industry is in a slump because people are bored with going to the theater. It's a gross oversimplification of many things, even if there's a kernel of truth to the concept that people "have better things to do." But I digress...

The UPN ain't really something to compare SV too. It's a dead fish for a reason..1. Both UPN *and* the WB are merging for a reason.
2. If one wants to compare the WB to ANY network, UPN is it.
3. UPN has had a higher viewership overall than the WB over the last few years, so I don't think we should knock 'em.

Alias just had a season premiere.Did I miss something? (Besides Garner's pregnancy and the overly-long hiatus it caused, that is?) 'Cause Alias has been axed; it's toast. The finale episode is skedded to air on May 22nd (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/409942p-346896c.html).

That 70's show isn't 'That 70's Show' without Topher and Kelso.Wait! So are you saying casting is more important than good writing?

Don't tempt me, Pickle. :p You can drive a truck through that opening you just left, and you know how much I like sliding down that tangent. Not! ;)

And, Joey has been in trouble since its 2nd episode.Indeed, and putting it in one of the most competitive time slots in the week sealed its fate. Even moving it to a more sheltered time slot didn't help. By contrast, SV has survived being moved into kiss-of-death time slots not once but TWICE. If anything, it's proved that its audience is faithful and will follow the show no matter what.

But they are indicative of who's interested in the show at that particular moment. This isn't 'American Idol' where you can lose 5 million viewers on a given night and it won't matter...The consistency of the show is what makes me roll my eyes. One week, I'm thinking THIS Is why I watch Smallville. The next, I'm thinking.....How is this 'Superman in training' again?I think you're projecting your own gripes with the show into what *everybody* must be thinking based on the ratings, and that's what I've been trying to say - a drop in ratings isn't necessarily indicative of interest in the show per se. Ever wonder why networks air repeats of their shows on Thanksgiving or Christmas night? Shows often go on hiatus during December because people are off at holiday parties, they're shopping, and doing other things. And the best episodes air during sweeps periods because... well... they're sweeps weeks. Duh! LOL The whole point is to put ground breaking episodes in those slots because those are the ratings being crunched by advertisers.

I couldn't tell you...(My brother is the Neilson Media Employee....true story)Well sheeeit Pickle, have him explain it to you. Remember, ratings are about demographics and change from the same period the year before. There's a reason why they compare the prior year vs. the prior week, like K-Site chooses to do. :rolleyes:

I just don't like seeing Smallville going from 6.5 Million one week, to the low 4's the next....And it usually follows the 'build up' episode, followed by filler for a few episodes. The guys behind the scenes KNOW this. They've been doing it for a few years now. They can get away with it, plain and simple. They know you'll be back for 'May Sweeps' and the Finale.Already addressed in the comments above.

I don't really know how it works....Family members aren't allowed to have a box and keep the Neilson money that you are compensated.Huh? I'm just talking about how the boxes work. You can turn your TV on and go shopping - the box doesn't know if anybody is actually in the room watching the TV - and neither does Neilsen.

I believe it was 'Rosetta'. Followed by Crusade or something like that....'Super'-centric eppys, huh?No. It was Lineage. Rosetta came in second that season. Crusade - the episode that was pimped out the wazoo for introducing Lois, and showing Clark, err... Kal-El... FLY (pretty Super centric) got 5.3/8, while Exile - another season premiere episode that's been reviled by some Superman "fans" because Clark is off on a Red-K bender in Metropolis, got a 6.7/11.

Moving on...

It did. It humanized Lionel quite a bit. It was my brothers initial reaction that made me think....'You're right, they are running thin aren't they? And yet, still I watch...Why am I watching this filler again? Oh yeah, because I want to see Clark doing some cool ass ****! AND, I wanna know what the hell is going to happen with Dr. Fine and Lex in regards to Clark's future.'I understand. But remember, not *everybody* watches the show for the same reasons. I'm sure there's folks out there who find Brainiac "entertaining," but they could care less whether he's on the show or not (I'm not one of those people - just making a point.) When people complain about "filler" episodes, I just shake my head. Some of those "filler" episodes have been personal favorites of mine. We all watch for different reasons, and the writers know this. That's why there IS a variety to plots on the show. Nobody eats *everything* at a smorgasbord; we all have different tastes. I wanted to stick hot pokers in my eyes after watching Spirit, but there were folks on this board that absolutely loved that episode (which still baffles me to this day LOLOLOL.) Yaso (sp?), a big SV fan who posts over at BTs, HATED Hidden. He loathed it. That's just... extraordinary. It blows my freakin' mind.

I do find *something* entertaining about Smallville every Thursday....It's just that after the last 2 seasons arcs, I feel like there's only so much story to tell before Clark becomes his destiny. The Mayo is pretty thin around the edges these days.I'm sorry you feel that way. :(

I'm saying, you don't hear avid fans say, 'Dang. Last nights episode was amazing THE MOST UNEXPECTED THING HAPPENED...':confused:

I think every show has its share of surprises, especially for folks who don't scrutinize, analyze and discuss spoilers till the cows come home. The way Clark acted at the end of Mercy blew my socks off. I'm not sure what "unexpected" things you'd like to see in a show that by definition, is a prequel to a tale everybody already knows. It's not like they can kill Lois and have Chloe take her place or something...

Oh wait.

LOL! J/K [Hulk has a seizure - assuming he even reads here anymore.]

The bad part about your post here is, that I HAVE overlooked quite a bit of hiccups over the YEARS. I just finally got sick of it. I mean, there is supposedly 1 more season after this right? How many more episodes like 'Thirst' (And you know there will be a few) do we have to sit through before a 'Crusade' and then the eventual money shot?1. There could be potentially TWO more seasons.
2. I liked Thirst.
3. If you're only watching SV waiting for that "money shot," I would submit you're watching the show for the wrong reasons. It's not about the destination; it's the journey. And that journey will continue to be pretty eclectic in nature because the producers and writers want the show to appeal to as many people as possible, not just Superman fanboys - and fangirls. :)

'It's better to burnout, than to fade away.'Indeed! But I don't see SV heading towards either demise just yet. :up:

Supershizzle

04-22-2006, 06:35 PM

Pat is right to an extent. Right after Daylight Savings Time goes into effect, you tend to see a dip in ratings. Especially in the 8 PM hour. It's light out longer and the weather is warmer, people dont tend to hole up in their homes like they do in the winter time, and they tend to travel more. Even in places where it's warm all year, the effect of shorter days still holds true to peoples living habits. I've seen the studies.
If you look at all shows across the board, you'll notice about an equal decrease % wise in viewership. It's no new phenomenon. Why do you think basically all episodic tv ends before Memorial Day? One of the big things to look at now, and these reports are tending to be put on the program director's desks right after the overnights is the DVR stats. People may be missing the show in it's first run, but if they're still watching it (and likewise the ads with it) later on, it's still getting across to the viewership. Smallville is one of the most DVR'd shows on network TV.

Pickle-El

04-22-2006, 07:20 PM

KikiDee

04-22-2006, 09:17 PM

So it makes it okay for the writers to 'coast' during certain times of the season, just because they already know the turnout will be less?

Try out new writers, spend less on special effects.....wouldn't you?

AgentPat

04-22-2006, 09:21 PM

So it makes it okay for the writers to 'coast' during certain times of the season, just because they already know the turnout will be less?It is YOUR opinion that they're coasting. I'm enjoying the show as written. They're not "filler" episodes to me; each and every episode has aspects that add to the seasonal arc. Just because YOU see it as bad writing doesn't mean others will, and ratings aren't something you should be using to support your argument. That's what we've been trying to say Pickle. :)

Supershizzle

04-22-2006, 09:44 PM

So it makes it okay for the writers to 'coast' during certain times of the season, just because they already know the turnout will be less?

Please highlight for me the sentence in my post where I spoke about the writing or quality thereof? :confused:

I'm not qualified enough to critique the writing on a professional level, my expertise lies elswhere, though I do think that's a highly subjective undertaking to begin with. Then again there's not exactly a direct correlation between "good" writing and viewership, so I'm not sure what exactly you're getting at? As an aside, I've seen plenty of intelligently written television shows axed because the public just didnt "get it" (Arrested Development, anyone?), and shows that are formulaic pieces of garbage (i.e. Friends) that go on for 10 seasons.

Pickle-El

04-22-2006, 10:19 PM

Please highlight for me the sentence in my post where I spoke about the writing or quality thereof? :confused:

If I'm reading right, you and others are saying the reasons the ratings go down has a lot to do with 'trends'. Daylight savings, overall viewership down, Spring Bring, etc.

I'm saying, that make it okay to put out what MANY fans feel are 'sub-par' episodes in between gauranteed ratings winners? I was incredibly high on Smallville for at least 3 1/2 seasons. I didn't even buy Season 4....They lost me along the way. And you know why? It's because of episodes more and more like last weeks. (And what looks like next week)

Obviously there is a hard-core audience that will watch any episode of Smallville. (4 Million or so) I can't even talk to Pat about this, though she's the only other that's responding, because she's as biased as I am when someone asks me, 'Is the new Pearl Jam record any good?' I'll find something good to say about it because the brand means something to me. That's what the hardcore fanbase will do for products they have incredibly vented interest in.

Another question, since no one seems to be giving me straight anwers other than blaming 'trends', how many inherently GREAT episodes has the season of 'Superman In Training' given the people who watch Smallville? 100th Eppy? Season Premiere? Clark vs Brainiac in FOS..3-4...Put it this way, which 3 episodes as of right now would you show to a potential Smallville fan? Just playing devils advocate here.

I know the response will be, well Pickle it IS your opinion....I know that. But, obviously, if ultimately you or anyone else can point to ratings winners from Seasons 1-5 and say, 'Smallville is doing GREAT. People were interested, look at those numbers! We're on top.'

If people can cheer when ratings go through the roof, what's so wrong with dissecting why the ratings get so low ('trends' aside, Smallville was hitting Season 2 numbers earlier this year.). It can't ALL be trends, can it? Surely, the execution of stories must hold credence and responsibility as some point?

Supershizzle

04-22-2006, 10:47 PM

I merely chimed in that what Pat was saying about viewership taking a hit this time of year across the board does have merit to it. And that there isnt necessarily a direct correlation between the quality of writing and the viewership a show gets, since what one person deems as "quality" will usually differ from the next.

You seem intent on debating the specifics of given episodes with me and why you feel they arent up to par, and that's not a discussion I'm looking to get into because it's immaterial to the points I was making.

All I will say is that personally I didnt think the last episode was that bad. Once you get past the blatant mimic of certain scenes from the Saw movies, there seemed to be a lot of character exposition as well as some explanation to some long standing questions on the series involving Lionel, Martha, and Clark. Then again I dont have the emotional investment on either side that others here do, so perhaps that's why I can gleen from it what's given and not what I want to get from it.

AgentPat

04-22-2006, 10:50 PM

If I'm reading right, you and others are saying the reasons the ratings go down has a lot to do with 'trends'. Daylight savings, overall viewership down, Spring Bring, etc.In a nutshell, yes. Of course there's other factors to consider, not the least of which is competition on other networks.

I'm saying, that make it okay to put out what MANY fans feel are 'sub-par' episodes in between guaranteed ratings winners?"Many" fans? Who are you parsing?

I vaguely remember an interview with Gough where he said he gets a completely different take on episodes from (I believe) one of his nieces than he sees on the I-Net. It's an odd world.

I was incredibly high on Smallville for at least 3 1/2 seasons. I didn't even buy Season 4....They lost me along the way. And you know why? It's because of episodes more and more like last weeks. (And what looks like next week)Y'know, for every Spirit, there's a Crusade, or Run, or Transference, or Unsafe, or Onyx, or Blank or Commencement...

Obviously there is a hard-core audience that will watch any episode of Smallville. (4 Million or so) I can't even talk to Pat about this, though she's the only other that's responding,http://www.patcostello.com/smileys/tongue.gif

Just having fun with ya Pickle Meister. ;)

because she's as biased as I amWho? Me? No sir!!! I'm completely objective on all things SV. :p :p

when someone asks me, 'Is the new Pearl Jam record any good?' I'll find something good to say about it because the brand means something to me. That's what the hardcore fanbase will do for products they have incredibly vented interest in.Ooooo... I think he's getting it. http://www.patcostello.com/smileys/wahoo.gif

Another question, since no one seems to be giving me straight answers other than blaming 'trends', how many inherently GREAT episodes has the season of 'Superman In Training' given the people who watch Smallville? 100th Eppy? Season Premiere? Clark vs Brainiac in FOS..3-4...Put it this way, which 3 episodes as of right now would you show to a potential Smallville fan? Just playing devils advocate here.For the 5th season? Ooo... tough question.

[thinking]

Okay, as of right now, I'd go with...

1. Arrival (it sets the precedent for everything else to follow in the season)
2. Hidden (it's one of the BEST SV episodes EVER), and
3. Reckoning (it's the turning point for Clark after his father died.)

How my doin?

Give me more episodes to show to a potential n00b, and I'll add to the list. Only being able to show three is limiting, at best. Which three Pearl Jam songs would you recommend to somebody who's never heard the band before? (honest question, albeit off topic.)

If people can cheer when ratings go through the roof, what's so wrong with dissecting why the ratings get so low ('trends' aside, Smallville was hitting Season 2 numbers earlier this year.). It can't ALL be trends, can it? Surely, the execution of stories must hold credence and responsibility as some point?But you're looking at the show's numbers, not how they compare to other shows airing at the same time. SV hasn't really changed its rank placement. Viewership is down across the board, not just with SV.

triplet

04-22-2006, 11:07 PM

Obviously there is a hard-core audience that will watch any episode of Smallville. (4 Million or so) I can't even talk to Pat about this, though she's the only other that's responding,

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm seriously tired of the very circular convo so that's why I'm not replying...

http://www.sfrisch.com/images/merry_go.jpg

I'll come back later but you and Pat and Supershizzle can keep on going and have fun...

AgentPat

04-22-2006, 11:17 PM

^ Hehehe... sometimes, a good circular debate can be fun.

<- masochist tonight, apparently.

Hey Pickle, go deep...

http://www.patcostello.com/temp/transference14.jpg

Pickle-El

04-22-2006, 11:45 PM

^ Hehehe... sometimes, a good circular debate can be fun.

<- masochist tonight, apparently.

Hey Pickle, go deep...

http://www.patcostello.com/temp/transference14.jpg

I"m busy at the moment...:O

http://www.oleary.dircon.co.uk/NewFiles/images/322%20Beer.jpg

Oh, and about PJ, what kind of music do you like? Slow ballads? Floydish stuff? or just straight rock? They do it all!

How bout this, it's off their new album...it's called inside job. Very Floyd-ish

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=ED8FAEDF73F807EA

. I'll go so far as to say that it's one of their best songs. (And I've only listened to it for about 2 weeks)

Pickle-El

04-23-2006, 12:00 AM

What the hell? I'll just post a slower ballad called Lowlight:

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=52826C6E0EB5A7E1

And a rocker/ballad for the ladie fans of one Mr. Tom Welling...it's called, 'Betterman' ;)

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=ED4BCF8121BF2B78

Don't get the wrong idea, they play some VERY hard stuff. But you can't ignore the female fanbase, right?

Serene

04-23-2006, 12:54 AM

Oh, and about PJ, what kind of music do you like? Slow ballads? Floydish stuff? or just straight rock? They do it all!

With the exception of one song, I can't stand Pearl Jam. Their sound (primarily Vedder's voice) just grates on me and I have to turn it off whenever it comes on.

Yet another example of different strokes.. ;)

Pickle-El

04-23-2006, 01:03 AM

With the exception of one song, I can't stand Pearl Jam. Their sound (primarily Vedder's voice) just grates on me and I have to turn it off whenever it comes on.

Yet another example of different strokes.. ;)

Lets see....where's that ignore feature again....;)

Serene

04-23-2006, 01:10 AM

Lets see....where's that ignore feature again....;)

But I do like your avy. :D
(way more than your taste in music. :p)

Pickle-El

04-23-2006, 01:14 AM

But I do like your avy. :D
(way more than your taste in music. :p)

Make up your mind, do you like PJ or not?

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000ETQRCM.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V54165026_.jpg\

hehehehe

Serene

04-23-2006, 01:17 AM

Make up your mind, do you like PJ or not?

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000ETQRCM.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V54165026_.jpg\

hehehehe

No, to PJ.
Yes, to avocados. :D

Pickle-El

04-23-2006, 01:45 AM

No, to PJ.
Yes, to avocados. :D

Can't wait for Cinco De Mayo....just another reason for us crazy hispanics to get druuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunk!

And have some Guacamole of course.

The Sage

04-23-2006, 02:08 AM

It's amazing the topics that can be generated in a thread about "ratings".

MJZ

04-23-2006, 02:25 AM

Eddie's the man.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

do do do to do to do

Pickle-El

04-23-2006, 03:11 AM

Eddie's the man.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

do do do to do to do

For once, me and MJZ agree. :eek:

I should have put 'Black' up there for Pat to hear...a little depressing though. Still, incredible ballad.

KikiDee

04-23-2006, 10:42 AM

Can't wait for Cinco De Mayo....just another reason for us crazy hispanics to get druuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunk!

And have some Guacamole of course.

You needed a reason? http://www.superherohype.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

MJZ

04-24-2006, 12:08 AM

For once, me and MJZ agree. :eek:

I should have put 'Black' up there for Pat to hear...a little depressing though. Still, incredible ballad.

Yeah it's a bit of a downer.

Can't go wrong with Even Flow...

RakuMon

04-24-2006, 09:46 AM

For once, me and MJZ agree. :eek:

I should have put 'Black' up there for Pat to hear...a little depressing though. Still, incredible ballad.
Black is, hands down, my favorite PJ song (or any song for that matter) ever.
I'd have to rank Given to Fly (when's someone going to do a Welling video using that song by the way?!) and State of Love and Trust.

Also, how nuts were their two performances on SNL last week? May 2 can't get here fast enough!

AgentPat

04-25-2006, 02:50 PM

Serene

04-25-2006, 03:13 PM

Combo would seem to be a good bet to return in tandem on the new CW sked next fall...

http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117941908&c=14[/indent]

Yay! :up:

avidreader

04-25-2006, 03:38 PM

Excellent! :up:

Although I am finding it hard to concentrate on it after Smallville.

Glad to see the demo's still looking good for this time of year.

Brainiac 8

04-25-2006, 04:01 PM

Excerpt from a recent Variety article, published 4/23/06

...One rookie series that is looking good after a move to Thursday is the WB's "Supernatural" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 3.99m) following "Smallville" (1.9/6, 4.41m). Spooky skein, which began the season on Tuesday, retained 100% of its 18-49 lead-in from "Smallville" and 86% in 18-34 (1.9/6 vs. 2.2/8) -- its best Thursday scores to date.

Combo would seem to be a good bet to return in tandem on the new CW sked next fall...

http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117941908&c=14

Good for Jensen Ackles. I would hate to have him come off a ho-hum run on Smallville to flunk out of his own show.

I didn't like Jason Teague, but I liked the actor, I'm glad his show is doing well. I would think this pairing would be a no brainer for Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans anyways. Why wouldn't they keep the channel on for Supernatural?:confused: :up:

\S/JcDc\S/

04-25-2006, 11:39 PM

Of course the ratings went down. I predicted this a long time ago when they switched to FOTW and psuedo goth Buffy inspired eps. Only the hardcore SV fans will be happy with that. If they advertise an episode that has to do with something related to the Superman universe the ratings will go back up and it will do well.

rumpuso

04-26-2006, 08:10 AM

Excellent! :up:

Although I am finding it hard to concentrate on it after Smallville.

Yep, me too. I just want to rewatch Smallville on my TIVO recording during that hour, but I'm *really* trying to like Supernatural. It's not a bad show at all and Jensen does a great job.

AgentPat

04-28-2006, 12:30 PM

APRIL 28, 2006
The Programming Insider
Marc Berman

Primetime Thursday Ratings:
CBS Dominates; NBC a Distant No. 2

Thursday 4/27/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 13.7/21, NBC: 7.0/11, ABC: 4.3/ 7, Fox: 3.9/ 6, WB: 3.0/ 5, UPN: 2.0/ 3

Due to a Presidential Address on the year-ago evening, overnight comparisons to Thursday, April 28, 2005 are excluded.

