Ratings

[KikiDee]

WB has to be extremely happy with this. I have to wonder what effect this will have on future episodes and the overall longevitiy for SV. Lets face it the first 3 for this season were great and Aquaman while it wasnt on par with those was a solid ep. Here's to hoping WB can keep pace through sweeps.

From what I understand they have something really major happening during sweeps. This may be when Clark and Brainiac go head to head.

 

[Serene]

Holy shi.....

Ratings for Aqua:

Elsewhere, the WB remains the fastest growing network on Thursday with its solid combination of Smallville (Overnights: #4, 4.5/ 7; Viewers: #4, 6.27 million; A18-49: #3, 2.9/ 8) and Everwood (Overnights: #4, 3.2/ 5; Viewers: #4, 4.04 million; A18-49: #4, 1.5/ 4). Consider the WB’s new Thursday one of the smartest programming moves this season.​

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

That makes me all kinds of happy..

 

[triplet]

Yup!

 

[AgentPat]

Pat you've probably got the info or know where to get it, but what was total viewers in the first season. Is this more or comparable?

Unfortunately, unless folks save the info right after the eps air, the data is lost (to the general public) because Nielsen doesn't allow it to be archived. I only started saving the ratings as of last year - and towards the end I kinda stopped 'cause it was getting pretty depressing.

Now, there ARE some numbers floating around the Net, mostly on message boards like K-Site and DTS, that folks can refer back to. Without actually doing the research, I can tell you what I remember off the top of my head. IIRC, SV's pilot was the most watched show (up to that point) EVER on The WB. I believe it got something like 8 or 9 million viewers. Can't remember exactly, but it was a big deal at the time. I *think* Rosetta was the most watched ep ever, but there's been confusion on that due to some graphs because the numbers that were used to make the charts included repeat airings. Anyhoo, SV got its best ratings in its second season. I believe they averaged in and around 6 to 7 million per episode.

It's hard to make these kind of comparisons though because while people are watching more hours of TV per day now (the highest it's ever been), there are more programming options, so overall prime time viewership shares among the six major networks are down. Other variables include day of week and time slot competition, and encore airings, which factor into final ratings as presented to sponsors.

When it comes to ratings, demographic shares are more important than overall viewership because sponsors tailor their ads to specific groups of viewers. That's really the whole PURPOSE for keeping track in the first place. That in mind, SV is smokin' HOT this year in its new time slot. Keep your fingers crossed that The WB doesn't get a hair across its butt and want to fix something that aint broke by moving SV *again* to shore up another night that's not doing too well. It seems to be their M.O. Smallville has become quite an ace in the hole for them.

 

[AgentPat]

This is almost starting to become commonplace. Here's the latest press release from The WB. Unbelievable! The fangirl in me is ecstatic!

Friday, October 21, 2005
THE WB THURSDAY AGAIN PROVES TO BE TELEVISION'S BEST SCHEDULING MOVE OF THE SEASON
Released by The WB
Burbank, CA
October 21, 2005

THE WB ACHIEVES ITS HIGHEST THURSDAY RATINGS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NETWORK AMONG MEN WHILE “SMALLVILLE” IS #1 IN MEN 18-34 FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE WEEK AND RANKS #2 AMONG ADULTS 18-34, PERSONS 12-34 AND MEN 18-49

“SMALLVILLE” SETS THURSDAY NIGHT AND TIME PERIOD RECORDS

BOTH SERIES [SMALLVILLE & EVERWOOD] DELIVER TREMENDOUS GAINS COMPARED TO THE PARALLEL WEEK LAST SEASON

The WB Thursday continues to establish itself as the best scheduling move made by any network this season. The aggressive move of the two signature series, SMALLVILLE and EVERWOOD, to build a beachhead on one of television's toughest nights again paid major dividends and achieved THE WB'S BEST-EVER RATINGS IN MEN 12-34 (2.4/8) AND EQUALED THE NETWORK HIGH IN MEN 18-49 (2.2/6).

SMALLVILLE has consistently been one of the winners on the night this season, achieving a #1 rank in men 18-34 (3.5/12) for the fourth time in as many weeks this season. The super series also placed #1 in men 12-34 (3.6/12) and #2 among adults 18-34 (3.1/10), persons 12-34 (3.1/10) and men 18-49 (3.3/10).

