Ratings

[rumpuso]

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]

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

 

[NHawk19]

A Sunday slot isnt going to help either

 

[AgentPat]

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]

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]

Interesting info.

Thanks AgentPat!

 

[Cmill216]

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]

LOL @ "Chick Tuesday"

something for everyone.....

 

[RakuMon]

bump

 

[Kaboom]

...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]

oh how they were giving us clues even then.

*slaps forehead*

That's great.

 

[triplet]

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

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



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 [email protected]

 

[NHawk19]

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

 

[Brainiac 8]

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.

Why is everyone jumping on the Thursday bandwagon.

 

[RakuMon]

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]

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]

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

 

[Cmill216]

^ Season 5, of course.

 

[NHawk19]

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]

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]

*double post ack!

 

[AgentPat]

^ 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]

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]

<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]

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!