----------

Fast National Ratings (Live Plus Same Day data).

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 20.64 million, NBC: 9.30, ABC: 6.28, Fox: 5.15, WB: 3.98, UPN: 2.53

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 6.6 rating/18 share, NBC: 4.0/11, Fox: 2.3/ 6, ABC: 2.1/ 6, WB: 1.7/ 5, UPN: 1.0/ 3

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor Panama – Exile Island (CBS), CSI (CBS), Without A Trace (CBS)

-Fading Fast:
American Inventor (ABC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Love, Inc. (UPN), The O.C. (Fox), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN), Commander in Chief (ABC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS scored another seamless Thursday victory, with a first-place finish in every half-hour courtesy of Survivor Panama – Exile Island (Overnights: 9.9/16; Viewers: 17.14 million; A18-49: 5.8/18), CSI (Overnights: 18.1/27; Viewers: 26.88 million; A18-49: 8.5/22), and Without A Trace (Overnights: 13.0/20; Viewers: 17.91 million; A18-49: 5.5/15). How do you like that Terry on Survivor, whose only fall from grace might be his superior attitude if he lands in the final two? And what about Cirie, who caught a fish (a big one, too!), and brokered the deal to get rid of slacker Courtney? You go, girl!

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 are based on the fast national ratings.

The once formidable NBC remains anything but, with its distant second-place combination of the soon-to-conclude Will & Grace (Overnights: 6.2/10; Viewers: 7.53 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 9), a repeat of My Name Is Earl (Overnights: 5.1/ 8; Viewers: 6.89 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8), the regularly scheduled edition of My Name Is Earl (Overnights: 6.3/ 9; Viewers: 8.95 million; A18-49: 4.1/11), The Office (Overnights: 5.6/ 8; Viewers: 7.74 million; A18-49: 3.8/10), and fading ER (Overnights: 9.4/15; Viewers: 12.36 million; A18-49: 5.1/14). Although the network is hoping the addition of John Stamos will fuel interest in ER next season, it really is time to pull the plug and allow the medical drama to end with some dignity, don’t you think?

Over at ABC, the once respectable American Inventor has fallen from grace, with the first of two back-to-back episodes opening at a weak 3.9/ 6 in the overnights (#3), 5.13 million viewers (#3), and a fourth-place 1.5/ 6 among adults 18-49. That led into the regularly scheduled 9 p.m. edition third at a 4.9/ 7 in the overnights, 4.82 million viewers, and a 2.9/ 9 among adults 18-49. One episode would have been more than enough – this isn’t American Idol, after all. At 10 p.m., and facing original episodes of both Without A Trace and ER for the first time, ABC’s relocated Commander in Chief is unlikely to make it into a sophomore term with a distant third place 5.1/ 8 in the overnights, 6.50 million viewers, and a 1.8/ 5 among adults 18-49.

Two original episodes of Fox’s soon-to-retire That ‘70s Show limped out of the gate with an average 3.7/ 6 in the overnights (#4), 4.90 million viewers (#4), and a 2.2/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#3) from 8-9 p.m. At 9 p.m., modest The O.C. lived up to that description with a similar 4.0/ 6 in the overnights (#4), 5.41 million viewers (#4), and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49. Does anyone really care about The O.C. anymore?

Over at the WB, Supernatural remains a relatively compatible player out of Smallville, with retention of 82 percent in the overnights, 78 percent in total viewers, and 75 percent among adults 18-49. Take a look:

WB/Thursday
8:00 p.m. Smallville
Overnights: 3.3/ 5 (#5); Viewers: 4.47 million (#5); A18-49: 2.0/ 6 (#5)

9:00 p.m. Supernatural
Overnights: 2.7/ 4 (#5); Viewers: 3.49 million (#5); A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#5)

Despite a last-place finish at 8 p.m., UPN’s Everybody Loves Chris remains the only UPN Thursday sitcom worth even mentioning, with a 2.7/ 5 in the overnights, 3.13 million viewers, and a 1.3/ 4 among adults 18-49. Lead-out Love, Inc. dipped to a 1.9/ 3 in the overnights, 2.11 million viewers, and a 0.9/ 3 among adults 18-49 at 8:30 p.m., followed by Eve (Overnights: 1.7/ 3; Viewers: 2.10 million; A18-49: 0.9/ 2) and Cuts (Overnights: 1.6/ 2; Viewers: 2.07 million; A18-49: 0.9/ 2) from 9-10 p.m. UPN, of course, ranked last in every half-hour, and Love, Inc., Eve and Cuts will all, no doubt, not be returning next season.

KikiDee

04-28-2006, 12:45 PM

I don't know if it will matter or not, but LA isn't included in those numbers because it was preempted. I don't know if any other market areas had to reschedule the showing.

Supershizzle

04-28-2006, 12:46 PM

not bad, considering in LA we cant even see the episdoe until tonight

avidreader

04-28-2006, 12:53 PM

not bad, considering in LA we cant even see the episdoe until tonight

I'll direct this at you and Pat, as you both seem to know how these things work. Do they just not take L.A.'s numbers into consideration, or do they calculate the ratios around/into it?

AgentPat

04-28-2006, 01:18 PM

avidreader

04-28-2006, 01:55 PM

As far as I know, ratings are what they are for the time period in question. If a show is pre-empted in one market, oh well. That said, when the show shops its numbers to perspective sponsors (they're the peeps who count, after all) ALL numbers are tallied together to reflect the skein's viewership.

So that would have taken into account all the people in L.A. watching the basketball or do you think L.A. would not have been included?

AgentPat

04-28-2006, 02:02 PM

So that would have taken into account all the people in L.A. watching the basketball or do you think L.A. would not have been included?No, I'm pretty sure the Lakers' game's ratings would not have been lumped into SV's ratings.

avidreader

04-28-2006, 02:08 PM

No, I'm pretty sure the Lakers' game's ratings would not have been lumped into SV's ratings.

Okay, thats what I thought. So in a city with quite a few million people you would think that Smallville's total viewership would be over 5,000,000.

Pickle-El

04-28-2006, 08:06 PM

Okay, thats what I thought. So in a city with quite a few million people you would think that Smallville's total viewership would be over 5,000,000.

I think they made a mistake putting it up against the Laker game tonight. They should have just moved it to this past Wednesday IMO. The Lakers are MUCH bigger than the Clippers.

It's a good thing I have TIVO.

avidreader

04-28-2006, 08:24 PM

I think they made a mistake putting it up against the Laker game tonight. They should have just moved it to this past Wednesday IMO. The Lakers are MUCH bigger than the Clippers.

I've been reminded by my son several times in the last day that there is a Laker game on tonight. Luckily here in SD we got Smallville on its usual time last night. Mind you, our WB channel doesnt have any sports in its programming.

It's a good thing I have TIVO.
They are the best arent they?

avidreader

05-05-2006, 12:06 PM

Primetime Thursday Ratings:
CBS Rules; NBC a Typically Distant No. 2

Thursday 5/04/06

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 13.5/21, NBC: 7.0/11, ABC: 4.5/ 7, Fox: 3.6/ 5, WB: 3.0/ 5, UPN: 1.9/ 3

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 5/05/05):
WB: +50, CBS: - 6, ABC: -22, Fox: -25, NBC: -29, UPN: -46

----------

Fast National Ratings (Live Plus Same Day data).

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 20.70 million, NBC: 8.90, ABC: 5.69, Fox: 5.08, WB: 4.14, UPN: 2.49

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 6.7/18, NBC: 3.9/11, Fox: 2.3/ 7, ABC: 2.0/ 6, WB: 1.7/ 5, UPN: 1.1/ 3

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor Panama – Exile Island (CBS), CSI (CBS), Without A Trace (CBS)

-Fading Fast:
American Inventor (ABC), ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Love, Inc. (UPN), The O.C. (Fox), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN), Primetime Live (ABC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
In another clean Thursday sweep, CBS ruled with an iron fist courtesy of Survivor Panama – Exile Island (Overnights: 9.9/16; Viewers: 17.26 million; A18-49: 5.9/18), CSI (Overnights: 17.2/25; Viewers: 25.75 million; A18-49: 8.2/22), and Without A Trace (Overnights: 13.3/21; Viewers: 19.09 million; A18-49: 5.9/16). I think it’s safe to presume that whoever lands in the bottom two with Terry (is this guy unreal, or what?) will win the cool million on Survivor. His arrogance is likely to cost him at the end, don’t you think? Go Cerie!

As a reminder, results from last night among total viewers and adults 18-49 are based on the fast nationals.

NBC finished second in every half-hour courtesy of two episodes (original and repeat) of the soon-to-conclude Will & Grace (8 p.m. – Overnights: 6.2/10; Viewers: 6.98 million; A18-49: 2.7/ 9 / 8:30 p.m. R – Overnights: 6.1/ 9; Viewers: 6.79 million; A18-49: 2.9/ 9), My Name Is Earl (Overnights: 6.6/10; Viewers: 8.68 million; A18-49: 4.0/11), The Office (Overnights: 5.5/ 8; Viewers: 7.53 million; A18-49: 3.6/ 9), and fading ER (Overnights: 8.9/14; Viewers: 11.72 million; A18-49: 5.0/13). For comparative purposes, ER on the year-ago evening (May 5, 2005) averaged a 12.9/20 in the overnights, with 15.66 million viewers and a 7.1/19 among adults 18-49 according to the final nationals. Please, NBC, bill ER as the final season in 2006-07 and let the medical drama go out with some dignity.

ABC, unfortunately, has sprung a leak with the once promising American Inventor. An 8 p.m. installment of the reality/competition opened with a 3.9/ 6 in the overnights (#3), 5.30 million viewers (#3), and a 1.8/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#5). That led into the regularly scheduled installment at an also modest (and third-place) 4.8/ 7 in the overnights, 6.52 million viewers, and a 2.6/ 7 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. Obviously, we all knew the inventor with the baby safe car seat would be picked over the two bathroom related items!

A last minute edition of Primetime Live (in place of the yanked Commander in Chief) capped off the evening for ABC with a last-place 4.7/ 7 in the overnights, 5.26 million viewers, and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m.

Fox, meanwhile, remained out of the Thursday loop with its combination of two episodes of the soon-to-end That ‘70s Show (Overnights: #4, 3.7/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.13 million; A18-49: #3, 2.4/ 8 from 8-9 p.m.), and all-but-forgotten serial The O.C. (Overnights: #4, 3.5/ 5; Viewers: #4, #4, 5.02 million; A18-49: #4, 2.2/ 6).

The WB, as usual, stood well above last-place UPN with dramas Smallville (Overnights: #5, 3.2/ 5; Viewers: #5, 4.44 million; A18-49: #4, 1.9/ 6), and the season-finale of the compatible Supernatural (Overnights: #5, 2.8/ 4; Viewers: #5, 3.83 million; A18-49: #5, 1.6/ 4). Although nothing has been officially announced, expect Smallville and Supernatural to occupy upcoming The CW’s Thursday line-up next season.

Only UPN’s Everybody Hates Chris, as usual, generated any interest on Thursday with a 2.8/ 5 in the overnights, 3.26 million viewers, and a 1.3/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. (last in all three categories). That led into significantly weaker sixth-place finishes for Love, Inc. (Overnights: 1.7/ 3; Viewers: 2.20 million; A18-49: 0.9/ 3), Eve (Overnights: 1.6/ 2; Viewers: 2.30 million; A18-49: 1.0/ 3), and Cuts (Overnights: 1.5/ 2; Viewers: 2.19 million; A18-49: 1.0/ 3) from 8:30-10 p.m.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Brainiac 8

05-05-2006, 01:34 PM

^^^Sweetness, I always like hearing good news.

We need to get a petitions together for them to up the SFX budget again.:( ;)

LarryLegend

05-05-2006, 01:35 PM

It should be drawing more. They need to promote it better.

avidreader

05-05-2006, 03:54 PM

It should be drawing more. They need to promote it better.

I have a feeling The WB wont be spending much money on promoting when they are about to close their doors.

I think those ratings are actually pretty good when you compare them with say Fox and the WB was the only network to achieve growth from the same time last year.

BareKnucklez

05-07-2006, 12:45 PM

RakuMon

05-12-2006, 12:17 PM

MAY 12, 2006
The Programming Insider

Marc Berman

Note: The Programming Insider next week will focus on the upcoming fall 2006 primetime schedule announcements. All regularly scheduled sections (including Primetime Ratings, Ratings Box, On the Air Tonight, Reader Feedback and TV Trivia Time) will be pre-empted Tuesday through Thursday.

Primetime Thursday Ratings:
CBS Rules; Three UPN Sitcoms Bid Adieu

Thursday 5/11/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 14.2/22, NBC: 7.8/12, Fox: 5.3/ 8, ABC: 4.7/ 7, WB: 2.8/ 4, UPN: 2.0/ 3

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 5/12/05):
Fox: +32, WB: +27, CBS: - 4, ABC: - 8, NBC: -26, UPN: -43

----------

Fast National Ratings (Live Plus Same Day data).

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 20.95 million, NBC: 10.14, Fox: 7.30, ABC: 6.24, WB: 3.65, UPN: 2.21

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 6.6/18, NBC: 4.4/12, Fox: 3.6/10, ABC: 2.3/ 6, WB: 1.6/ 4, UPN: 0.9/ 3

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor Panama – Exile Island (CBS), CSI (CBS), Without A Trace (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
Smallville (WB)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Love, Inc. (UPN), Eve (UPN), Cuts (UPN), Primetime Live (ABC)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS roared to the winning Thursday finish line, as usual, courtesy of Survivor Panama – Exile Island (Overnights: 10.4/16; Viewers: 17.17 million; A18-49: 5.7/17), CSI (Overnights: 18.3/27; Viewers: 26.64 million; A18-49: 8.2/21), and Without A Trace (Overnights: 13.8/22; Viewers: 19.03 million; A18-49: 5.8/15). Fans of Survivor, don’t forget: the two-hour season-finale is this Sunday at 8 p.m., followed by the live reunion show at 10 p.m. And speaking of Survivor, was I the only one who felt ripped-off after we were left hanging last night? Come on Cirie, you can do it!

Despite traveling the “super-size” route last night with expanded episodes of the second-to-last installment of Will & Grace, and the season-finales of My Name Is Earl and The Office, NBC did not benefit overall. Will & Grace opened with an above-average 7.6/12 in the overnights from 8-8:40 p.m. (#2), followed by also second-place finishes for My Name Is Earl (6.8/10 from 8:40-9:20 p.m.) and The Office (6.0/ 9 from 9:40-10 p.m.). Due to the expanded nature of the telecasts, all overnight results for NBC are approximate and individual fast national ratings cannot be determined. Based on the 8-10 p.m. block, the three comedies averaged 8.68 million viewers, and a 3.8/11 among adults 18-49 according to the fast nationals. Although My Name Is Earl had a solid first season, it is not the kind of break-out hit that NBC needs to rejuvenate the evening. And neither is The Office.

At 10 p.m., the rumored-to-be relocating ER capped off the evening for NBC with a second-place finish in the overnights (9.9/16), total viewers (13.06 million), and adults 18-49 (5.5/15). If NBC does indeed move ER to make room for upcoming drama Studio H on the Sunset Strip (or something else) next fall, season 13 will not be a lucky one for fading medical drama.

Fox got a boost as a result of retrospective That ‘70s Show: The Final Goodbye, which averaged a 5.6/ 8 in the overnights, 7.58 million viewers, and a 3.8/10 among adults 18-49 from 8:30-10 p.m. Keep in mind that that seven minutes of preview X-Men: The Last Stand was factored into that average. Earlier in the evening, the-second-to-last episode of That ‘70s Show scored a 4.4/ 7 in the overnights (#3), 6.20 million viewers (#3), and a 3.0/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8 p.m.

On ABC, an 8 p.m. edition of American Inventor opened with a lackluster 4.0/ 6 in the overnights (#4), 5.16 million viewers (#4), and a 1.6/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 8 p.m. That led into the regularly scheduled 9 p.m. edition at a 5.1/ 7 in the overnights (#4), 6.97 million viewers (#4), and a 2.6/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#4). Next week, the winner of American Inventor (which I predict will be the worthy Janusz Liberkowski) will be revealed. At 10 p.m., veteran Primetime Live remained lost in the cellar with a 5.0/ 8 in the overnights, 6.60 million viewers, and a 2.8/ 7 among adults 18-49.

Over at the WB, Smallville concluded season No. 5 (time flies!) with a respectable 3.5/ 5 in the overnights (#5), 4.58 million viewers (#5), and a fourth-place 2.0/ 6 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. That led into a repeat of the young Clark Kent drama at a 2.1/ 3 in the overnights (#5), 2.72 million viewers, (#5), and a 1.1/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 9 p.m. Given how Smallville put the WB on the Thursday map this season, consider it a lock on The CW at 8 p.m. again in 2006-07.

Last, and least, was the season-finale of UPN’s Everybody Hates Chris (Overnights: 2.8/ 5; Viewers: 3.30 million; A18-49: 1.3/ 4 at 8 p.m.), followed by the series-finales of Love, Inc. (Overnights: 1.9/ 3; Viewers: 2.03 million; A18-49: 0.8/ 2), Eve (Overnights: 1.8/ 3; Viewers: 1.75 million; A18-49: 0.8/ 2), and Cuts (Overnights: 1.7/ 3; Viewers: 1.78 million; A18-49: 0.8/ 2) from 8:30-10 p.m. If The CW wants to give Everybody Hates Chris a stronger platform next season, here’s an idea: Sunday at 8 p.m. Remember the days when The WB had an audience with Sunday comedies like The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show and Sister, Sister? Why not go back to those more successful roots?

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/newsletters/proginsider/index.jsp

NHawk19

05-12-2006, 01:57 PM

Either way SV is on a roll imagine if they had made this the 90 min special w/ movie footage like last year.

Come to think of it I dont even remember them publicising the SR trailer this year

avidreader

05-12-2006, 01:59 PM

Either way SV is on a roll imagine if they had made this the 90 min special w/ movie footage like last year.

Come to think of it I dont even remember them publicising the SR trailer this year
It was competing against the series finale of That 70's Show and the Xmen trailer. I think they are just holding off on all things propaganda until the CW starts up.

I think the results were pretty cool. :up:

user123456789

05-12-2006, 02:13 PM

It was competing against the series finale of That 70's Show and the Xmen trailer. I think they are just holding off on all things propaganda until the CW starts up.

I think the results were pretty cool. :up:

Isn't the finale of that 70s show NEXT week?

don't tell me i missed it!! :mad: :(

avidreader

05-12-2006, 03:27 PM

Isn't the finale of that 70s show NEXT week?

don't tell me i missed it!! :mad: :(

Maybe I'm wrong. I dont watch it, I just thought I heard it was on last night.

Well apparently it was the last episode and Will and Grace was also on its next to last episode.

MarvelMovies

05-12-2006, 04:11 PM

The ratings really hit the point home of why the WB and UPN are merging to form the CW...

If nothing else then for some better ratings... or to stop the battle for last place

:(

Smallville constantly does well though on a positive note

The Incredible Hulk

05-12-2006, 04:26 PM

Smallville is still rocking it's target demo, 18-34 year old males. They're gonna jack us (my company) on ad rates come next season. We should be finding out next week, what that's gonna look like. The guy at the local affiliate here says Smallville is going to be the flagship show on the CW. :up:

Kaboom

05-12-2006, 04:37 PM

how can it be a flagship show if its only got one season left?

AgentPat

05-12-2006, 04:37 PM

how can it be a flagship show if its only got one season left?Who said it only had one season left? :confused: :p

Kaboom

05-12-2006, 04:40 PM

i dont think anyone has said it officially, but that seems to be the general consensus belief around these parts. two at most.
i dont think Mercy Reef is going to carry the load. they better find a new super hero and quick.....like maybe a cyborg.......

thebigtree95

05-12-2006, 04:49 PM

CSI: Flash should be the new hero show.