SMALLVILLE set new WB Thursday records in males 12-34 (3.6/12) and men 18-49 (3.3/10) and equaled the all-time high in men 18-34 (3.5/12). SMALLVILLE also set new Thursday time period records in persons 12-34 (3.1/10), adults 18-49 (2.9/8) and total viewers (6.4 million), while delivering the time period record in adults 18-34 (3.1/10). The show built sharply week-to-week across all demos, and continues to more than double the time period deliveries of a year ago in adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and persons 12-34.

The WB Thursday achieved triple-digit growth across nearly every key demo, including +156% in adults 18-34, +118% in persons 12-34 and +120% in adults 18-49. The network ranked #2 on the night in men 12-34 (2.4/8) and was #3 on the night in adults 18-34 (2.3/7), women 18-34 (2.3/6), men 18-34 (2.2/7), persons 12-34 (2.4/7), females 12-34 (2.4/7), adults 18-49 (2.2/6) and men 18-49 (2.2/6).

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/pr.cgi?id=20051021wb01​

 

[Pickle-El]

Wow, looks like it's reaching 2nd year levels in viewership.

 

[AgentPat]

Wow, looks like it's reaching 2nd year levels in viewership.

Indeed! And it's doing it on the most competitive night of the week, something it didn't have in the 2nd season. The suits at The WB must be popping the champaign corks every Friday when the numbers come in. I know I would be!

 

[KikiDee]

I don't know if it made any difference, but the new Batman Begins DVD has a nice sizeable promo for Smallville. Obviously it was for the previous seasons DVD sets, but it was a very nice display of all the memorable Smallville stuff.

 

[avidreader]

This is great news for Smallville.

Kiki my son has been watching that Batman DVD since I bought it on Tuesday, I've been constantly hearing Smallville promos, but I keep assuming that its an ad on TV, I didnt realise it was from the Batman DVD. That is cool.

 

[KikiDee]

I just thought it was such a great marketing tool because thank god the promos weren't long on this one so there really wasn't any need to ff. I think it was just Charlie and the Chocolate factory and Smallville.
People who probably would have never thought of tuning might due to that promotion.

This is great news for Smallville.

Kiki my son has been watching that Batman DVD since I bought it on Tuesday, I've been constantly hearing Smallville promos, but I keep assuming that its an ad on TV, I didnt realise it was from the Batman DVD. That is cool.

 

[avidreader]

I just thought it was such a great marketing tool because thank god the promos weren't long on this one so there really wasn't any need to ff. I think it was just Charlie and the Chocolate factory and Smallville.
People who probably would have never thought of tuning might due to that promotion.

You know if you hit the menu button you can skip all those promos.

 

[KikiDee]

You know if you hit the menu button you can skip all those promos.

LOL....I know, but the Charlie and the Chocolate factory one came on before I realized it and of course with a 5 and an 8 yr old we had to watch it so I just let it run.

By the way, found this on that link you posted in the upcoming films thread. Interesting read.

[font=verdana,arial]ADVERTISERS CONFUSED OVER NEW RATINGS 'STREAMS'[/font]
Thursday, October 20 2005 Advertisers are expressing confusion over Nielsen Research's plans to add three more "streams" of ratings data to the current one. One would include the viewing of TV shows via digital video recorders like TiVo during the first 24 hours after the original broadcasts. Another would include DVR viewing during the week following the original broadcasts. A third stream is being described as a "hybrid," primarily for journalists who track the ratings. "It's going to become a problem when it comes down to negotiating [with the networks] -- which is the one to use," Steve Sternberg of Magna Global told the online trade journal MediaDailyNews.

So hurray for all you TiVo watchers out there!!!

 

[avidreader]

LOL....I know, but the Charlie and the Chocolate factory one came on before I realized it and of course with a 5 and an 8 yr old we had to watch it so I just let it run.

By the way, found this on that link you posted in the upcoming films thread. Interesting read.

[font=verdana,arial]ADVERTISERS CONFUSED OVER NEW RATINGS 'STREAMS'[/font]
Thursday, October 20 2005 Advertisers are expressing confusion over Nielsen Research's plans to add three more "streams" of ratings data to the current one. One would include the viewing of TV shows via digital video recorders like TiVo during the first 24 hours after the original broadcasts. Another would include DVR viewing during the week following the original broadcasts. A third stream is being described as a "hybrid," primarily for journalists who track the ratings. "It's going to become a problem when it comes down to negotiating [with the networks] -- which is the one to use," Steve Sternberg of Magna Global told the online trade journal MediaDailyNews.

So hurray for all you TiVo watchers out there!!!

Interesting.