Warhammer

05-12-2006, 04:51 PM

I agree.
I think you can do alot more in a show with Cyborg rather than Aquaman.

BTW, The Season finale crap for That 70's Show was bull****.
The real final episode will come on next week.
The one last night was only an 1 1/2 hour featurette.

The season finale to Smallville last night was a little underwhelming though.
Even though that only means the next season will be better, with Clark in the Phantom Zone and such.

rumpuso

05-17-2006, 07:31 AM

Today's Washington Post reported the final numbers for Smallville's season finale as 4.6 in the first half hour and 5.1 in the second. For comparison on that same night, other season finales on the WB were 7th Heaven (series finale...or so we thought) at 7.0/8.1 and Gilmore Girls at 5.0/5.6.

On UPN, Everybody Hates Chris had a 3.3 rating.

The Incredible Hulk

05-17-2006, 09:17 AM

Everybody Hates Chris is turning into "Nobody Watches Chris"....

NHawk19

05-17-2006, 02:34 PM

A Sunday slot isnt going to help either :(

AgentPat

05-20-2006, 09:57 AM

I'm gonna post this article here because this thread is often bumped. Everybody needs to READ this!!!

The New York Times
May 20, 2006

Young Male Viewers Lift Ratings for 'Smallville'
By KATE AURTHUR

The season finale of "Smallville" last week ended with Clark Kent and his compatriots in dire circumstances. Lois Lane and Clark's mother had been kidnapped by the archvillain Brainiac; his friend Chloe was surrounded by a mob; and Clark himself was zapped into a space purgatory called the Phantom Zone. Meanwhile, Clark's enemy Lex Luthor and Clark's bitter ex-girlfriend, Lana Lang, calmly watched Metropolis consume itself in rioting and fiery chaos.

Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, the "Smallville" creators and executive producers, say they have no idea how they will resolve these problems when Season 6 begins in the fall. In an interview in Los Angeles Mr. Millar - British and tempered in speech - grimaced and said, "Getting out of the finales is always tricky." Mr. Gough, the more exuberant of the two, laughed and said, "We always go, 'Well, that's a problem for June.' "

A year ago Mr. Millar and Mr. Gough did not think that conceiving a sixth season of their young Superman series was a problem they would face. When WB announced its fall schedule in May 2005, "Smallville" had been moved from Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Eastern and Pacific times and 7 p.m., Central time, to Thursdays at the same hour. As far as the producers were concerned, the move was a death sentence for the show.

Mr. Gough said, "Looking at what we were up against on that night - 'The O.C.' and 'Alias' and 'Survivor' - it was like, 'Oh, my God.' "

But rather than being crushed by those three shows, which directly compete for a similar group of young adult viewers, "Smallville" experienced a resurgence. For the season it was No. 1 in its time period among men 18 to 34, a hard-to-reach audience that would often rather play video games than watch television. (Over all it averaged 5.3 million viewers for new episodes, a slight increase over last year.) In the middle of the season Fox moved the "O.C." time slot back an hour; ABC's "Alias" moved to Wednesdays.

When the sixth season of "Smallville" begins in September, it will be on the new CW network, created by the merger of UPN and WB. Laura Caraccioli-Davis, executive vice president of Starcom Entertainment, who advises companies on product placement, said "Smallville" is one of CW's most valuable shows.

"To get young men to the screen, it takes a lot," she said. As for why "Smallville" experienced a ratings renaissance and caused its competitors to move, she said: "You just go back to the tortoise and the hare story. It's been a really strong, solid property that had good characters, good narrative."

Dawn Ostroff is now the president of entertainment at CW and held the same position at UPN. On Thursday at the fledgling network's first "upfront" presentation to advertisers, she announced the schedule, and "Smallville" is to stay on Thursdays at 8 p.m. In a telephone interview Ms. Ostroff said, "It would be hard to mess with that success." She added: "Creatively, the show had one of its strongest seasons. There's nothing better than word of mouth and the buzz factor for our young audience."

Looking back on the past season, Mr. Gough called the assumption that "Smallville" would soon be canceled "freeing."

He said: "We figured: 'We have nothing to lose. We have these arrows in our quiver. What are we waiting for?' "

Mr. Millar said that other strictures were lifted in Season 5 because the characters were older. DC Comics, the publisher of the "Superman" comics, is old-fashioned, and Clark's sex life on "Smallville" had been quite restricted. "We waited five years for him to lose his virginity," Mr. Millar said. "Most shows do it in Episode 12."

Mr. Gough added: "How many shows have to wait five seasons before they can play their key love triangle, which is Clark, Lana and Lex? We had to wait, quite frankly, until everybody was legal."

In writing Superman's back story, they had always been miserly in introducing the significant landmarks of Clark's evolution as a superhero. Last summer Mr. Millar and Mr. Gough flew to Australia to meet with Bryan Singer, the film director, on the set of his "Superman Returns," which is to be released next month. "What we were trying to avoid were egregious mythology clashes," Mr. Gough said.

With Mr. Singer's blessing, over the course of the season they wrote milestones that would be familiar even to casual fans of Superman. The Daily Planet newspaper became Clark's home base; Jonathan Kent, his adoptive father, died; and Clark began visiting the Fortress of Solitude, the ornamental ice structure where he can communicate with the spirit of Jor-El, his Kryptonian biological father.

An October episode introduced the character Aquaman, and was the season's most-watched episode, with 6.4 million viewers. It was meant to be a one-off goof on the HBO comedy "Entourage," in which the lead character got the part of a superhero swimmer in a movie called "Aquaman." But because the ratings were so high, Mr. Gough and Mr. Millar quickly developed an Aquaman series idea for WB.

When the announcement of the creation of CW was made in January, Mr. Gough said, "It was like switching schools in the middle of the school year." The "Aquaman" pilot production continued, but it was not on the schedule that Ms. Ostroff announced on Thursday. (CW picked up only three new series for next season, which were all under development under Ms. Ostroff at UPN.)

Mr. Millar and Mr. Gough said they thought "Smallville" would run for two more years - if it continues to do well - as the actors are signed through seven seasons. Mr. Gough said, "After that is when 'Smallville' and 'Superman' will sync up."

And how will it end? "Badly!" Mr. Gough said cheerfully. "It's a tragedy - he doesn't end up with Lana, and he and Lex are mortal enemies. How is that good?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/arts/television/20smal.html

AgentPat

05-20-2006, 10:18 AM

Another article, again I'm posting here because this thread gets bumped often...

Broadcasting & Cable
5/22/06 (Monday issue)

The CW Picks And Chooses
By Allison Romano

When The CW debuts Sept. 18, it will rely on a lineup that fuses top shows from two soon-to-expire networks, The WB and UPN, and will be laser-focused on the 18-34 demographic.

On Tuesdays, for instance, The WB's well-loved Gilmore Girls will be paired with UPN cult favorite Veronica Mars. On Wednesdays, The CW marries fashion reality show America's Next Top Model with teen soap One Tree Hill.

“It would have taken billions of dollars and years of failed starts to get to this level of quality for a new network with new shows,” said Dawn Ostroff, entertainment president of The CW, which is cleared on stations in the top 50 markets representing 90% of the country.

Only two new shows made it on the slate. Runaway, produced by Sex and the City's Darren Star, is the lone drama. It will be paired on Monday nights with TV's longest-running family drama, 7th Heaven, which was supposed to end its run this season but will return for season 11.

The CW is also returning UPN's African-American comedy block for Sunday nights, adding Everybody Hates Chris. The show's 7 p.m. time slot raised some eyebrows last week, though, since the male-targeted comedy will air against NFL programming.

When its fickle young viewers turn away from TV, The CW is barreling into digital platforms. On its Web site, cwtv.com, each show will have digital extensions, including video clips ranging from backstories for Supernatural to fashion advice from Model's Tyra Banks.

In another twist to entice advertisers, The CW will create mini-programs, or “content wraps,” to run within commercial breaks. One idea is “Date Night,” a short dating program that would follow a prospective couple getting ready, meeting, and recapping their date in three two-minute segments peppered throughout The CW's prime. Each episode can open with a 15-second spot and be loaded with product placements.

BOLDEST MOVE: The CW is throwing two of its acclaimed series, Smallville and Supernatural, into the Thursday-night tussle, hoping to pull in young men—and maybe a few women who prefer its hunks over Grey's Anatomy's “Dr. McDreamy.”

BEST BET: Pairing fan favorites Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars for a Tuesday-night “Girl's Night.” Against minimal competition for female eyeballs, both should thrive.

BIGGEST RISK: Shifting last year's hottest upfront sensation, Everybody Hates Chris, to Sunday nights at 7 p.m. ET, where it will compete with the NFL for male viewers. The CW spin: The time slot is good for family viewing.

ON THE BUBBLE: Acclaimed family drama Everwood didn't make the cut. Reba could be back for midseason.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6336402.html

Whiteflag

05-20-2006, 07:39 PM

Interesting info.

Thanks AgentPat!

Cmill216

05-20-2006, 07:44 PM

You've got to love the CW's themes:

-Comedy Sunday
-Family Monday
-Chick Tuesday
-Pretty People Wednesday
-Sci-Fi Thursday
-Wrestling Friday

The Incredible Hulk

05-20-2006, 11:00 PM

LOL @ "Chick Tuesday"

something for everyone.....

RakuMon

09-13-2006, 03:11 PM

bump

Kaboom

09-13-2006, 03:48 PM

...He said: "We figured: 'We have nothing to lose. We have these arrows in our quiver. What are we waiting for?' "...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/arts/television/20smal.html

oh how they were giving us clues even then.

Cmill216

09-13-2006, 03:51 PM

oh how they were giving us clues even then.

*slaps forehead*

:D :D That's great.

triplet

09-18-2006, 08:24 AM

Interesting article over on the LA Times web site...

It looks like Fox is again mulling moving American Idol to Thursdays.

:rolleyes:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-channel18sep18,1,1673169.story?coll=la-entnews-tv (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-channel18sep18,1,1673169.story?coll=la-entnews-tv)

CHANNEL ISLAND

Battle brewing on Thursdays

By Scott Collins
Times Staff Writer

September 18, 2006

IF you think the television lineup is already peppered with too many can't-miss shows scheduled at the same time this fall, don't finish programming your TiVo just yet. With tonight's official start of the new TV season, Fox is openly dangling the possibility of moving "American Idol" to Thursdays.

Wasn't this season already insanely competitive enough? Starting this week, ABC's gutsy move of "Grey's Anatomy" to 9 p.m. Thursday will set off a fierce ratings battle with CBS' seventh-season whodunit, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

But Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori said he believes that the top three networks could still profit with their respective No. 1 series airing on the same crucial night — maybe even at the same time.

"When you have a number of great shows on the same night, the audience expands," Liguori said last week, openly broaching the possibility of a regular Thursday slot for "Idol" when it returns in January.

Fox isn't ready to commit, and in fact, it may not nail down plans until Christmas rolls around. Is it all just "Idol" speculation? Maybe. After all, Fox made similar rumblings about moving its singing contest to Thursdays last year and never did it, although the gossip helped knock NBC off stride: The network waited to move "Earl" to Thursdays last season until it was sure Fox would not put "Idol" on that night.

But that Fox is openly mulling a risky move for TV's most-watched program highlights how crazily competitive the network business is becoming, with no firmly entrenched leader among the adults aged 18-49 demographic group that advertisers covet (CBS has for years been No. 1 in total viewers, a distinction that means little on Madison Avenue). By moving "Idol," Fox could conceivably control some of the most lucrative ad time in prime time — and also foil rivals' efforts to dominate that night with top shows.

"It's certainly shaping up to a much more competitive season than we've seen in a while," said CBS scheduling chief Kelly Kahl. "Everyone's making aggressive moves."

Starting in the mid-1980s, NBC had a lock on the lucrative "demo" for nearly 20 years with fare such as "Cheers," "ER" and "The West Wing" — series with sophisticated writing and characters and plenty of appeal for young-adult viewers who were affluent and well educated. But with the fade-out of "Friends" in 2004, NBC went into a free fall, and Fox swept in with "Idol" and took those trophies, albeit by narrow margins.

This fall, NBC's fortunes are almost certain to perk up with the addition of Sunday NFL football. "The great games on Sunday provide us with a chance to get back in the game," said NBC scheduling chief Mitch Metcalf. He added, though, that football "is not going to solve every problem; we need our new shows to break out." Among those contenders: Aaron Sorkin's heavily promoted "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," Tina Fey's backstage spoof "30 Rock" and a football-themed youth soap, "Friday Night Lights."

Any substantial improvement for NBC could mean that either ABC or CBS winds up in fourth place in 18 to 49 — an outcome both networks will work hard to avoid.

The closeness of the four-network race, and the lack of an undisputed leader, explains why executives are battling so furiously for Thursday — where some of the most expensive advertising time is bought and sold.

When ABC announced "Grey's" move in May, for example, NBC quickly backed away from a Thursday slot for "Studio 60," which landed on Mondays instead. More recently, ABC displaced two new Thursday comedies to import its buzz-worthy drama "Ugly Betty" from Fridays to a high-traffic spot opposite CBS' "Survivor."

All the shuffling could wreak havoc with well-established viewing patterns. For example, when NBC decided to hustle "Studio 60" out of the 9 p.m. Thursday slot, it replaced it with "Deal or No Deal," the game show with Howie Mandel that draws a less upscale audience than the network typically attracts. That could end up hurting "ER," the network's 10 p.m. hospital drama entering its 13th season.

"Deal" will give "ER" "a significantly lower lead-in than it's had, probably ever," said ABC Entertainment Executive Vice President Jeff Bader. (NBC's Metcalf defended the move, saying that "Deal" is "a different kind of show than the competition will be offering.")

Rivals agree that Fox probably wants to see how this all shakes out before making a decision on "Idol," which since its inception has consisted of a Tuesday performance show followed by a Wednesday results show.But don't expect Liguori and his Fox compatriots to make things easy on you and your TiVo any time soon.

"We will debate our schedule and what we're doing," he said, "right until the last moment."

The Channel Island column runs every Monday in Calendar. Contact Scott Collins at channelisland@latimes.com

NHawk19

09-18-2006, 10:09 AM

I havent watched Idol since season 2 so more power to them. Unfortunately, other people do though.

Brainiac 8

09-18-2006, 12:13 PM

I like American Idol, and have watched it every year with my wife...but I like Smallville much more. Why can't stupid Fox just leave it be. :cmad:

Why is everyone jumping on the Thursday bandwagon. :whatever:

RakuMon

09-21-2006, 05:06 PM

Not Smallville related per se, but The CW's first official numbers for Top Model are in. And if they're any indication, Smallville just might see a nice little bump in the ratings come next week:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/newsletters/proginsider/index.jsp

Prime-Time Wednesday Ratings:
CBS Wins; ABC Strong; NBC’s Kidnapped Lost in the Shuffle

Wednesday 9/20/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 9.7/15, ABC: 9.1/14, NBC: 5.4/ 8, Fox: 5.0/ 8, CW: 4.7/ 7

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Wednesday 9/21/05)
(CW is compared to UPN, which also featured the season-premiere of America’s Next Top Model)

Fox: +43, CBS: +37, CW: +12, ABC: -25, NBC: -33

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 14.31 million, ABC: 12.00, NBC: 7.29, Fox: 6.58, CW: 5.32

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.2 rating/12 share, ABC: 3.7/10, NBC: 3.0/ 8, CW: 2.6/ 7, Fox: 2.2/ 6

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), Jericho (CBS), America’s Next Top Model (CW), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)

-Disappointing:
The Biggest Loser (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Bones (Fox), Justice (Fox), Kidnapped (NBC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led the midweek troops on this first Wednesday of the season, while the CW breathed a sign of relief given the record season-opening levels for America’s Top Model. ABC was on the map courtesy of Dancing With the Stars, NBC sprung a leak, and Fox’s Bones and Justice lost considerable steam.

The live Dancing With the Stars results show won the 8 p.m. hour, with an 11.1/18 in the overnights, 14.89 million viewers and a 3.7/11 among adults 18-49. But the big surprise in the time period was the unexpected sampling for the debut of CBS drama Jericho. Jericho finished a solid second with a 7.7/12 in the overnights, 11.40 million viewers and a 3.2/10 among adults 18-49. Comparably, the year-ago season-premieres of former occupants Still Standing and Yes, Dear averaged a considerably softer 5.1/ 8 in the overnights, 7.05 million viewers and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (on Wednesday, Sept, 21, 2005). But will viewers be back for week two of Jericho? (www.pifeedback.com).

Leading out of Jericho were the impressive season-premieres of CBS dramas Criminal Minds (Overnights: #1, 10.7/16; Viewers: #1, 15.59 million; A18-49: #1, 4.5/12) and CSI: NY (Overnights: #1, 10.8/17; Viewers: #1, 15.96 million; A18-49: #1, 4.9/13) from 9-11 p.m. Leading out of Dancing With the Stars was the two-hour encore telecast of the Grey’s Anatomy season-finale at a solid 8.0/12 in the overnights, 12.76 million viewers and a 3.5/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. As for the kick-off battle of Grey’s Anatomy vs. CSI tonight, don’t forget to vote for who you think will win at www.pifeedback.com. Based on the steam Grey’s picked up last night, it should be interesting.

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals

The CW, which made its official network debut last night care of the two-hour season-premiere of America’s Next Top Model, has plenty to smile about. The still must see Top Model notched a solid 4.6/ 7 in the overnights, 5.32 million viewers and a 2.6/ 7 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Comparably, Top Model soared to its highest rated premiere ever in total viewers and (including ties) adults 18-34, adults 18-49, women 18-34 and women 18-49. And it lifted the CW to a first-place finish for the evening among adults 18-34 and women 18-34.

Although the biggest initial concern for the CW was educating the viewers where to find their shows, growth year-to-year over the also expanded season-premiere of Top Model (Overnights: 4.2/ 6; Viewers: 4.77 million; A18-49: 2.3/ 6 on Sept. 21, 2005) was encouraging at 10 percent in the overnights, 550,000 viewers and 13 percent among adults 18-49. Nice start, CW.

Over at NBC, good intentions are not always rewarded with the two-hour season-premiere of The Biggest Loser at a disappointing 5.1/ 8 in the overnights, 7.17 million viewers and a 3.1/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. NBC’s failed combination of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart and E-Ring on the year-ago evening, both premieres, had more overall sampling with 8.08 million viewers (but only a 2.4/ 8 among adults 18-49). To anyone wondering why higher-rated The Biggest Loser is a disappointment and the CW’s Top Model isn’t, think of the platform both shows are on. And don’t forget that the CW officially launched just yesterday.

In other series-premiere news, the debut of NBC’s Kidnapped out of The Biggest Loser failed to make the grade, with a third-place finish in the overnights (6.0/10), total viewers (7.53 million) and adults 18-49 (2.8/ 8) at 10 p.m. One year earlier, the season-premiere of former occupant Law & Order netted a 10.3/16 in the overnights, 13.03 million viewers and a 4.0/10 among adults 18-49. And retention for Kidnapped out of the last half-hour of The Biggest Loser was just 74 percent among adults 18-49 (2.8/ 8 vs. 3.8/10). If relocated Law & Order disappoints on Friday, NBC may want to rethink that strategy. What do you think? (www.pifeedback.com).

Opposite original competition, Fox dramas Bones (Overnights: #3: 5.6/ 8; Viewers: #4, 6.58 million; A18-49: #5, 2.26) and Justice (Overnights: #5: 4.3/ 7; Viewers: #4, 5.66 million; A18-49: #5, 1.9/ 5) lost steam. Retention for Justice out of Bones was 77 percent in the overnights, 86 percent in total viewers and 86 percent among adults 18-49.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Serene

09-21-2006, 05:14 PM

Top Model is HUGE amongst the h.s. girls around here.

I heard that Jericho was really good. Kinda wish I had tivo'd it.

TrailerCues

09-21-2006, 05:46 PM

So tonight is a repeat of the season 5 finale right ? Might as well tune in

Cmill216

09-21-2006, 05:54 PM

^ Season 5, of course.

NHawk19

09-22-2006, 08:58 AM

I guess this time next week we'll see what happens in SV land.

I'll also be curious on Wed to see how Veronica Mars does after GG.

RakuMon

09-22-2006, 10:19 AM

Variety's take on the CW's big ratings:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117950505?categoryid=14&cs=1

CW struts its stuff in bow
CBS captured the night in key broader measures

By RICK KISSELL

Looks like young adults know where to find the CW on their remotes.

A huge sigh of relief could be heard in the exec suites of Burbank and Brentwood on Thursday when opening-night numbers came in for the nascent net. Its "America's Next Top Model" bowed bigger than ever, actually winning Wednesday among adults under 35 and dominating in the New York market.

CBS captured the night in key broader measures, meanwhile, with its drama lineup of the returning "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" -- Wednesday's top two shows -- and a pretty good start for new small-town/mushroom-cloud drama "Jericho."

News wasn't as good for NBC's new "Kidnapped," which struggled to a third-place finish in its premiere.

For the CW, a merger of sorts between CBS Corp. (UPN) and Warner Bros. (the WB), Wednesday's launch was the culmination of a months-long marketing plan. More than 70% of "Top Model" viewers Wednesday night were watching the hit show on a different channel than in previous seasons.

"We were prepared for the worst and pleasantly surprised at the outcome," CW Entertainment prexy Dawn Ostroff said. "It was really hard to bring everyone in. I thought we'd start off slow, and our goal was by the end of the season to get all the viewers back.

"But to have grown on 'Top Model,' that was beyond our expectation."

Ostroff credited the CW's stronger batch of stations (having cherry-picked several top WB and UPN affils), as well as the net's "strategic marketing."

"We looked at each market and created a very specific campaign to migrate 'Top Model' viewers from the old UPN affiliate to the new CW station," she said. "Next week, we'll be doing the same thing with 'Gilmore Girls.' "

According to national in-home viewing estimates from Nielsen for Wednesday, "America's Next Top Model" averaged a 2.6 rating/7 share in adults 18-49 and 5.26 million viewers overall kicking off its seventh edition. While it placed fourth in these categories, it moved to the timeslot lead in adults 18-34 (3.2/10), peaking at 9:30 with a 5.4/14.

Show set or matched preem records in both 18-34 and 18-49.

Best story of the night for CW came in Gotham, where Nielsen People Meter data shows former WB station KPIX generating a huge 7.6 rating/25 share in women 18-34 -- topping ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox combined.

"Model" also won in its core femmes 18-34 demo in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta and Detroit.

The net's strategy of opening premiere week with only its two established UPN shows ("Top Model" and tonight's "WWE Smackdown") looks to be a smart one.

Although there's no guarantee things will run smoothly next week, it will likely be easier for the net to get people to former WB shows like "Gilmore Girls" and "Smallville" since roughly 63% of CW affils (including seven of the top 10 markets) had been WB stations.

Given the CW's perf in its key adult 18-34 measurement Wednesday night, Ostroff said she was more sure than ever that her net is filling a demo void.

"We can become a very successful network going after this demo," she said.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Eye had it in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers on the strength of season preems for "Criminal Minds" (4.5/12 in 18-49, 15.65m) and "CSI: NY" (5.0/14, 16.11m). Both led their slots and were up vs. last year (when they faced ABC's drama preems), with "Minds" logging its best demo score since March 8.

CBS also kicked off the night well with "Jericho," a serialized tale of a Kansas town dealing with the fallout of a nuclear incident. Skeet Ulrich-fronted skein averaged a 3.4/10 in 18-49 and 11.66 million viewers overall. Demo delivery was the best for a regular Eye skein in the slot since March 2003 ("Star Search").

Skein finished behind only the results show of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (3.7/11, 15.03m) and pulled to within a tick of "Dancing" in adults 25-54 (4.5 to 4.6). It also led its hour in male demos.

"Jericho" improved on CBS comedies in the 8 o'clock hour a year ago by a hefty 45% in 18-49 and by 64% in 25-54. Show also seemed to make for a better lead-in for the Eye's other dramas on the night.

At NBC, "Biggest Loser" launched to respectable numbers from 8 to 10 (3.1/9, 7.18m), growing with each half-hour, but auds didn't show up for the net's "Kidnapped" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 7.59m). It ran a distant third in its slot, came in 30% below "Law & Order" in the hour last year and declined 7% in 18-49 during its second half-hour (2.9 to 2.7).

Peacock's Wednesday lineup will eventually see "Loser" shift to a one-hour format from 9 to 10, preceded by new comedies "30 Rock" and "20 Good Years."

ABC, whose dramas "Lost" and "The Nine" roll out Oct. 4, kicked off the season with a nice repeat number for last May's "Grey's Anatomy" season finale (3.8/10 in 18-49, 10.52m) in advance of its season opener last night.

And then there was Fox, which fell to fifth place for the night in 18-49. Both "Bones" (2.5/8, 7.55) and "Justice" (1.9/5, 5.58m) hit lows against the tougher competish.

(Michael Schneider contributed to this report.)

Date in print: Fri., Sep. 22, 2006, Los Angeles

AgentPat

09-26-2006, 09:15 PM

*double post ack!

AgentPat

09-26-2006, 09:17 PM

^ Raku has a good idea. Given the new network and all, it might be interesting to keep track (for one week) of how SV stacks up against the rest of CW's shows. Here's Monday's report from Mediaweek. I edited out the extraneous for brevity:

MEDIAWEEK, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

Prime-Time Monday Ratings:
CBS and NBC Share Dominance;
Solid Opening for NBC’s Heroes; Lackluster Runaway on the CW

Household Rating/Share:
CBS: 9.3/14, NBC: 9.0/13, Fox: 5.3/ 8, ABC: 4.7/ 7, CW: 2.7/ 4

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (9/26/05):
Fox: +13, NBC: + 1, CBS: - 7, CW*: -31, ABC: -50
*compared to the WB’s combination of 7th Heaven and Just Legal

Fast Nationals:
-Total Viewers:
CBS: 13.52 million, NBC: 12.85, Fox: 7.36, ABC: 6.39, CW: 3.36

-Adults 18-49:
NBC: 4.7 rating/12 share, CBS: 4.4/11, ABC and Fox: 2.7/ 7 each, CW: 1.2/ 3

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Deal or No Deal (NBC), Heroes (NBC), Two and a Half Men (CBS), CSI: Miami (CBS)

-Respectable Week Two:
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
The Class (CBS), Runaway (CW)

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS and NBC shared leadership on this second Monday of the 2006-07 season, with CBS first in the overnights and total viewers, and a revamped NBC No. 1 among adults 18-49. Fox was on the map courtesy of Prison Break, ABC continues to feel the absence of Monday Night Football, and the CW was left at the starting gate on its debut Monday.

...Sticking with the 8 p.m. hour, Fox sleeper Prison Break scored an adequate 6.0/ 9 in the overnights (#2t), 8.26 million viewers (#3) and a 3.4/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#2), while the first of two episodes of ABC’s Wife Swap netted a so-so 5.3/ 8 in the overnights (#4), 7.13 million viewers (#4) and a 3.0/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#4). Over at the CW, the 11th season-premiere of 7th Heaven kicked-off at a disappointing (and last-place) 3.7/ 6 in the overnights, 4.36 million viewers and a 1.6/ 4 among adults 18-49. Comparably, last year’s season-opener on the WB (on Sept. 19, 2005) debuted with a 4.9/ 7 in the overnights, 5.42 million viewers and a 2.0/ 5 among adults 18-49.

At 9 p.m., the debut of NBC drama Heroes got off to a positive start, with a 9.9/14 in the overnights (#1 overall), 14.29 million viewers (#1) and a 5.9/14 among adults 18-49 (#1). Comparably, that built from lead-in Deal or No Deal by 19 percent in the overnights, 1.25 million viewers and a whopping 55 percent among adults 18-49. Heroes, in addition, gained audience at 9:30 p.m., a potentially positive sign for the future.

Also premiering at 9 p.m. was CW drama Runaway, which limped out of the gate with a mere (and, of course, last-place) 1.8/ 3 in the overnights, 2.35 million viewers and a 0.7/ 2 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that declined from lead-in 7th Heaven by a considerable 51 percent in the overnights (3.7/ 6 to 1.8/ 3), 2.01 million viewers (4.36 to 2.35) and 56 percent among adults 18-49 (1.6/ 4 to 0.7/ 2). Would the CW have been better off leaving Everwood in the time period?

-Final Friday Nationals:
What follows is an update of the Friday analysis with final national rating results:

...Over at the CW, veteran WWE Smackdown! kicked-off its new season with 3.70 million viewers (#4) and a 1.3/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#5) from 8-10 p.m. More importantly was a second-place finish for the evening among key men 18-34 (1.9/ 8).

What follows are the final national ratings for Friday, Sept. 22:

-Households:
CBS: 7.2 rating/13 share, NBC: 6.8/12, ABC: 5.1/ 9, Fox: 2.8/ 5, CW: 2.4/ 3

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 11.21 million, NBC: 10.50, ABC: 7.26, CW: 3.70, Fox: 3.61

-Adults 18-49:
NBC: 3.4 rating/11 share, CBS: 3.1/10, ABC: 2.2/ 7, Fox: 1.4/ 5, CW: 1.3/ 4

********************************

And from DAILY VARIETY:
Sep. 26, 2006

'Heroes' worshipped
'Class,' 'Studio 60' slip
By RICK KISSELL

"Heroes" came to NBC's rescue Monday night, bowing with numbers that make it the most impressive premiere for a new show this season.

After "Kidnapped" opened softly and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" didn't exactly wow in its preem, the Peacock needed a boost; it got it from the drama about ordinary people who discover they have superpowers. Show opened with the net's best rating for a fall drama premiere in five years, attracting both men and women in all key demos.

Also of note Monday, ESPN set more network records for the emotional NFL return of the Saints to New Orleans' Superdome, while "Studio 60" and "The Class" both declined in their second tries. And nobody seemed interested in catching CW's "Runaway."

NBC topped its broadcast rivals in 18-49 on the night, edging past CBS (4.7/11 to 4.4/11), while the Eye moved into the lead in both adults 25-54 (5.6/13) and total viewers (13.4 million).

ESPN, in a cable rarity, led primetime overall in some key categories.

According to Nielsen nationals, "Heroes" bowed to a 5.9 rating/14 share in adults 18-49 and 14.10 million viewers overall -- growing 55% from its lead-in from "Deal or No Deal" (3.8/10, 13.00m). In a good sign, the drama also built audience in the second half-hour.

This makes it the season's No. 2 series preem in 18-49, a tick behind Sunday's "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC (6.0/15).

"Heroes" beat CBS' comedy block of "Two and a Half Men" (4.8/12 in 18-49, 15.28m) and "Old Christine" (3.8/9, 12.19m) by a combined 37% in adults 18-49 and by 17% in 25-54. Showing broad appeal, it did a 15 share in both men 18-34 and women 25-54.

Looking to gain even more exposure, NBC rebroadcast the "Heroes" pilot last night at 8 p.m.; its sister cabler Sci Fi will air it Friday night.

Elsewhere on the second Monday of the season, NBC's "Studio 60" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 10.83,) declined 16% from its preem of a week earlier (5.0/13 in 18-49), despite a more compatible lead-in this time from "Heroes." Drama fell 19% behind what "Medium" delivered in the hour last season in 18-49 (5.2/13).

Number is still pretty solid, though, especially if it levels off or grows from here and "Deal" and "Heroes" continue to perform in front of it.

Also on the decline was CBS laffer "The Class" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.48m), which placed third at 8 in demos. It slid 22% from its premiere and came in 17% below "King of Queens' " score in the slot last season (3.5/10 in 18-49).

Left in the dust of "Heroes" in the 9 o'clock hour Monday was Fox's fading "Vanished" (2.1/5 in 18-49, 6.47m) and CW's premiering "Runaway" (0.7/2, 2.18m).

Also for CW, "7th Heaven" returned four months after its "series finale" on the WB to a so-so 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.19 million viewers overall.

ABC, whose "The Bachelor" and "What About Brian" bow over the next two Mondays, was paced by "Wife Swap" at 9 (3.6/9 in 18-49, 7.92m), up week-to-week.

As for ESPN, the Saints' 23-3 victory over the Falcons generated a 6.0 rating/17 share in adults 18-49 and 15 million viewers overall. ESPN has set network records this month for each of its first three "Monday Night Football" contests.

The only cable program on record to draw more viewers than Monday's game was the 1993 NAFTA debate between Ross Perot and Al Gore on CNN.

http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117950738

Interesting stuff here, eh? I'm really surprised at 7th Heaven's lackluster numbers.

Lets see what Tuesday's ratings reveal tomorrow.

NHawk19

09-27-2006, 07:54 AM

It's really not hard to see why CW was hurt.

They spent the better part of last year stating 7th heaven was in it's last season, then out of no where they revive it. Quite a few probably didnt even know it was coming back. So right of the bat you've got a weak lead in.then top that off with what's almost direct CW competition in Heroes at 9.

So the question becomes should they have gone w/ Aquaman for direct competition? He's an established character unlike the Heroes on NBC.

triplet

09-27-2006, 08:13 AM

<snip>

Also for CW, "7th Heaven" returned four months after its "series finale" on the WB to a so-so 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.19 million viewers overall.

<snip>

Interesting stuff here, eh? I'm really surprised at 7th Heaven's lackluster numbers.

Lets see what Tuesday's ratings reveal tomorrow.

Hmmm... I wonder if Dawn Ostroff is regretting cancelling Everwood (which is what woulda replaced 7th in the sked)....

RakuMon

09-27-2006, 08:37 AM

Hmmm... I wonder if Dawn Ostroff is regretting cancelling Everwood (which is what woulda replaced 7th in the sked)....
Probably. I think Everwood would probably have been a better lead-in for Runaway. Plus, cancelling that show obviously hurt CW from a PR angle since Everwood had a devoted fanbase and was a critics darling.

Let's just hope SV's numbers don't disappoint!

AgentPat

09-27-2006, 08:41 AM

It's really not hard to see why CW was hurt.

They spent the better part of last year stating 7th heaven was in it's last season, then out of no where they revive it. Quite a few probably didn't even know it was coming back.Good possibility, but the show did attract a *very* large audience (for WB) and it had a vocal following. Given that, I do find it kinda odd for it to have such a soft launch. Weird.

So right of the bat you've got a weak lead in.No doubt, "Runaway" is a poor choice as a lead off show, especially since it's brand spakin'. I would have put it *after* 7th Heaven, the latter of which is such a family oriented show anyway, it would been better off in the 8pm slot to begin with.

then top that off with what's almost direct CW competition in Heroes at 9.7th Heaven and Heroes? Mmmm... I don't really see much direct competition there.

So the question becomes should they have gone w/ Aquaman for direct competition? He's an established character unlike the Heroes on NBC.That's a VERY interesting question. I'm really glad they didn't do that though 'cause I HATE having to make that kind of choice. I rarely if ever have those problems because I watch so little TV as it is.

Hmmm... I wonder if Dawn Ostroff is regretting canceling Everwood (which is what woulda replaced 7th in the sked)....Hard to say. If anything, networks usually wait about three or four weeks before they start to panic and rejig their skeds - or worse, start honing the axe.

Another thing that occurred to me when I was looking at the Mediaweek comparisons - something that should have been obvious, but wasn't until last night. With the merger of UPN and The WB, CW doesn't have any competition in its class. If we were rating cars, that might seem like a good thing, but given its tiny broadcast window (13 hours a week) and relative smaller size compared to ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, CW will likely *always* be in last place with statistical exceptions in specific demos. At least there was competition between UPN and WB LOL.

Oh well. Lets keep our fingers crossed that SV does boffo ratings for them compared to their other shows. They'll want to take good care of it in such a situation.

Cmill216

09-27-2006, 08:42 AM

Well let's see:

CW's Current Monday:
8PM - 7th Heaven
9PM - Runaway

What Could Have Been CW's Monday:
8PM - Aquaman
9PM - Everwood

*sigh*

NHawk19

09-27-2006, 08:43 AM

NHawk19

09-27-2006, 08:45 AM

No doubt, "Runaway" is a poor choice as a lead off show, especially since it's brand spakin'. I would have put it *after* 7th Heaven, the latter of which is such a family oriented show anyway, it would been better off in the 8pm slot to begin with.

7th Heaven and Heroes? Mmmm... I don't really see much direct competition there.

7th Heaven was the lead in at 8.

The Incredible Hulk

09-27-2006, 09:09 AM

Something else that's not covered by the Network ratings is Monday Night Football now that it's on ESPN

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/nielsen-more.htm

USA Today shows that last weeks game brought in 13.3 million viewers. That's an entire key demo that isnt tuning in to the nets at all. It's also quite large when you consider that in the same week the #20 show on the Nets was at 13.7 million.

yup. this time of year on Monday Night it's a rating dead zone for males 18-49 sincem ost are watching MNF. I was surprised Heroes debuted on Mondays, I wouldve figured it for a Tues or Weds night.

Smallville should be fine, it now reaches like 3 million more homes than before, and has one less "young" network to compete with.

Kaboom

09-27-2006, 10:00 AM

this monday nights numbers were way up for MNF given that it was the saints-falcons

avidreader

09-27-2006, 11:56 AM

Cmill216

09-27-2006, 12:01 PM

Runaway just didn't grab my attention. Saw the ads. Blah.

The Incredible Hulk

09-27-2006, 12:44 PM

Well I watched that Runaway last night and it wasnt a bad show. Its too bad that it didnt get the "new show" advertising that they usually give new shows.

I'm a little curious though, CW's target audience is young people right? Does it not seem entirely possible that young people dont take the time to go out and buy Nielsen Box's? Therefore this demographic's viewing audience is not accurately captured.

You dont go out and buy a Nielsen box. Neilsen randomly selects households with people in certain age and gender brackets and asks them to participate in the sampling. It has to be done at random or else it would be statistically flawed.

avidreader

09-27-2006, 12:51 PM

You dont go out and buy a Nielsen box. Neilsen randomly selects households with people in certain age and gender brackets and asks them to participate in the sampling. It has to be done at random or else it would be statistically flawed.

Ah, that makes sense. I just thought I read somewhere that people actually buy them, which I could never work out why you would do. Must have been on my early days at Ksite. ;)

Thanks for the clarification. :yay:

While you're here, you need to clean out your PM box. :woot:

The Incredible Hulk

09-27-2006, 12:54 PM

cleaned :D

Migu-EL

09-27-2006, 01:15 PM

Ah, that makes sense. I just thought I read somewhere that people actually buy them, which I could never work out why you would do. Must have been on my early days at Ksite. ;)

Thanks for the clarification. :yay:

While you're here, you need to clean out your PM box. :woot:

They actually pay you fifty bucks a month for them to install the box in your house. I know this because I was asked to participate.

AgentPat

09-27-2006, 01:24 PM

MEDIAWEEK, SEPTEMBER 27, 2006

Prime-Time Tuesday Ratings:
ABC Dances to Victory; Fox No. 1 Among Adults 18-49

Tuesday 9/26/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
ABC: 10.1/16, CBS: 7.8/12, NBC: 7.8/12, Fox: 7.8/12, CW: 2.8/ 4

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Tuesday 9/27/05)
ABC: +10, Fox: - 2, NBC: - 5, CBS: - 6, CW*: -35

(*compared to the WB’s combination of Gilmore Girls and Supernatural)

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), House (Fox), Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:
NCIS (CBS), The Unit (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Help Me Help You (ABC), Standoff (Fox)

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 14.23 million, CBS: 11.80, Fox: 11.16, NBC: 9.92, CW: 3.15

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 4.7 rating/13 share, ABC: 4.2/11, CBS and NBC: 3.4/ 9 each, CW: 1.4/ 4

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown (edited for brevity):
...In season-premiere news, the CW’s Gilmore Girls opened on a below average note with a 4.0/ 6 in the overnights (#4), 4.56 million viewers (#4) and a 2.0/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 8 p.m. Compared to its year-ago opener on the WB (Overnights: 5.3/ 8; Viewers: 6.22 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8 on Sept. 13, 2005), that was a decrease of 26 percent in the overnights, 1.66 million viewers and 29 percent among adults 18-49. Worth noting for Gilmore Girls, however, was a third-place finish in the time period among women 18-34 (3.5/10).