 

[AgentPat]

Excerpt from a Chicago Tribune article:

The Wheat & The Chaff
By Maureen Ryan and Sid Smith
Tribune staff reporters
10/23/05

As the fall sweeps approach -- the biannual ratings race begins Nov. 3 -- we thought we'd take a look at what's working on TV this fall, what's not, and notable developments that fall somewhere in the smooshy middle between success and failure.

Winners
WB'S THURSDAY LINEUP

Thursday is one of the toughest nights on TV, given that every network has moved in for the kill against NBC's weak lineup. Few pundits, however, would have predicted that "Smallville" would turn out to be as powerful as it has been on this brutally competitive night, and "Everwood's" loyal fan base has followed the veteran show to its new night, where it's holding its own in the ratings and is on a creative high. (Speaking of the WB, the network's Tuesday odd-couple lineup of "Gilmore Girls" and "Supernatural" is also doing well. Who'da thunk it?)


WINNERS
Everybody Hates Chris
My Name Is Earl
Everwood
Smallville

DRAW
Desperate Housewives
West Wing
Commander in Chief

LOSERS
Alias
The Apprentice

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/tv/mmx-0510230450oct23,0,6370178.story?coll=mmx-television_heds​

 

[avidreader]

So what does good ratings give a show, other than another season and good advertisers?

 

[triplet]

So what does good ratings give a show, other than another season and good advertisers?

Well, mostly they can now charge more per spot.

 

[avidreader]

Well, mostly they can now charge more per spot.

I didnt know that. That's a bonus.

 

[triplet]

I didnt know that. That's a bonus.

I was reading an article that NBC had to rescope their ad rates because they are doing so much worse than they had predicted.

It's a big deal, so I'm glad that Smallville is again one of the main shows for the WB... it'll make it much more likely we'll get more seasons.



Which is a good thing.

 

[avidreader]

I was reading an article that NBC had to rescope their ad rates because they are doing so much worse than they had predicted.

It's a big deal, so I'm glad that Smallville is again one of the main shows for the WB... it'll make it much more likely we'll get more seasons.



Which is a good thing.

Absolutely!

I was reading about NBC's Thursday night woes in the paper the other day as well. I dont think Joey will be returning after Christmas.

As long as we keep getting Smallville, I'm happy.

 

[Brainiac 8]

Absolutely!

I was reading about NBC's Thursday night woes in the paper the other day as well. I dont think Joey will be returning after Christmas.

As long as we keep getting Smallville, I'm happy.

Plus maybe with the good ratings, we'll get our SFX budget back! That would be cool.

So WB is 4 of 4 with Smallville! Aqua had some of the highest ratings they have ever had, so that is mucho good.

 

[avidreader]

Plus maybe with the good ratings, we'll get our SFX budget back! That would be cool.

You know that was the first thing that came to my mind as well.

 

[Brainiac 8]

You know that was the first thing that came to my mind as well.

One could only hope. Heres to hoping ratings stay up!

 

[AgentPat]

Ho hum.

Another day, another article in the trades about how Smallville is...




KICKING MAJOR ASS!!!! LOL!!!


Daily Variety
10/23/05

Frog sees big leap Thursday
WB's 'Smallville' living large
By RICK KISSELL

The arrival of Aquaman helped "Smallville" drench most of its competish Thursday night, as the Frog drama continued its hot start this fall.

It's not often that a show with four seasons under its belt can move to a new night and improve its ratings, but that's exactly what "Smallville" has done for the WB. No longer in the shadow of ABC's "Lost" on Wednesday, the young-Superman skein has blossomed on Thursday and helped the net's sked strategy pay off.

Last week, with an episode featuring the "Smallville" premiere of DC Comics character Aquaman (played by Alan Ritchson), the Frog skein averaged a season-high 2.9 rating/8 share in adults 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall.

"Smallville" also won its hour in males 12-34 for the fourth time in as many tries this season (3.6/12) and placed second to CBS' "Survivor" in adults 18-34 (3.1/10) and men 18-49 (3.3/10).

Lead-out drama "Everwood" (1.5/4, 4.07m) isn't faring as well on Thursday after shifting over from Monday but is nonetheless also contributing to hefty year-to-year increases on the night for the Frog.

Through the first month of the season, the WB's Thursday is the most improved night on any network this season -- up 122% in its target 18-34 demo and up about 90% in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117931455&c=14

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

just imagine if they wer partnered with another half decent show on Thursdays...

 

[Brainiac 8]

just imagine if they wer partnered with another half decent show on Thursdays...

Smallville and Supernatural would be a good Thursday partnering.