Gilmore Girls led into a repeat of Monday drama Runaway at a distant fifth-place 1.5/ 2 in the overnights, 1.73 million viewers and a 0.8/ 2 among adults 18-49.

---------------

National Ratings in Primetime:
Week of September 18, 2006

...NBC was second among adults 18-49 and third elsewhere, with year-to-year growth of 8 to 18 percent as a result of a vastly improved Monday (think Deal or No Deal) and Sunday Night Football. Fox was also on the plus side, finishing third among adults 18-34 and fourth elsewhere. Since the CW aired a combination of originals and repeats, the true initial results will not be apparent until next week. Worth positively noting for the CW, however, was record opening season ratings for old faithful America’s Next Top Model and a first-place finish on Wednesday among adults 18-34 (3.2/10) and women 18-34 (4.9/14).

---------------

Here are the final national ratings for the week of September 18, 2006 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses for the Big 4 -- the CW is not included), followed by the top 30 ranked programs for the week in households and adults 18-49.

-Households:
CBS: 8.3 rating/14 share (+ 1), ABC: 8.0/13 (no change), NBC: 7.1/12 (+ 8), Fox: 4.7/ 8 (+15), CW: 1.9/ 3

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 13.02 million (+ 2), ABC: 12.28 (+ 1), NBC: 11.04 (+12), Fox: 7.52 (+16), CW: 2.82

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 4.4 rating/12 share (- 4), NBC: 4.0/11 (+18), CBS: 3.9/11 (- 5), Fox: 3.1/ 8 (+11), CW: 1.2/ 3

-Adults 25-54:
CBS: 5.1/12 (+ 2), ABC: 5.0/12 (- 6), NBC: 4.6/11 (+15), Fox: 3.2/ 8 (+14), CW: 1.2/ 3

-Adults 18-34:
ABC: 3.7/12 (- 5), NBC: 3.2/10 (+14), Fox: 3.0/ 9 (no change), CBS: 2.6/ 8 (-16), CW: 1.4/ 4

Hmm. So GG is down, too? Damn. With ELC a deadman walking on Sunday nights, could it be the only shows to pull CW's tush out of the fire will be Top Model, Wrestling, and SV? Ouch. This is gonna be an interesting week. Wow.

Cmill216

09-27-2006, 01:37 PM

Hmm. So GG is down, too? Damn. With ELC a deadman walking on Sunday nights, could it be the only shows to pull CW's tush out of the fire will be Top Model, Wrestling, and SV? Ouch. This is gonna be an interesting week. Wow.

I think they're relying too heavily on the fact that it's a new network, and didn't take into account that they needed "fresh" new products to go along with the new network. I mean, Runaway is their only "new" show. And then you cancel a critical favorite (Everwood), keep a sagging family drama (7th Heaven), and drop a potential big genre series (Aquaman)? Bad, bad bad.

avidreader

09-27-2006, 01:57 PM

They actually pay you fifty bucks a month for them to install the box in your house. I know this because I was asked to participate.

When I was a kid we participated in the ratings, the old fashioned way where you had to write everything down, and we got a packet of screw drivers for our efforts. :woot:

Hmm. So GG is down, too? Damn. With ELC a deadman walking on Sunday nights, could it be the only shows to pull CW's tush out of the fire will be Top Model, Wrestling, and SV? Ouch. This is gonna be an interesting week. Wow.

I was a GG watcher the last couple of years, but after the finale last year I wasnt too thrilled to watch the Season Prem. I bought the Lake House on DVD yesterday and was anxious to watch that instead. Good movie!

Anyway, I'll take a look at the commercials over the next couple of weeks for GG and see if I change my mind.

Migu-EL

09-27-2006, 02:01 PM

When I was a kid we participated in the ratings, the old fashioned way where you had to write everything down, and we got a packet of screw drivers for our efforts. :woot:

lol.

That's hilarious.:woot:

The Incredible Hulk

09-27-2006, 03:55 PM

Serene

09-27-2006, 04:05 PM

Once again, Superman will have to save the day.

Knock on wood, 'kay? :)

I really hope SV does big ratings.. or at least, continues to do great in the key demographic.

I looked up to see how the DVD sales were going - because it seems like that has to be some indicator of how interested people still are in the franchise.

It's doing pretty damn well, esp. considering it's a show on a piddly-dink network like the WB/CW as opposed to the heavy-hitter networks.
http://www.videobusiness.com/topDVDSellers.asp
I looked up the Amazon ranking since it's not listed there - and that's at #13.

Not bad at all. :up:

NHawk19

09-27-2006, 04:26 PM

Hmm. So GG is down, too? Damn. With ELC a deadman walking on Sunday nights, could it be the only shows to pull CW's tush out of the fire will be Top Model, Wrestling, and SV? Ouch. This is gonna be an interesting week. Wow.

GG was up against dancing with the stars and had a poor lead out. Plus I'd be willing to bet, based on avid's comments the ender last year left a bad taste in several peoples mouths. Compound that with the departure of the shows creators and the ratings on this one ought to be intersting to watch.

Plus I'm sure there were people like me who reacted negatively to the annoying ad campaign put out by CW. In a lot of cases the photo's picked really didnt help matters.

Kaboom

09-27-2006, 05:00 PM

I think they're relying too heavily on the fact that it's a new network, and didn't take into account that they needed "fresh" new products to go along with the new network. I mean, Runaway is their only "new" show. And then you cancel a critical favorite (Everwood), keep a sagging family drama (7th Heaven), and drop a potential big genre series (Aquaman)? Bad, bad bad.

her make bad decisions?

wasnt she the President of UPN? Wasn't UPN the lesser of the two networks?

As an aside, wasnt 7th heaven the most expensive show on the WB because of all the escalators in the casts contracts? How does it make sense to keep that when now theyre cutting the budgets of every show bc theyre scared since theyre a new network?

And if the CW is supposed to be free to be fresh and young and hip, what is it doing keeping 7th heaven anyway?

she must have some fancy smancy golden parachute or something that nobody wants to open.

avidreader

09-27-2006, 05:06 PM

^^^ I seem to recall reading somewhere, that the actors on 7th Heaven took a pay cut.

AgentPat

09-27-2006, 08:30 PM

Wasn't UPN the lesser of the two networks?Depends which year you're comparing.

Here are the full season average ratings for all 6 nets during the 6-net era of 1994-2006.

1 rating point in 1994-95 = 954,000 TV households
1 rating point in 2005-06 = 1,102,000 TV households

#1 ABC CBS NBC FOX UPN WB TOT BIG3
1994-95 ABC 11.9 10.8 11.5 7.5 4.0 1.9 47.6 34.2
1995-96 NBC 10.5 9.6 11.6 7.3 3.1 2.4 44.5 31.7
1996-97 NBC 9.2 9.6 10.5 7.7 3.2 2.6 42.8 29.3
1997-98 NBC 8.3 9.5 10.2 7.0 2.8 3.1 40.9 28.0
1998-99 CBS 8.0 9.0 8.9 6.9 2.0 3.2 38.0 25.9
1999-00 CBS 9.3 8.6 8.5 5.9 2.7 2.6 37.6 26.4
2000-01 CBS 8.3 8.5 7.9 6.1 2.4 2.5 35.7 24.7
2001-02 NBC 6.3 8.1 8.8 5.7 2.7 2.5 34.1 23.2
2002-03 CBS 6.3 8.2 7.7 6.0 2.3 2.6 33.1 22.2
2003-04 CBS 5.8 8.4 7.2 6.0 2.4 2.3 32.1 21.4
2004-05 CBS 6.4 8.3 6.5 6.1 2.3 2.2 31.8 21.2
2005-06 CBS 6.8 8.1 6.5 6.2 2.1 2.1 31.6 21.2

;)

Kaboom

09-27-2006, 08:42 PM

i wonder how much the first 3 years of UPN had to do with Enterprise, otherwise they seem about the same.

explode7

09-27-2006, 11:31 PM

So whats the projected Ratings for Smallville tomorrow???

Batgort

09-27-2006, 11:53 PM

I'm betting that Smallville will continue to be their big cash cow, and we'll end up with a Metrpolis series after season 7. Who knows, maybe we'll see Aquaman or other type of spin off come around.

The SuperHero genre is definitely going through yet another growth spirt. Consider this: The Batman gets revamped and hyped (2 episodes per saturday morning for past couple months), Legion of SuperHeroes, Heroes show, Smallville,. We ahve a fantastic four show on Cartoon Network (which is also showing Krypto the Superdog, Teen Titans, and Static Shock again).

From purely a cost analysis perspective, the SuperHero genre appears to be the most lucrative. Consider that to get a series, movie, or cartoon off the ground, you have an entire industry of experts at hand that are most likely interested in adopting their stores into another media. They also have stories, art, and even rough ideas for storyboards in the comics. The creative team for the TV show has an enormous vault of knowledge to work with, to either reproduce or carve their own creative niche.

Personally, I consider Smallville as one of the greatest additions to the Superman mythology. I think the creators identified a great area that wasn't fully developed yet in the original mythology, identified a great target audience to introduce this type of genre again, and were able to pull off a show that is appealing to teenie boppers, comic geeks, and older folks who are familiar with superman.

Serene

09-28-2006, 12:06 AM

So whats the projected Ratings for Smallville tomorrow???
I'm pretty sure that every TV in America will be tuned in.
What? (okay, maybe I'm a little overexcited. :O).

Batgort - ^Nice post. Let's hope you're right.

NHawk19

09-28-2006, 07:35 AM

Ok there's no way I would have guessed that UPN had greater overall appeal for most of 1994-2006 era.

RakuMon

09-28-2006, 09:25 AM

i wonder how much the first 3 years of UPN had to do with Enterprise, otherwise they seem about the same.
I think you mean Voyager.

RakuMon

09-28-2006, 09:38 AM

EW's Thursday Night Steel Cage Match:

Vote Smallville:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1540020_3||1449226|1_0_,00.html

AgentPat

09-28-2006, 09:54 AM

EW's Thursday Night Steel Cage Match:

Vote Smallville:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1540020_3||1449226|1_0_,00.htmlMeh. It's not IP driven. You can hit it multiple times, which it looks like that's what people are doing. Oh well.

Kaboom

09-28-2006, 09:57 AM

I think you mean Voyager.

i meant enterprise.

but youre right, it was Voyager.

i was wrong.

(See everyone, i can admit it!)

Cmill216

09-28-2006, 10:04 AM

EW's Thursday Night Steel Cage Match:

Vote Smallville:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1540020_3||1449226|1_0_,00.html

Ugly Betty > Smallville ?????????????

WTF is wrong with the world? :huh: :csad:

AgentPat

09-28-2006, 10:07 AM

Ugly Betty > Smallville ?????????????

WTF is wrong with the world? :huh: :csad:You can vote more than once. ;)

Kaboom

09-28-2006, 10:38 AM

i voted for SV...as if there was any doubt.

NHawk19

09-28-2006, 10:43 AM

You can vote more than once. ;)

I've done my part :hyper:

Brainiac 8

09-28-2006, 10:43 AM

So did I, not that it matters when there are ten year olds at home continuously clicking on their favorite shows. :cmad:

avidreader

09-28-2006, 10:44 AM

You can vote more than once. ;)

My guess would be that it is the disgruntled Clana fans that are voting for Betty. :cwink: :woot:

RakuMon

09-28-2006, 11:04 AM

So did I, not that it matters when there are ten year olds at home continuously clicking on their favorite shows. :cmad:
Ummm... isn't that what we're doing?! :D Even though I'm at work and decidedly not 10 years old.

AgentPat

09-28-2006, 11:11 AM

My guess would be that it is the disgruntled Clana fans that are voting for Betty. :cwink: :woot:HAHAHAHAHAH!!! Post of the day. :up:

avidreader

09-28-2006, 11:14 AM

HAHAHAHAHAH!!! Post of the day. :up:

Heee, heee. :woot:

Brainiac 8

09-28-2006, 11:31 AM

Ummm... isn't that what we're doing?! :D Even though I'm at work and decidedly not 10 years old.

It is, but that's different, because we could beat up the ten year olds. :O :cwink:

Kaboom

09-28-2006, 11:34 AM

yes! i love taking candy from babies. one o fmy favorite past times.

that and walking about harry potter movies, screaming, "Dumbledore died!"

AgentPat

09-28-2006, 12:43 PM

MEDIAWEEK, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006

Prime-Time Wednesday Ratings:
CBS Wins; ABC a Solid #2

Wednesday 9/27/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 10.0/15, ABC: 9.6/15, Fox: 5.4/ 8, NBC: 4.8/ 7, CW: 3.9/ 6

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Wednesday 9/28/05):
The CW is compared to UPN’s America’s Next Top Model and Veronica Mars on the year-ago-evening.

CBS: +32, CW: +15, Fox: + 8, ABC: - 6, NBC: -38

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 14.64 million, ABC: 12.80, Fox: 6.89, NBC: 6.79, CW: 3.56

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.5 rating/13 share, ABC: 4.2/11, NBC: 2.6/ 7, Fox: 2.5/ 7, CW: 2.1/ 6

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), Jericho (CBS), America’s Next Top Model (CW), Bones (Fox)
Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS), 20/20 (ABC)

-Don’t Rule Out:
Justice (Fox)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Kidnapped (NBC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS won its second consecutive Wednesday in the overnights, total viewers and adults 18-49, with the biggest surprise the solid retention for week two of drama Jericho. ABC ranked second, Fox was on the map courtesy of Bones and Justice, but NBC’s combination of The Biggest Loser and Kidnapped lagged. The CW’s America’s Next Top Model remained a force to reckon with, while the season-premiere of former WB serial One Tree Hill was up slightly from one year earlier. Worth noting for ABC was a first-place finish among women 18-49, women 18-34, teens 12-17 and kids 2-11. The CW, meanwhile, was tied with ABC for No. 1 among women 18-34 from 8-10 p.m.

Also at 8 p.m. was Fox’s Bones at a comfortable (and third-place) 5.7/ 9 in the overnights, 7.73 million viewers and a 2.7/ 8 among adults 18-49, and week two of CW hit America’s Next Top Model at a healthy 4.7/ 7 in the overnights (#4), 4.80 million viewers (#5) and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#4t). Top Model’s real strength, of course, is among younger viewers with first-place finish in the hour among adults 18-34 (2.9/10) and women 18-34 (4.1/13).

-Final Tuesday Nationals:
Led by powerhouse Dancing With the Stars, ABC remained the most-watched network on Tuesday, while House-ignited Fox was No. 1 among adults 18-49. CBS was second in total viewers and tied with NBC for No. 3 among adults 18-49. Gilmore Girls on the CW, meanwhile, opened the season on a below average note.

What follows is the Tuesday analysis updated with the final national ratings:

-Households:
ABC: 9.4 rating/15 share, CBS: 7.7/12, Fox: 6.9/11, NBC: 6.7/11, CW: 2.1/ 3

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 14.21 million, CBS: 11.92, Fox: 11.24, NBC: 9.96, CW: 3.06

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 4.8/13, ABC: 4.1/11, CBS and NBC: 3.4/ 9 each, CW: 1.3/ 4

In season-premiere news, the CW’s Gilmore Girls opened on a below average note with 4.48 million viewers (#5) and a 2.0/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#5) at 8 p.m. Compared to it’s year-ago opener on the WB (Viewers: 6.22 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8 on Sept. 13, 2005), that was a decrease of 1.74 million viewers and 29 percent among adults 18-49. Gilmore also ranked third in the time period among adults 18-34 (2.2/ 7) and women 18-34 (3.5/10). AT 9 p.m., a repeat of Monday drama Runaway at a distant fifth-place 1.65 million viewers and a 0.7/ 2 among adults 18-49.

Well, it looks like Top Model will be one of CW's lifesavers. Figures. :rolleyes: :p

NHawk19

09-28-2006, 01:11 PM

^^I think they pushed change location to much in the CW ads and didnt push when the series were starting back.

No doubt Top Model (ugh) will bring in some viewers, especially with the cross promotion on Tyra's talk show. Just have to wait and see if they are smart enough to begin ramping up promos.

BTW logged into My Space recently. CW brought promo time on that page.

Cmill216

09-28-2006, 01:30 PM

BTW logged into My Space recently. CW brought promo time on that page.

Smallville's my friend. :D

Serene

09-28-2006, 05:21 PM

EW's Thursday Night Steel Cage Match:

Vote Smallville:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1540020_3||1449226|1_0_,00.html

Voted.
And not for Betty either. Whaddya know? :whatever:

TrailerCues

09-28-2006, 05:24 PM

It is sad that these shows are in the lead

48% My Name Is Earl/The Office (NBC)

Cmill216

09-28-2006, 05:25 PM

It is sad that these shows are in the lead

48% My Name Is Earl/The Office (NBC)

It's not sad, actually. They're both really funny shows. It's just sad that SV's so far down on the bottom.

Batgort

09-28-2006, 05:57 PM

Or maybe smallville fans don't spend their time online looking at silly polls.... oh wait!

In all seriousness, the teenie bopper demographic and the older crowd demographic probably do not go online to these polls or even participate in these boards. We're really a small sub-set of the total viewers of smallville...

Mike059jig

09-28-2006, 08:02 PM

Its Starts Now!!!!!!!!!

heliorei

09-29-2006, 12:35 PM

Is there any news about the ratings for ZOD?

AgentPat

09-29-2006, 12:44 PM

Is there any news about the ratings for ZOD?Funny you should ask...

MEDIAWEEK, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006

Prime-Time Thursday Ratings:
ABC and CBS Share Leadership; Ugly Betty Outdelivers Survivor

Thursday 9/28/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
ABC: 11.9/18, CBS: 11.8/18, NBC: 7.3/11, CW: 3.4/ 5, Fox: 3.1/ 5

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 9/29/05):
ABC: +112, UPN: + 6, Fox: -14, NBC: -18, CBS: -20

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 18.27 million, ABC: 16.27, NBC: 10.51, Fox: 5.12, CW: 3.81

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 6.2 rating/16 share, CBS: 6.0/16, NBC: 4.3/11, Fox: 1.9/ 5, CW: 1.6/ 4

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Ugly Betty (ABC), Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
‘Til Death (Fox), Celebrity Duets (Fox), Six Degrees (ABC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
In a major turn of events, regularly scheduled programming on ABC and CBS shared Thursday leadership, with ABC first in the overnights and adults 18-49, and CBS No. 1 in total viewers. NBC remained in the distant third-place spot, followed by a night of lackluster season-premieres on the CW and Fox’s dead-in-the-water ‘Til Death and Celebrity Duets.

Beginning with the show everyone was talking about, let’s just say the results for ABC’s Ugly Betty were anything but ugly. The critically acclaimed one-hour comedy roared out of the gate with a 12.2/19 in the overnights (#1), 16.09 million viewers (#2) and a 4.9/14 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 8 p.m. Comparatively, that was an improvement over the year-ago season-premiere of former occupant Alias (Overnights: 6.4/10; Viewers: 8.21 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7 on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005) of a whopping 91 percent in the overnights, 7.88 million viewers and 96 percent among adults 18-49. Survivor: Cook Islands, meanwhile, was down but not out with a 9.6/15 in the overnights (#2), 16.60 million viewers (#1) and a 5.8/16 among adults 18-49 (#1). While that is still worthy of a winner’s listing, am I the only one who feels ripped off that Survivor merged the teams already?

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

The arrival of Ugly Betty also had a detrimental effect on NBC’s My Name Is Earl (Overnights: 5.6/ 9; Viewers: 8.25 million; A18-49: 3.4/10) and The Office (Overnights: 5.3/ 8; Viewers: 7.68 million; A18-49: 3.7/10), which fell into a deeper No. 3.

Also at 8 p.m. was the season-premiere of the CW’s Smallville (Overnights: #4, 3.8/ 6; Viewers: #5, 5.04 million; A18-49: #5, 2.2/ 6), followed by two episodes (original and repeat) of Fox sitcom ‘Til Death (8 p.m. - Overnights: #4, 3.7/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.75 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 7 // 8:30 p.m. – Overnights: #5, 3.4/ 5; Viewers: #4, 5.44 million; A18-49: #4t, 2.3/ 6). Like the CW’s 7th Heaven and Gilmore Girls, Smallville was down from its year-ago season-premiere on the WB (Overnights: 4.4/ 7; Viewers: 5.90 million; A18-49: 2.6/ 7 on Sept. 29, 2005).

At 9 p.m., the winning ratings ball was shared between ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and old CBS faithful CSI. Grey’s Anatomy scored a 16.1/24 in the overnights (#1), 23.31 million viewers (#2) and a 9.4/22 among adults 18-49 (#1). CSI averaged a 15.3/22 in the overnights (#2), 23.49 million viewers (#1) and a 7.9/19 among adults 18-49 (#2). Although the lead-in support from Survivor decreased last night, CSI is back in action.

In search of the leftovers on NBC was Deal or No Deal at a distant third-place 5.8/ 8 in the overnights, 9.31 million viewers and a 3.2/ 8 among adults 18-49. Although the second-season premiere of the CW’s Supernatural also came down quite a bit from one year earlier, retention out of lead-in Smallville of 79 percent in the overnights, 76 percent in total viewers and 73 percent among adults 18-49 was not too bad given that the competition was Grey’s Anatomy and CSI. Take a look:

Supernatural – season premiere
Thursday 9/28/06 – 9 p.m.
Overnights: 3.0/ 4 (#4), Viewers: 3.81 million (#5); A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#4)

Tuesday 9/13/05 – 9 p.m.
Overnights: 4.3/ 6 (#4); Viewers: 5.69 million (#4), A18-49: 2.5/ 6 (#3)

Percent Change:
Overnights: -30, Viewers: -33, A18-49: -36

Also at 9 p.m. was Fox’s Celebrity Duets at a 2.7/ 4 in the overnights (#5), 4.02 million viewers (#4) and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#5).

----------

-Final Wednesday Nationals:
What follows is the Wednesday analysis updated with the final national ratings:

CBS won its second consecutive Wednesday, with solid retention for week two of drama Jericho and a record performance for Criminal Minds. ABC ranked second, Fox was on the map courtesy of Bones and Justice, but NBC’s combination of The Biggest Loser and Kidnapped lagged. The CW’s America’s Next Top Model remained a force to reckon with, while the season-premiere of former WB serial One Tree Hill was up slightly from one year earlier. Worth noting for ABC was a first-place finish among women 18-49, women 18-34 and kids 2-11. The CW, meanwhile, was tied with ABC for No. 1 among women 18-34 from 8-10 p.m.

Also at 8 p.m. was Fox’s Bones at a comfortable (and third-place) 7.80 million viewers and a 2.9/ 8 among adults 18-49, and week two of CW hit America’s Next Top Model at a healthy 4.68 million viewers (#5) and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#5). Top Model’s real strength, of course, is among younger viewers with first-place finish in the hour among adults 18-34 and women 18-34.

In season-premiere news, season four of serial One Tree Hill got some mileage out of Top Model, with an improved 3.44 million viewers and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was on par with it’s year-ago season-opener on the WB (Viewers: 3.46 million; A18-49: 1.7/ 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.).

What follows are the final national ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 27:

-Households:
CBS: 9.5 rating/15 share, ABC: 8.5/13, Fox: 4.7/ 7, NBC: 4.5/ 7, CW: 2.9/ 4

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 14.74 million, ABC: 12.82, Fox: 7.42, NBC: 6.84, CW: 4.06

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.6 rating/13 share, ABC: 4.2/11, NBC and Fox: 2.7/ 7 each, CW: 2.0/ 5

avidreader

09-29-2006, 12:51 PM

They beat Fox in the share rating. :up:

I guess for a show going into its 6th Season the're not bad figures going up against some newbies.

There's been positive reaction to the episode though, so hopefully they can build on that.

heliorei

09-29-2006, 12:55 PM

Funny you should ask...

MEDIAWEEK, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006

Prime-Time Thursday Ratings:
ABC and CBS Share Leadership; Ugly Betty Outdelivers Survivor

Thursday 9/28/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
ABC: 11.9/18, CBS: 11.8/18, NBC: 7.3/11, CW: 3.4/ 5, Fox: 3.1/ 5

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 9/29/05):
ABC: +112, UPN: + 6, Fox: -14, NBC: -18, CBS: -20

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 18.27 million, ABC: 16.27, NBC: 10.51, Fox: 5.12, CW: 3.81

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 6.2 rating/16 share, CBS: 6.0/16, NBC: 4.3/11, Fox: 1.9/ 5, CW: 1.6/ 4

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Ugly Betty (ABC), Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
‘Til Death (Fox), Celebrity Duets (Fox), Six Degrees (ABC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
In a major turn of events, regularly scheduled programming on ABC and CBS shared Thursday leadership, with ABC first in the overnights and adults 18-49, and CBS No. 1 in total viewers. NBC remained in the distant third-place spot, followed by a night of lackluster season-premieres on the CW and Fox’s dead-in-the-water ‘Til Death and Celebrity Duets.

Beginning with the show everyone was talking about, let’s just say the results for ABC’s Ugly Betty were anything but ugly. The critically acclaimed one-hour comedy roared out of the gate with a 12.2/19 in the overnights (#1), 16.09 million viewers (#2) and a 4.9/14 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 8 p.m. Comparatively, that was an improvement over the year-ago season-premiere of former occupant Alias (Overnights: 6.4/10; Viewers: 8.21 million; A18-49: 2.5/ 7 on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005) of a whopping 91 percent in the overnights, 7.88 million viewers and 96 percent among adults 18-49. Survivor: Cook Islands, meanwhile, was down but not out with a 9.6/15 in the overnights (#2), 16.60 million viewers (#1) and a 5.8/16 among adults 18-49 (#1). While that is still worthy of a winner’s listing, am I the only one who feels ripped off that Survivor merged the teams already?

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

The arrival of Ugly Betty also had a detrimental effect on NBC’s My Name Is Earl (Overnights: 5.6/ 9; Viewers: 8.25 million; A18-49: 3.4/10) and The Office (Overnights: 5.3/ 8; Viewers: 7.68 million; A18-49: 3.7/10), which fell into a deeper No. 3.

Also at 8 p.m. was the season-premiere of the CW’s Smallville (Overnights: #4, 3.8/ 6; Viewers: #5, 5.04 million; A18-49: #5, 2.2/ 6), followed by two episodes (original and repeat) of Fox sitcom ‘Til Death (8 p.m. - Overnights: #4, 3.7/ 6; Viewers: #4, 5.75 million; A18-49: #4, 2.4/ 7 // 8:30 p.m. – Overnights: #5, 3.4/ 5; Viewers: #4, 5.44 million; A18-49: #4t, 2.3/ 6). Like the CW’s 7th Heaven and Gilmore Girls, Smallville was down from its year-ago season-premiere on the WB (Overnights: 4.4/ 7; Viewers: 5.90 million; A18-49: 2.6/ 7 on Sept. 29, 2005).

At 9 p.m., the winning ratings ball was shared between ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and old CBS faithful CSI. Grey’s Anatomy scored a 16.1/24 in the overnights (#1), 23.31 million viewers (#2) and a 9.4/22 among adults 18-49 (#1). CSI averaged a 15.3/22 in the overnights (#2), 23.49 million viewers (#1) and a 7.9/19 among adults 18-49 (#2). Although the lead-in support from Survivor decreased last night, CSI is back in action.

In search of the leftovers on NBC was Deal or No Deal at a distant third-place 5.8/ 8 in the overnights, 9.31 million viewers and a 3.2/ 8 among adults 18-49. Although the second-season premiere of the CW’s Supernatural also came down quite a bit from one year earlier, retention out of lead-in Smallville of 79 percent in the overnights, 76 percent in total viewers and 73 percent among adults 18-49 was not too bad given that the competition was Grey’s Anatomy and CSI. Take a look:

Supernatural – season premiere
Thursday 9/28/06 – 9 p.m.
Overnights: 3.0/ 4 (#4), Viewers: 3.81 million (#5); A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#4)

Tuesday 9/13/05 – 9 p.m.
Overnights: 4.3/ 6 (#4); Viewers: 5.69 million (#4), A18-49: 2.5/ 6 (#3)

Percent Change:
Overnights: -30, Viewers: -33, A18-49: -36

Also at 9 p.m. was Fox’s Celebrity Duets at a 2.7/ 4 in the overnights (#5), 4.02 million viewers (#4) and a 1.5/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#5).

----------

-Final Wednesday Nationals:
What follows is the Wednesday analysis updated with the final national ratings:

CBS won its second consecutive Wednesday, with solid retention for week two of drama Jericho and a record performance for Criminal Minds. ABC ranked second, Fox was on the map courtesy of Bones and Justice, but NBC’s combination of The Biggest Loser and Kidnapped lagged. The CW’s America’s Next Top Model remained a force to reckon with, while the season-premiere of former WB serial One Tree Hill was up slightly from one year earlier. Worth noting for ABC was a first-place finish among women 18-49, women 18-34 and kids 2-11. The CW, meanwhile, was tied with ABC for No. 1 among women 18-34 from 8-10 p.m.

Also at 8 p.m. was Fox’s Bones at a comfortable (and third-place) 7.80 million viewers and a 2.9/ 8 among adults 18-49, and week two of CW hit America’s Next Top Model at a healthy 4.68 million viewers (#5) and a 2.4/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#5). Top Model’s real strength, of course, is among younger viewers with first-place finish in the hour among adults 18-34 and women 18-34.

In season-premiere news, season four of serial One Tree Hill got some mileage out of Top Model, with an improved 3.44 million viewers and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was on par with it’s year-ago season-opener on the WB (Viewers: 3.46 million; A18-49: 1.7/ 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.).

What follows are the final national ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 27:

-Households:
CBS: 9.5 rating/15 share, ABC: 8.5/13, Fox: 4.7/ 7, NBC: 4.5/ 7, CW: 2.9/ 4

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 14.74 million, ABC: 12.82, Fox: 7.42, NBC: 6.84, CW: 4.06

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.6 rating/13 share, ABC: 4.2/11, NBC and Fox: 2.7/ 7 each, CW: 2.0/ 5

Considering other shows of the Cw, Smallville does really well (I think) even if it lost almost a million viewers. Remember the heavy competition from CSI and Greg's anatomy.

Being one of the strongest shows of the Cw and if it continues like this, a seventh season is secured.

I still haven't watched ZOD...:csad:

Kaboom

09-29-2006, 12:57 PM

betty la fea has been super hyped, so alot of people may have tuned in to see what the fus is about, a super hyped show like that rarely keeps its numbers up.

NHawk19

09-29-2006, 02:09 PM

CW is still down on the year so far. The next few weeks should be something to see.

AgentPat

09-29-2006, 08:09 PM

Hmm... proving yet again, it's not about overall viewership, but specifically targeted demographics...

From Broadcasting and Cable:

The CW also had a solid night with the premiere of Smallville averaging 5 million viewers and a 2.5/8 in the 18 to 34 demo. Its companion Supernatural attracted 3.8 million viewers and a 1.8/5 in the younger demo.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6376491.html

avidreader

09-29-2006, 09:00 PM

Hmm... proving yet again, it's not about overall viewership, but specifically targeted demographics...

From Broadcasting and Cable:

The CW also had a solid night with the premiere of Smallville averaging 5 million viewers and a 2.5/8 in the 18 to 34 demo. Its companion Supernatural attracted 3.8 million viewers and a 1.8/5 in the younger demo.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6376491.html

That's what counts for the CW.

explode7

09-29-2006, 11:32 PM

Smallville's ratings are down??? WTF??? So that means we probably wont be getting any season 7. Up to season 6 is good I guess at least it reached farther than the past superman tv show series.

The Incredible Hulk

09-30-2006, 01:13 PM

beginning of a new season on a new network, although Smallville did have more viewers than any other show on the network in premiere week. Nothing ot worry about. 5 million is a solid number all things considered, let's hope it builds from there.

Ugly Betty was more or less a morbid curiosity for most people. A show's premiere ratings are usually always high. How that thing does in the next few weeks will really tell you what kind of impact it's gonna have this year. I saw it and it seemed like a racier version of the George Lopez show. I dont see it pulling in 12 million a week for the rest of the year.

Kaboom

09-30-2006, 02:20 PM

plus it was super hyped, and on one of the main netowrks. i dont think we have to wrry

oh and the main star is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuglyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyy

Zorex

09-30-2006, 03:01 PM

Smallville's ratings are down??? WTF??? So that means we probably wont be getting any season 7. Up to season 6 is good I guess at least it reached farther than the past superman tv show series.
I think it's a little early to be saying "oop, ratings are down, guess that's it." Things could definitely, definitely pick up from here, and it's not as though these ratings were a big ol' bomb. Or am I not seeing it right?

avidreader

09-30-2006, 03:12 PM

I think it's a little early to be saying "oop, ratings are down, guess that's it." Things could definitely, definitely pick up from here, and it's not as though these ratings were a big ol' bomb. Or am I not seeing it right?

No they werent a big ol' bomb and as Pat posted, the demographics, which is what they really look at, were quite successful.

Smallville was able to build on its premiere episode last year so its all good.

RakuMon

10-03-2006, 02:26 PM

From the newest SV Mag: Miles Millar talks about the role ratings will play for the show in season six:

What's been the impact having new bosses? Are the executives at The CW leaving well enough alone, or are they sending through notes constantly?
MILES: At this point they've said, "We'll leave well enough alone," which is great because we can do our own thing. But I think it's all going to be about ratings. At The WB we had people who had developed the show; were passionate about the show, and were fans of the show. Here, it's going to be much more about the cold, hard facts of ratings and that sort of thing. We have our work cut out for us.

avidreader

10-03-2006, 02:29 PM

NHawk19

10-03-2006, 02:49 PM

These are for the Monday Night Stuff. Seems like CW is still down for 7th Heaven. Though they do make a point of saying the current ratings are ahead of UPNs shows from last year.

OCTOBER 03, 2006
The Programming Insider

Marc Berman

Prime-Time Monday Ratings:
CBS Wins; Heroes Strong but Studio 60 Tumbles on NBC

Monday 10/02/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 9.6/15, NBC: 8.3/13, ABC: 5.4/ 8, Fox: 5.4/ 8, CW: 2.5/ 4

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Monday 10/03/05):
Fox” +17, CBS: - 3, NBC: - 6, CW*: -32, ABC: -48

*compared to the WB’s combination of 7th Heaven and Just Legal

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 13.63 million, NBC: 11.56, ABC: 8.53, Fox: 7.66, CW: 3.13

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.6 rating/12 share, NBC: 4.2/11, ABC: 3.3/ 8, Fox: 3.0/ 8, CW: 1.2/ 3

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Deal or No Deal (NBC), Two and a Half Men (CBS), The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Heroes (NBC), CSI: Miami (CBS)

-Yes, There is Still an Appetite for This:
The Bachelor: Rome (ABC)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
The Class (CBS), Vanished (Fox), Runaway (CW), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led this third Monday of the 2006-07 season, with a first-place finish in the overnights, total viewers and adults 18-49. NBC was second in all three categories despite a fading Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, followed by ABC, Fox and the CW.

Unfortunately, week three of CBS sitcom The Class remained a weak link, with a 6.0/ 9 in the overnights (#2), 8.00 million viewers (#3) and a 2.8/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3). Former occupant The King of Queens averaged a considerably more potent 7.6/12 in the overnights, 10.31 million viewers and a 3.5/10 among adults 18-49 on the year-ago evening. The Class led into How I Met Your Mother, which built by 10 percent in the overnights (6.0/ 9 to 6.6/10), 1.44 million viewers (8.00 to 9.44) and 29 percent among adults 18-49 (2.8/ 8 to 3.6/ 9) at 8:30 p.m. And, you know what…it was actually funny last night!

First in the 8 p.m. hour was NBC’s Deal or No Deal at an 8.5/13 in the overnights, 13.04 million viewers and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49 (tied with Fox’s Prison Break in the demo). Prison Break (Overnights: #3, 6.1/ 9; Viewers: #2, 8.93 million; A18-49: #1t, 3.7/10) and ABC’s Wife Swap (Overnights: #4, 5.5/ 8; Viewers: #4, 7.70 million; A18-49: #4, 3.0/ 8) were at typical early fall levels, while the CW’s 7th Heaven (Overnights: #5, 3.4/ 5; Viewers: #5, 4.30 million; A18-49: #5, 1.6/ 4) built by 110,000 viewers, 7 percent in adults 18-49 and as much as 9 percent among women 18-49 from its season-premiere one week earlier. Although 7th Heaven remains down year-to-year by double-digit percentages, comparatively it’s still an improvement over UPN comedies One On One and All of Us.
As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

CBS sitcoms Two and a Half Men (Overnights: #1, 10.9/16; Viewers: #1, 15.93 million; A18-49: #1, 5.2/13) and The New Adventures of Old Christine (Overnights: #1, 9.4/14; Viewers: #1, 13.71 million; A18-49: #2, 4.5/11) showed growth from one week earlier in the 9 p.m. hour, while week two of NBC’s competing Heroes lived up to its title. Heroes averaged a comfortable 9.4/14 in the overnights (#2), 12.57 million viewers (#2) and a first-place 5.3/13 among adults 18-49, building from lead-in Deal or No Deal by a hefty 43 percent among adults 18-49. Retention for Heroes from its week-ago premiere (Overnights: #1, 9.7/14; Viewers: #1, 14.10 million; A18-49: 31, 5.9/14 on Sept. 25) was also solid at 97 percent in the overnights, 89 percent in total viewers and 90 percent among adults 18-49. Retention for CBS’ The New Adventures of Old Christine out of Two and a Half Men, meanwhile, was also strong at 86 percent in the overnights and total viewers, and 87 percent among adults 18-49.

In season-premiere news, a two-hour edition of ABC’s The Bachelor: Rome opened with a third-place 5.4/ 8 in the overnights, 8.95 million viewers and a 3.5/ 9 among adults 18-49 from 9-11 p.m. Comparably, though, that was still an improvement of 2 percent in the overnights, 2.71 million viewers and 30 percent among adults 18-49 from its most recent opening-season levels (Overnights: 5.3/ 8; Viewers: 6.24 million; A18-49: 2.7/ 7 on Monday, Jan. 9, 2006).

Also at 9 p.m. was Fox drama Vanished at a so-so (and fourth-place) 4.6/ 7 in the overnights, 6.39 million viewers and a 2.3/ 5 among adults 18-49; and week two of CW drama Runaway at an almost invisible (and, of course, last place) 1.6/ 2 in the overnights, 1.95 million viewers and a 0.8/ 2 among adults 18-49. Compared to former failed WB time period occupant Just Legal on the year-ago evening (Overnights: 2.6/ 4; Viewers: 2.88 million; A18-49: 0.9/ 2 on Oct. 3, 2005), that was a decrease of 38 percent in the overnights, 930,000 viewers and 11 percent among adults 18-49. Runaway opened last Monday with a 1.8/ 3 in the overnights, 2.18 million viewers and a 0.7/ 2 among adults 18-49. Did anyone ever think Runaway would make Just Legal look like a hit?
As for Vanished, retention out of Prison Break of just 62 percent among adults 18-49 lands it in the loser’s column.

At 10 p.m., CBS’ CSI: Miami continues to own the hour, with a 12.4/19 in the overnights, 17.35 million viewers and a 5.7/15 among adults 18-49. Week three of NBC’s competing Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip took another significant hit, dipping to a 7.2/11 in the overnights, 9.05 million viewers and a 3.5/ 9 among adults 18-49. Retention for Studio 60 out of Heroes was just 77 percent in the overnights, 72 percent in total viewers and 66 percent among adults 18-49. Take a look at Studio 60’s three-week track:

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – Mon. 10 p.m.
9/18/06 - Overnights: 10.3/16; Viewers: 13.41 million; A18-49: 5.0/13
9/25/06 - Overnights: 8.7/14; Viewers: 10.83 million; A18-49: 4.2/11
10/02/06 – Overnights: 7.2/11; Viewers: 9.05 million; A18-49: 3.5/ 9

And, to make matters worse, erosion in the second half of Studio 60 continued, with a loss of 8 percent in the overnights (7.5/11 to 6.9/11), 650,000 viewers (9.38 to 8.73 million) and 5 percent among adults 18-49 (3.6/ 9 to 3.4/ 9). Both CSI: Miami and The Bachelor: Rome did not lose steam at 10:30 p.m.

So Dawn still think it was a good idea not to go with Aquaman and to cancel Everwood?

Serene

10-03-2006, 03:34 PM

So Dawn still think it was a good idea not to go with Aquaman and to cancel Everwood?
Let's not forget about bringing back 7th Heaven..

I'm still hoping that Al and Miles will shop Aquaman around to other networks.

NHawk19

10-03-2006, 03:46 PM

Let's not forget about bringing back 7th Heaven..

I'm still hoping that Al and Miles will shop Aquaman around to other networks.

Eh I wont go that far because their ratings were up this week over last.

Plus my biggest problem with the CW is that their marketing campaign focused to much on "the CW" and not enough on the shows and their time slots. Sure great we get that it's a new network but when are the shows on and what's going to happen?

This is an even bigger problem when you consider that they were using established shows to launch. Seems they ignored what they would normally do with established shows on an established net and merely approached it as it the entire net and its programming were new.

avidreader

10-03-2006, 03:51 PM

Apparently too, CW wont be available in Alaska and Hawaii until next year.

RakuMon

10-03-2006, 05:00 PM

Why do you always get the Smallville Magazines before everyone else?

:mad: :cwink: :p
I have my ways.:cwink:

KalKai

10-04-2006, 04:29 PM

http://abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=100306_09

ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - WEEKLY PROGRAM RANKINGS

1. Smallville--4.96 million viewers
2. America's Next Top Model--4.68 million viewers
3. Gilmore Girls--4.48 million viewers
4. 7th Heaven--4.19 million viewers
5. Friday Night Smackdown--3.98 million viewers
6. Supernatural--3.93 million viewers
7. One Tree Hill--3.44 million viewers
8. Girlfriends--2.74 million viewers
9. The Game--2.6 million viewers
10. Everybody Hates Chris--2.44 million viewers
11. America's Next Top Model (ENC)--2.43 million viewers
12. All Of Us--2.3 million viewers
13. Runaway--2.18 million viewers
14. Runaway (ENC)--1.65 million viewers

Eros

10-04-2006, 04:38 PM

Eros

10-04-2006, 04:40 PM

Everything else on CW sucks. I hope they move Smallville to CBS one day. The big leagues.

Smallville would be cancelled within the week if only 4.96 million viewers tuned it, if it was on CBS or the other primetime networks dude.

RakuMon

10-04-2006, 04:48 PM

Smallville would be cancelled within the week if only 4.96 million viewers tuned it, if it was on CBS or the other primetime networks dude.
Well, comparatively, if Smallville were on one of the other four networks, it would probably have a larger audience by default.

A lot of people forget that The CW, even though it's a new network, is still a netlet in that it doesn't have the same reach as ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX.

Eros

10-04-2006, 04:52 PM

I agree RakuMon, but smallville,Gilmore girls,supernatural, and top model are perhaps the only CW shows that could survive on a primetime network.

NHawk19

10-04-2006, 04:55 PM

OCTOBER 04, 2006
The Programming Insider

Marc Berman

Prime-Time Tuesday Ratings:
ABC Dances to Victory; Disappointing Veronica Mars on the CW

Tuesday 10/03/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
ABC: 10.4/16, NBC: 8.5/13, CBS: 8.4/13, Fox: 6.8/10, CW: 3.2/ 5

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Tuesday 10/04/05)
(*compared to the WB’s combination of Gilmore Girls and Supernatural)
ABC: +17, NBC: - 1, CBS: - 5, Fox: - 7, CW: -30

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), NCIS (CBS), Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:
The Unit (CBS), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)

-Disappointing:
Veronica Mars (CW)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Friday Night Lights (NBC), Help Me Help You (ABC), Smith (CBS)

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 14.40 million, CBS: 12.37, NBC: 11.13, Fox: 7.80, CW: 3.99

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 4.1 rating/11 share, NBC: 4.0/11, CBS: 3.6/10, Fox: 2.5/ 7, CW: 1.7/ 5

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
Without Fox’s competing House in the mix, ABC danced its way to a three-tier Tuesday victory, with a first-place finish in the overnights, total viewers and adults 18-49. CBS shared the No. 2 spot overall with NBC despite the continued erosion for new drama Smith, while NBC’s Friday Night Lights and season three of the CW’s Veronica Mars opened with minimal interest.

Another 90-minute installment of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars led the Tuesday troops with a rock-solid 13.2/20 in the overnights, 18.28 million viewers and a 5.2/14 among adults 18-49 from 8-9:30 p.m. Week two of lead-out Help Me Help You (which will clearly not benefit once lead-in The Knights of Prosperity arrives on Oct. 17), took a hit, however, with erosion of almost 50 percent from the last half-hour of Dancing With the Stars. Take a look:

ABC/Tuesday
9:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars (final half-hour)
Overnights: 14.6/21 (#1), Viewers: 20.09 million (#1), A18-49: 5.7/15 (#1)

9:30 p.m. Help Me Help You
Overnights: 7.6/11 (#3t), Viewers: 10.40 million (#3); A18-49: 3.1/ 8 (#3)

Percent Retention for Help Me Help You:
Overnights: 52, Viewers: 52; A18-49: 54

Comparatively, Help Me Help You also declined from its debut one week earlier (Overnights: 8.9/13; Viewers: 11.48 million; A18-49: 3.5/ 9 on Sept. 26) by 15 percent in the overnights, 1.08 million viewers and 11 percent among adults 18-49. No Ted Danson…this is not Cheers. And it’s not even close to Becker!

At 10 p.m., ABC’s Boston Legal trailed NBC’s competing, and dominating, Law & Order: SVU by 32 percent in the overnights (7.6/12 vs. 11.1/18), 3.58 million viewers (10.60 vs. 14.18 million) and 44 percent among adults 18-49 (2.9/ 8 vs. 5.2/14).

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

In series-premiere news, the lights were clearly not bright on new NBC drama Friday Night Lights, which kicked-off with a mere 5.3/ 8 in the overnights (#4), 7.18 million viewers (#3) and a 2.7/ 8 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8 p.m. Comparatively, former occupant The Biggest Loser averaged a heftier 5.9/ 9 in the overnights (#3), 8.36 million viewers and a 3.4/ 9 among adults 18-49 on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005. NBC had better news from 9-11 p.m. with the relocated Law & Order: Criminal Intent at a comfortable 9.1/13 in the overnights (#2), 12.04 million viewers (#3) and a 4.2/11 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 9 p.m., followed by another 10 p.m. time period victory for the aforementioned Law & Order: SVU (Overnights: 11.1/8; Viewers: 14.18 million; A18-49: 5.2/14).

CBS, unfortunately, has sprung a leak at 10 p.m. care of new crime drama Smith. Although NCIS (Overnights: #2, 10.8/16; Viewers: #2, 15.52 million; A18-49: #2, 4.0/11) and compatible The Unit (Overnights: #3, 8.5/13; Viewers: #2, 13.17 million; A18-49: #3, 4.1/11) performed more than adequately from 8-10 p.m., week three of Smith sunk to a third-place 5.8/ 9 in the overnights, 8.43 million viewers and a 2.8/ 8 among adults 18-49. Take a look at Smith’s three-week track to-date:

Smith (CBS): Tues. 10 p.m.
-Sept. 19 – Overnights: 7.8/12; Viewers: 11.00 million; A18-49: 3.6/10
-Sept. 26 – Overnights: 6.7/11; Viewers: 9.67 million; A18-49: 3.3/ 9
-Oct. 3 – Overnights: 5.8/ 9; Viewers: 8.43 million; A18-49: 2.8/ 8

In two weeks, Smith has declined by 26 percent in the overnights, 2.57 million viewers and 22 percent among adults 18-49.

In season-premiere news, The CW’s Veronica Mars limped out of the gate with a disappointing (and, of course, last-place) 2.4/ 4 in the overnights, 3.27 million viewers and a 1.4/ 4 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. Although comparatively that was a vast improvement over year-ago failed occupant Sex, Love & Secrets (Overnights: 1.5/ 2; Viewers: 1.40 million; A18-49: 0.6/ 1 on Oct. 4, 2005), keep in mind three things:

1. Retention for Veronica Mars from lead-in Gilmore Girls (Overnights: #5, 4.0/ 6; Viewers: #5, 4.71 million; A18-49: #5, 2.0/ 6 at 8 p.m.) was just 60 percent in the overnights, 69 percent in total viewers and 70 percent among adults 18-49.

2. Sex, Love & Secrets on the year-ago evening led out of a repeat of America’s Next Top Model.

3. Veronica Mars opened season two on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 (out of America’s Next Top Model) with a similarly disappointing 2.5/ 4 in the overnights, 3.29 million viewers and a 1.3/ 3 among adults 18-49.

To the countless Veronica Mars groupies reading this column: the ratings are not terrible. But they could, and should, be much better.

Last, but not least, was game one of the Major League Baseball Division Playoff (Detroit vs. New York Yankees) at a 6.7/11 in the overnights from 8:15-11:30 p.m., with an approximate 7.80 million viewers and a 2.5/ 7 among adults 18-49 in prime time. Comparably, the year-ago game one match-up between The Yankees and The LA Angels averaged a 7.4/11 in the overnights, 8.99 million viewers and a 3.4/ 9 among adults 18-49.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Apparently Veronica Mars has a pretty vocal following. I wish they did better.

However, based on last on last weeks numbers it would have been #8 on the net had it premeired then.

triplet

10-06-2006, 08:58 AM

The CW is swapping its monday and sunday lineups...

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20061005wpix01

Intersting... wasn't sure where else to put this.

Cmill216

10-06-2006, 09:03 AM

The CW is swapping its monday and sunday lineups...

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20061005wpix01

Intersting... wasn't sure where else to put this.

Wow. Pretty interesting development. I think it's good for the comedies, but really really bad for 7th and Runaway. I don't think either of those are coming back next year.

AgentPat

10-06-2006, 09:16 AM

Wow. Pretty interesting development. I think it's good for the comedies, but really really bad for 7th and Runaway. I don't think either of those are coming back next year.I don't think they were planning to renew 7thH. It was only given a reprieve to help get the CW off the ground.

Runaway should be axed immediately, but I don't know if they have anything to put in its place.

They really goofed by not bringing back Everwood or giving Aquaman a chance. Look at how well Heroes is doing now. Pfft. Dumb network. :rolleyes:

Eros

10-06-2006, 03:20 PM

Wow. Pretty interesting development. I think it's good for the comedies, but really really bad for 7th and Runaway. I don't think either of those are coming back next year.

yea now we have Black Monday on the CW..if you know what im getting at.

NHawk19

10-06-2006, 03:29 PM

OCTOBER 06, 2006
The Programming Insider

Marc Berman

Prime-Time Thursday Ratings:
Split Leadership for ABC and CBS; Strong Ugly Betty; Dismal Six Degrees

Thursday 10/05/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
ABC: 11.3/17, CBS: 11.3/17, NBC: 7.5/11, Fox: 4.8/ 7, CW: 3.1/ 5

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 10/06/05)
(*compared to the WB’s combination of Smallville and Everwood)
ABC: +126, NBC: -12, Fox and CW: -21 each, CBS: -24

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 16.92 million, ABC: 15.43, NBC: 11.27, Fox: 5.79, CW: 3.96

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 5.8 rating/15 share, CBS: 5.5/15, NBC: 4.4/12, Fox and CW: 1.8/ 5 each
---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Ugly Betty (ABC), Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Six Degrees (ABC)

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
In another Thursday of split leadership, ABC and CBS tied for first in the overnights, CBS was the most-watched network and ABC was No. 1 among adults 18-49. NBC ranked a distant third, while baseball on Fox and the CW’s Smallville and Supernatural fought for the leftovers.

Although one of the success stories this season, of course, is ABC’s improved position on Thursday, the network has actually sprung a leak at 10 p.m. Week two of the alphabet net’s exceptional Ugly Betty opened the evening on another promising note, with an 11.1/17 in the overnights (#1), 14.18 million viewers (#2) and a 4.4/13 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 8 p.m. Comparatively, that was a loss from last week’s inflated opening levels (Overnights: #1, 12.2/19; Viewers: #2, 16.32 million; A18-49: #2, 5.0/14 on Sept. 28) of only 9 percent in the overnights, 2.14 viewers and 12 percent among adults 18-49. In other words, get used to Ugly Betty!

Ugly Betty led into blockbuster Grey’s Anatomy at a dominant 15.8/23 in the overnights, 22.46 million viewers and a 9.2/13 among adults 18-49 at 9 p.m. Comparably, that was an advantage over CBS’ competing CSI (Overnights: #2, 14.5/21; Viewers: #2, 21.22 million; A18-49: #2, 7.2/18) of 9 percent in the overnights, 1.24 million viewers and 22 percent among adults 18-49. But despite the enormity of its lead-in, recently introduced ABC drama Six Degrees sunk to a mere, and record low, 6.9/11 in the overnights (#3), 9.65 million viewers (#3) and a 3.9/10 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 10 p.m.. A few things to keep in mind about Six Degrees are:

1) Retention out of Grey’s Anatomy of just 44 percent in the overnights, 43 percent in total viewers and 42 percent among adults 18-49.

2) A loss of audience in the second half-hour of 23 percent in the overnights (7.8/12 to 6.0/10), 2.45 million viewers (10.88 to 8.43) and 23 percent among adults 18-49 (4.4/11 to 3.4/ 9).

3) Erosion in just two weeks of 26 percent in the overnights, 2.91 million viewers and 28 percent among adults 18-49.

Three-week track for Six Degrees:
9/21/06 – Overnights: 9.3/15; Viewers: 12.56 million; A18-49: 5.4/14
9/28/06 – Overnights: 7.5/12; Viewers: 10.15 million; A18-49: 4.1/11
10/05/06 – Overnights: 6.9/11; Viewers: 9.65 million; A18-49: 3.9/10

Yes, you can consider Six Degrees one of the biggest bombs of the new season.

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

CBS’ Survivor: Cook Islands shared leadership at 8 p.m. with Ugly Betty for the second consecutive week, with a 9.2/14 in the overnights (#2), 15.79 million viewers (#1) and a 5.6/16 among adults 18-49 (#1). That led into the aforementioned CSI (Overnights: #2, 14.5/21; Viewers: #2, 21.22 million; A18-49: #2, 7.2/18 at 9 p.m.), followed by week three of Shark at a 10.3/16 in the overnights (#2), 13.76 million viewers (#2) and a 3.8/10 among adults 18-49 (#3). Although Shark continues to lose a considerable chuck of the CSI lead-in, keep in mind that retention of just 71 percent in the overnights, 65 percent in total viewers and 53 percent among adults 18-49 is reminiscent of Without a Trace out of CSI in season one.

NBC had what could be referred to as a typical Thursday performance with its combination of My Name is Earl (Overnights: #3, 6.2/10; Viewers: #3, 9.91 million; A18-49: #2, 4.0/12), The Office (Overnights: #3, 5.5/ 8; Viewers: #3, 8.77 million; A18-49: #3, 4.1/11), Deal or No Deal (Overnights: #3, 6.1/ 9; Viewers: #3, 9.49 million; A18-49: #3, 3.2/ 8) and ER (Overnights: #1, 10.6/17; Viewers: #1, 14.61 million; A18-49: #1, 6.0/16). Considering ER is facing two new dramas (one leading out of CSI and the other Grey’s Anatomy), it is off to the winner’s circle for the veteran medical drama.

Game two of the MLB Division Playoff on Fox (New Mets vs. L.A. Dodgers) averaged a 5.4/ 9 in the overnights from 8:15-11:15 p.m., with 5.79 million viewers (#4) and a 1.8/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#4t) in primetime. The year-ago match-up between San Diego and St. Louis on Oct. 6, 2005 averaged a 6.0/ 9 in the overnights,7.67 million viewers and a 2.5/ 7 among adults 18-49.

Last, but still worthy of mention given the severity of the competition, was the CW’s combination of Smallville (Overnights: 3.6/ 6; Viewers: #5, 4.60 million; A18-49: #4, 2.0/ 6) and Supernatural (Overnights: 2.6/ 4; Viewers: #5, 3.32 million; A18-49: #5, 1.5/ 4).

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Thoughts . . . . . .

Cmill216

10-06-2006, 03:41 PM

yea now we have Black Monday on the CW..if you know what im getting at.

No. I have no idea what you're getting at. :huh: :cwink:

thebigtree95

10-06-2006, 03:44 PM

Lost's ratings were down 25%, sucks to be them.

avidreader

10-06-2006, 03:49 PM

Thoughts . . . . . .

I have come to the conclusion, from reading around the Boards, that alot of people that watch Smallville, tivo it, which I think they only get half points for.

It would be interesting, I think, to see these statistics.

explode7

10-06-2006, 08:04 PM

Damn does Smallville need to be put on a more watched network badly.

heliorei

10-07-2006, 04:38 AM

With the results of Zod and Sneeze, clearly has shown to the CW executives that Smallville is one of their most solid shows of their network. All other shows have decreased in their ratings, not to mention the 7th heaven show.

Everwood was a far better show and cheaper...go figure.....

I was concerned about Smallville ratings having decreased but once I saw of shows decreasing in their ratings, I was a little more relieved.

I just hope Smallville's ratings will now begin to grow but the CW marketing has to improved...

avidreader

10-07-2006, 12:38 PM

I think this article explains a couple of things.

Stumbling, CW
revamps its primetime

Swapping Mondays and Sundays to bolster ratings

By Kevin Downey
Oct 6, 2006

When it was first announced, media people saw the CW network as merging the best of the WB and the UPN. But as its fall launch got closer, a grimmer realization set in: The new network could well struggle to even match their ratings.
Two weeks into its launch, the CW is indeed struggling, with ratings below those that both UPN and the WB had in most demographics this time last year. The CW lineup of African-American comedies on Sunday night, brought over from UPN, and old WB teen fair Monday through Thursday, isn't working.
Perhaps more interesting, it's the old WB shows that are hurting most.
Come Monday, in the first of what could be a string of changes, the CW is moving the black comedies from Sunday, where they underperformed in their debuts, to Monday night, where they had long been a staple on the old UPN. "Everybody Hates Chris" will lead off the night at 8.
In turn, “Seventh Heaven” and the new “Runaway” will shift from Monday to Sunday, with "America’s Next Top Model” reruns leading off the night. The night had begun with "Chris."

“This can only help them,” says Jordan Breslow, director of broadcast research at MediaCom. “‘Chris’ at 7 p.m. on Sunday was too early. But at 8 p.m. on Monday, people are ready to sit down for some family viewing. 'Seventh Heaven' will work. People will find it."

Longer term, the CW will move to replace at least several former WB shows.

In hindsight, those shows were already sagging from age, and media people believe the CW erred on the side of caution by sticking by them rather than risking a lineup heavy on new shows. One is “Seventh Heaven,” now in its 11th season.

“You’re seeing some natural declines,” says MediaVest vice president and group research director John Spiropoulos. “That would account for about 30 percent to 50 percent of the declines we’re seeing.”

The CW’s Thursday, with former WB shows “Smallville” and “Supernatural,” has averaged a 1.5 rating, compared to a 1.7 rating on the WB last year. UPN comedies averaged a 1.9 on the night last season.

By contrast to the old WB shows, several of the UPN shows are doing just fine in the 18-34 demographic.

Wrestling on Friday is pulling the exact rating it had on UPN. And despite disappointing ratings for the black comedies, Sunday ratings are comparable to the low ratings the WB had last season, thanks to a “Model” rerun. UPN didn’t have weekend programs.

The CW’s Wednesday is up compared to both UPN and WB on the strength of “Model,” based on Nielsen Media Research ratings for the season through Sunday.

The CW has made a point of saying ratings for regularly scheduled shows, not including repeats, are up from what UPN and the WB had pulled. And it also notes that its Tuesday rating has doubled since the beginning of the season now that “Gilmore Girls” and “Veronica Mars” have premiered.

Apart from its sagging shows, the CW is suffering from lingering viewer confusion over the merger. Some number of former UPN and WB viewers haven’t yet found the CW, says Spiropoulos. In two-thirds of the country the CW is on a different channel than UPN was, and in one-third the country the CW isn’t on the former WB channel.

“In some of the major markets, we’re seeing relatively stable ratings,” he says. “I think what they need to do right now is look at this on a market-by-market basis and do a marketing push where there are declines.”

The CW is also suffering from a lack of buzz, the result of launching only two new shows, “Runaway” and “The Game,” says Breslow.

“There was nothing drawing viewers in,” he says. “With the new season, all the other networks are publicizing new shows. Because of that, people want to see these shows. And once there, the networks can promote the rest of their lineups.”

The CW will debut a couple of new programs in midseason, probably around January. The drama “Hidden Palms” is from “Dawson’s Creek” creator Kevin Williamson. The network will also debut reality show “The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll.” And former WB shows “Beauty and the Geek” and “Reba” are set to return.

Source: http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_7749.asp

Pickle-El

10-07-2006, 12:47 PM

The numbers aren't looking so hot so far....at least the demo's are still reaching decent numbers.

NHawk19

10-07-2006, 04:41 PM

I have come to the conclusion, from reading around the Boards, that alot of people that watch Smallville, tivo it, which I think they only get half points for.

It would be interesting, I think, to see these statistics.

Yeah that would be interesting. Thing is I dont think people were looking for SV's ratings to double w/o UPN being around on Thursdays but they werent supposed to decrease any either.

Competition on Thursdays this fall is tough. Look at all the Heavy hitters and who could have predicted Ugly Betty? :confused: SV may need to kick it up a notch, but lets hope CW remains committed.

I also wonder how the DVD sales of SV compare to Lost, CSI and some of the other current heavy hitters.

Pickle-El

10-07-2006, 05:04 PM

Yeah that would be interesting. Thing is I dont think people were looking for SV's ratings to double w/o UPN being around on Thursdays but they werent supposed to decrease any either.

Competition on Thursdays this fall is tough. Look at all the Heavy hitters and who could have predicted Ugly Betty? :confused: SV may need to kick it up a notch, but lets hope CW remains committed.

I also wonder how the DVD sales of SV compare to Lost, CSI and some of the other current heavy hitters.

Don't be surprised if Smallville's DVD numbers are up there or just below the 'heavy hitters'. Remember, it's an established brand. That little :super: has some major pull.....

I would be surprised if there's a huge difference in DVD sales between those shows you mentioned.

AgentPat

10-07-2006, 06:14 PM

Don't be surprised if Smallville's DVD numbers are up there or just below the 'heavy hitters'. Remember, it's an established brand. That little :super: has some major pull.....It's doing exceptionally well over at Best Buy. #2 as of Sept 17th...
http://www.homemediaretailing.com/

1. Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Second Season
2. Smallville: The Complete Fifth Season
3. The Wild
4. Star Wars: 3-DVD Collector's Set
5. Lucky Number Slevin
6. The Office: Season Two
7. Star Wars: A New Hope
8. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
9. Lost: The Complete Second Season
10. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

As to the ratings, it's the #1 show on the CW right now. That's all that matters.

avidreader

10-07-2006, 06:54 PM

As to the ratings, it's the #1 show on the CW right now. That's all that matters.

Yeah, I've already seen the "expert predictions" "NOT" that there wont be a seventh season. But CW aint going nowhere without their number one show.

NHawk19

10-09-2006, 08:19 AM

Kal do you have the breakdown of how the shows came in this week?

triplet

10-10-2006, 08:17 AM

Interesting.... Neilson is going to start metering kids from Neilson family homes when they head off to college.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-nielsen10oct10,1,1322537.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews

Should help Smallville, I would think.

AgentPat

10-10-2006, 09:13 PM

Kal do you have the breakdown of how the shows came in this week?Here are CW's rankings for national prime-time network television for October 2-8 2006 as compiled by Nielsen Media Research:

America's Next Top Model (Wed.) 5.25
Gilmore Girls 4.62
Smallville 4.52
7th Heaven 4.17
Friday Night Smackdown! 3.84
Veronica Mars 3.36
Supernatural 3.34
One Tree Hill 3.09
Girlfriends 2.85
America's Top Model (Sun.) 2.72
The Game 2.69
All of Us 2.40
Everybody Hates Chris 2.36
Runaway 1.86

Figures are based on the average number of people who watched a program from start to finish. Nielsen estimates there are 283.5 million potential viewers in the U.S. ages 2 and older. Viewership is listed in millions.

heliorei

10-11-2006, 09:28 AM

Here are CW's rankings for national prime-time network television for October 2-8 2006 as compiled by Nielsen Media Research:

America's Next Top Model (Wed.) 5.25
Gilmore Girls 4.62
Smallville 4.52
7th Heaven 4.17
Friday Night Smackdown! 3.84
Veronica Mars 3.36
Supernatural 3.34
One Tree Hill 3.09
Girlfriends 2.85
America's Top Model (Sun.) 2.72
The Game 2.69
All of Us 2.40
Everybody Hates Chris 2.36
Runaway 1.86

Figures are based on the average number of people who watched a program from start to finish. Nielsen estimates there are 283.5 million potential viewers in the U.S. ages 2 and older. Viewership is listed in millions.

Although Smallville has one of the highest audiences of the CW, i wish its numbers could improve a little bit.

Stop watching Ugly Betty...:cmad:

TrailerCues

10-11-2006, 11:49 AM

It should be interesting to see the ratings once the bambino is born on Smallville

NHawk19

10-11-2006, 01:51 PM

Thanks Pat

Hate to see that it slipped to 3rd, but I like where VM came in. Hopefully once baseball is over the #s will go up.

AgentPat

10-13-2006, 02:40 PM

Prime-Time Thursday Ratings:
ABC and CBS Split Leadership; Ugly Betty is the Real Deal

Thursday 10/12/06
Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 11.4/17, ABC: 11.1/17, NBC: 7.2/11, Fox: 6.7/10, CW: 3.1/ 5

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 10/13/05)
(*versus the WB’s combination of Smallville and Everwood)
ABC: +158, Fox: - 4, NBC: -17, CW: -18, CBS: -22

---------------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Ugly Betty (ABC), Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), ER (NBC)

-Could Be a Keeper:
Shark (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Six Degrees (ABC)

---------------

Fast National Ratings

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 17.15 million, ABC: 15.25, NBC: 11.27, Fox: 8.05, CW: 4.32

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 5.7 rating/15 share, CBS: 5.6/15, NBC: 4.3/11, Fox: 2.4/ 6, CW: 1.9/ 5

---------------

-Ratings Breakdown:
ABC is, no doubt, now the real deal on Thursday, tying CBS for the No. 1 spot for the fourth consecutive week. CBS was first in the overnights and total viewers, while the alphabet net was dominant among adults 18-49. Week three of ABC’s Ugly Betty remained a force to reckon with at an 11.0/17 in the overnights (#1), 13.81 million viewers (#2) and a 4.2/12 among adults 18-49 (#2) at 8 p.m. Comparably, this was on par with its performance from one week earlier, and more proof that ABC is home to the biggest new hit series of the season. You can expect a full season renewal any second now (and plenty of potential Emmy Awards attention at next year’s ceremony) for Ugly Betty.

CBS’ competing Survivor: Cook Islands is down, but far from out with a 9.5/15 in the overnights (#2) and a first-place finish in total viewers (15.74 million) and adults 18-49 (5.4/16). Personally, though, I think this is the worst season to-date creatively for Survivor. There is no one to root for, or hate, among the initial 20 competing contestants.

Also at 8 p.m. was NBC’s My Name Is Earl (Overnights: #3, 6.0/ 9; Viewers: #3, 9.90 million; A18-49: #3, 3.9/12) and The Office (Overnights: #4, 5.4/ 8; Viewers: #3, 8.79 million; A18-49: #3, 4.1/11), which remain an improvement over year-ago occupants Joey and Will & Grace. The CW’s Smallville (Overnights: #5, 3.6/ 6; Viewers: #5, 4.93 million; A18-49: #5, #4, 2.2/ 6) continues to hold its own in one of the most competitive hours in television, while the game one MLB National League Championship Series on Fox (N.Y. Mets: 2, St. Louis Cardinals: 0) averaged a 7.0/11 in the overnights from 8:15-11:15 p.m., with an approximate 8.05 million viewers (#4) and a 2.4/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4) in prime time. Comparably, the year-ago game two match-up between Houston and St. Louis averaged a healthier 8.0/12 in the overnights, 9.91 million viewers and a 3.1/ 9 among adults 18-49.

As a reminder, total viewers and adults 18-49 from last night are based on the fast nationals. Any prior results are based on the final nationals.

At 9 p.m., the battle of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy versus CBS’ CSI is shaping up as follows:

Thursday 9 p.m.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Overnights: 15.8/23 (#1), Viewers: 22.82 million (#1), A18-49: 9.3/22 (#1)

CSI (CBS)
Overnights: 14.4/21 (#2), Viewers: 21.58 million (#2), A18-49: 7.5/18 (#2)

Over at NBC, Deal or No Deal scored a typical 5.8/ 8 in the overnights (#4), 10.09 million viewers (#3) and a 3.1/ 7 among adults 18-49 (#3). The CW’s Supernatural capped off the hour with a last-place 2.6/ 4 in the overnights, 3.70 million viewers and a 1.6/ 4 among adults 18-49. Considering the severity of the competition, retention for Supernatural out of Smallville of 72 percent in the overnights, 75 percent in total viewers and 73 percent among adults 18-49 was not bad. And both Smallville and Supernatural posted growth from one week earlier.

----------

-The CW Makes Inroads on Wednesday:
Labeling the CW’s One Tree a loser yesterday was a premature call. Combined with America’s Next Top Model, the CW ranked second on Wednesday among adults 18-34 (2.8/ 8) and women 18-34 (4.1/11), with gains in all key demos over both UPN and the WB on the comparable year-ago evening. Both Top Model and One Tree Hill were also up week-to-week, with Top Model winning the 8 p.m. hour in adults 18-34 (3.4/11) and women 18-34 (5.1/15), and ranking second among women 18-49 (4.0/10). Growth for One Tree Hill, meanwhile, was as much as 17 percent among women 18-49 (2.1/ 5) from one week earlier.

-Speaking of the CW:
So far the new network has done what it needed to do, and that is alert the audience where they can now find their former favorite UPN and WB series. America’s Next Top Model, in particular, proves this is a viable platform given its consistency from one year earlier. The next step, of course, is to place more of an emphasis on new programming. Hopefully, the move to Monday will benefit recently introduced sitcom The Game, but chances are slim that drama Runaway will succeed in its new Sunday 9 p.m. time period (which kicks in this weekend).

Brainiac 8

10-13-2006, 02:44 PM

Thanks Pat, I still can't believe people are watching "Ugly Betty." :cmad: :down

At least it's holding it's own, which says something.
God, when American Idol gets put into that slot, all hell's gonna break loose. We'll need to duck and cover.:ninja:

NHawk19

10-13-2006, 02:50 PM

Thanks Pat I checked earlier and they weren't up yet. Shame it's not hitting the way it did last year.

I'm curious to see what happens after baseball though.

avidreader

10-13-2006, 04:36 PM

Thanks Pat I checked earlier and they weren't up yet. Shame it's not hitting the way it did last year.

I'm curious to see what happens after baseball though.

I think with last year's advertising campaign it kind of made viewers think that it was going to be the last season.

And The CW is still yet to be on in Alaska and Hawaii, so that could account for the slight drop.

It will be interesting to see next week's numbers, considering the DC Hero episodes always rate well.

AgentPat

10-13-2006, 08:09 PM

Wasnt Wither advertised as a DC hero episode also?No, it wasn't. Here's the Official description (http://www.kryptonsite.com/witherdescription.htm) for Wither:

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS PERFORM AT LEX'S COSTUME BALL – Still guilt-ridden about the destruction he caused while he was Zod, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) throws a charity costume ball for the town and hires the All-American Rejects to perform. Meanwhile, Clark (Tom Welling) and Chloe (Allison Mack) pursue a creature who uses male human bodies as potting mix to procreate, and the hunt intensifies after the creature gets hold of Jimmy Olsen (guest star Aaron Ashmore). Lois (Erica Durance) reluctantly agrees to be Oliver Queen's (guest star Justin Hartley) date to Lex’s ball. Kristin Kreuk, John Glover and Annette O’Toole also star. Tracy Bellomo wrote the episode directed by Whitney Ransick (#2T7703).

Next week's ep, Arrow, is being hyped for the Green Arrow, DC hero angle.

CW didn't waste any time crowing about the ratings for Wither. Here's a press release posted today:

[10.13.06 - 01:05 PM]
THE CW'S "SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS AGAINST TOUGH THURSDAY COMPETITION
Released by The CW

THE CW'S "SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS AGAINST TOUGH THURSDAY COMPETITION

October 13, 2006 (Burbank, CA) - Both of The CW's Thursday dramas, "Smallville" and "Supernatural," delivered week-to-week growth in viewers and key demos despite facing increasingly tougher Thursday competition, according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Thursday, Oct. 12.

Compared to last week, "Smallville" gained 9% in adults 18-34 (2.5/8), 10% in adults 18-49 (2.2/6), 33% in women 18-34 (2.4/7), 11% in women 18-49 (2.0/5) and 9% in viewers (4.9million). "Smallville" hit its season best performance in women 18-34.

"Supernatural" posted increases over last week of 7% in adults 18-49 (1.6/4), 6% in women 18-34 (1.8/4), 14% in women 18-49 (1.6/4) and 11% in viewers (3.70mil).

The CW's Thursday line-up of "Smallville" and "Supernatural" mark a considerable improvement over UPN's Thursday night from a year ago, with increases of 11% in adults 18-34 (2.1/6), 12% in adults 18-49 (1.9/5), 50% in men 18-34 (2.1/6) and 58% in men 18-49.

Cmill216

10-13-2006, 10:43 PM

No, I'm refering to the television commerical for "Wither."

I vaguely recall it saying 'Green Arrow coming to Smallville' or something to that effect.

It was a commercial for the character in general. Why they showed it with "Sneeze" like that is beyond me, though.

AgentPat

10-14-2006, 12:17 AM

It was a commercial for the character in general. Why they showed it with "Sneeze" like that is beyond me, though.Exactly. Wither wasn't pimped for its DC superhero angle. Green Arrow hasn't made his appearance yet, after all.

Arrow, on the other hand....

We'll see how that goes next week.

NHawk19

10-14-2006, 12:42 AM

CW didn't waste any time crowing about the ratings for Wither. Here's a press release posted today:

[10.13.06 - 01:05 PM]
THE CW'S "SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS AGAINST TOUGH THURSDAY COMPETITION
Released by The CW

THE CW'S "SMALLVILLE" AND "SUPERNATURAL" POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS AGAINST TOUGH THURSDAY COMPETITION

October 13, 2006 (Burbank, CA) - Both of The CW's Thursday dramas, "Smallville" and "Supernatural," delivered week-to-week growth in viewers and key demos despite facing increasingly tougher Thursday competition, according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Thursday, Oct. 12.

Compared to last week, "Smallville" gained 9% in adults 18-34 (2.5/8), 10% in adults 18-49 (2.2/6), 33% in women 18-34 (2.4/7), 11% in women 18-49 (2.0/5) and 9% in viewers (4.9million). "Smallville" hit its season best performance in women 18-34.

"Supernatural" posted increases over last week of 7% in adults 18-49 (1.6/4), 6% in women 18-34 (1.8/4), 14% in women 18-49 (1.6/4) and 11% in viewers (3.70mil).

The CW's Thursday line-up of "Smallville" and "Supernatural" mark a considerable improvement over UPN's Thursday night from a year ago, with increases of 11% in adults 18-34 (2.1/6), 12% in adults 18-49 (1.9/5), 50% in men 18-34 (2.1/6) and 58% in men 18-49.

That's funny. The comparison is apples to oranges and they are still trying to promote it as success. Especially given what we know from above.

-Percent Change From the Comparable Year-Ago Evening (Thursday 10/13/05)
(*versus the WB’s combination of Smallville and Everwood)
ABC: +158, Fox: - 4, NBC: -17, CW: -18, CBS: -22

Not that I dont want to see them succeed, but this appears to be a better comparison.

AgentPat

10-15-2006, 04:48 AM

Interesting read:

Media Life
10/13/06

Missing: A million viewers ages 18-34
New CW is pulling just half the target audience
By Kevin Downey

When UPN and the WB merged into the CW earlier this year, the presumption was that the new network, having the best programming of both, would retain a good share of their audiences, especially in the 18-34 demographic, where they were strongest.

Not so. The combined CW has retained just half of those viewers. The other half have disappeared, and they do not appear to have gone to the other broadcast networks or even to cable.

Just where they've gone is a puzzle to which no one as yet has answers. Somewhere out there are a lot of people ages 18-34 who are simply not watching TV anymore. Or so it appears.

Their disappearance is reminiscent of a couple of years ago, when TV ratings for young adults suddenly plummeted. It was later determined, after much research and wrangling, that a goodly share had gone to the internet and video games.

Four weeks into the new season, overall TV usage among 18-34s is down 4 percent in primetime from the same time last year, despite the addition of Spanish-language networks to Nielsen Media Research's national measurement, according to a Magna Global ratings analysis.

Network TV viewing among 18-34s is down 9 percent, while cable TV is down 5 percent and premium cable down 7 percent.

"It's a mystery," says Steve Sternberg, executive vice president of audience analysis at Magna. "We haven't done an extensive analysis yet, but it just looks like a lot of them went away."

Quite a lot, in fact over 1 million. Only half the combined 2.2 million 18-34 viewers who watched UPN and WB have gone to the CW.

The rest have not moved to the other broadcast networks. Only NBC has posted a ratings increase over last season, and it's a mere 0.3 rating points.

That's not surprising, says Sternberg. "All of the Big Four networks have median ages over 40 years old. The CW is the only broadcast network with a median age around 31 or 32, which is the range where UPN and the WB were."

It would appear a good part of those departed viewers are African American. UPN had two nights geared to black viewers, where the CW has but one, meaning fewer shows appealing to black audiences.

In a Media Life poll conducted shortly after UPN and the WB merged, more than 70 percent of respondents thought black viewers would be the demographic most likely to be disenfranchised by the new network, in terms of fewer shows aimed at them

But that would explain only part of the decline. Clearly many of those former UPN and WB viewers have quit watching TV entirely.

Moreover, that erosion probably began well before the CW even debuted. A look at the ratings for the WB and UPN shows they were in a steep slide through the summer.

Rather than debuting new shows, as in summers past, the networks, by then lame ducks, went to reruns. The WB's overall audience dipped 8 percent compared to the prior summer. UPN's audience slid 24 percent.

Now the looming questions are: Where have they gone, these 18-34s?

"I think these viewers have gone to a variety of places," says Brad Adgate, senior vice president and corporate research director at Horizon Media. "They probably went off in a lot of different directions. It's become very complicated with all the choices young people engage in."

Surely some have gone to the internet. Ball State University last year found that computers have become the second most-used media device. The average person now spends 120 minutes per day on the computer, compared to 241 minutes watching TV.

"It could be the internet, it could be DVDs, it could be any number of things," says Sternberg. "The bottom line is that it's all speculation at this point. But since overall television viewing is down at the same time a network went away, the logical assumption is that a lot of them are temporarily displaced."

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_7870.asp