Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 2/20/08

The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 28.67 million, NBC: 9.16, CBS: 6.66, ABC: 5.45, CW: 2.84

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 11.1 rating/27 share, NBC: 2.4/ 6, ABC: 2.0/ 5, CBS: 1.9/ 5, CW: 1.4/ 3

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Also, since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 9 percent in early 2006-07 to approximately 20 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Law & Order (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Big Brother 9 (CBS), Wife Swap (ABC), Cashmere Mafia (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
With American Idol on board there is no stopping Fox, which beat the four competing networks combined on this February sweeps Wednesday (does anyone even know this is a sweeps period?). American Idol averaged a stellar 28.67 million viewers and an 11.1 rating/27 share from 8-10 p.m., with the half hour breakdown as follows:

American Idol (Fox)
8:00 p.m. Viewers: 25.18 million, A18-49: 9.5/25
8:30 p.m. Viewers: 28.48 million, A18-49: 11.0/26
9:00 p.m. Viewers: 30.64 million, A18-49: 12.0/28
9:30 p.m. Viewers: 30.37 million, A18-49: 11.9/28

As for this first night of female competition, my picks to get the boot tonight: Joanne Borgella and Amy Davis. For more on American Idol, listen to today’s PIPodcast at www.marcberman.tv.
NBC finished in the distant No. 2 spot with its combination of Deal or No Deal (Viewers: #2, 8.93 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.1/ 5), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Viewers: #2, 7.70 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.9/ 4) and Law & Order (Viewers: #1, 10.85 million; A18-49: #1, 3.1/ 8). Considering that Law & Order faced a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY, the results could have actually been better.

CBS’ winter edition of Big Brother remains a bust, with a fourth-place finish in both total viewers (5.24 million) and adults 18-49 (1.9/ 5) from 8-9 p.m. Personally, I do not think the couples concept works, particularly with this lackluster combination of people. Big Brother led into a repeat of Criminal Minds at 7.31 million viewers (#3) and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#3t) at 9 p.m., followed by the aforementioned CSI: NY encore at a second-place7.42 million viewers and a 2.0/ 5 among adults 18-49 at 10 p.m.

In season-premiere news, the CW’s golden goose, America’s Next Top Model, got off to a modest start, with 3.80 million viewers (#5) and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#4t) at 8 p.m. Although there should be interest among the target young females, comparatively this was down by 1.1 million viewers and 21 percent in the demo from its fall season-premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007 (Viewers: 4.90 million; A18-49: 2.4/ 7). Top Model led into a repeat of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious at 1.87 million viewers (#5) and a 0.8/ 2 among adults 18-49 (#5) from 9-10 p.m.

ABC capped off the evening with its line-up of Wife Swap (Viewers: #3, 5.62 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.1/ 5), which has taken a big hit opposite American Idol, Supernanny (Viewers: #4, 5.96 million; A18-49: #2, 2.3/ 6) and dud Cashmere Mafia (Viewers: #3, 4.77 million; A18-49: #3, 1.6/ 4). If anyone is interested in a good dramedy about four female friends, Sex and the City comes out on the big screen in May.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

quote:

In season-premiere news, the CW’s golden goose, America’s Next Top Model, got off to a modest start, with 3.80 million viewers (#5) and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49 (#4t) at 8 p.m. Although there should be interest among the target young females, comparatively this was down by 1.1 million viewers and 21 percent in the demo from its fall season-premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007 (Viewers: 4.90 million; A18-49: 2.4/ 7).

Developing ANTM for UPN (or at least being in charge of UPN while it was developed) was pretty much Ostroff's sole accomplishment of note, if you want to call it an accomplishment. But even if you do--not such a terribly enduring accomplishment, was it?

It really is past time to fire Ostroff.

And if that doesn't work, it'll be time to CANCEL THE CW.

I spent some time thinking about FOX and their TV domination. Part of it comes from the fact that there is no dead 10 PM hour and they can allow Idol to cover easily 10-20% of their weekly schedule, when necessary. In the future, the main three could decide to drop that hour. Not sure if it is realistic, but it is certainly a possibility. So, I thought of a new game for this board. How would you re-do a network’s line-up if they could only broadcast from 8-10. Even last place NBC would get some relief from this change! Here is my suggestion for ABC:

Sunday: 7:00-Extreme Makeover; 8:00-Desperate Housewives; 9: B&S
Monday: 8:00-Dancing with the Stars; 9:30-Samantha Who
Tuesday: 8:00-Dancing with the Stars-Results; 9:00-Boston Legal
Wednesday: 8:00-Lost; 9:00-Private Practice
Thursday: 8:00-Ugly Betty; 9:00-Grey’s Anatomy
Friday: 8:00-Women’s Murder Club; 9:00-20/20

On stand-by:
Dirty Sexy Money (replaces DWTS-Results)
Pushing Daisies (replaces Lost when it is done or has the Fall lead off spot)
Eli Stone (I would give it one more shot; personal choice)
Supernanny (replaces DWTS)
2 New Comedy Entries (put in the more promising one between DTWS and SW once the number of dancing contestants drop)
2 Drama Possibilities

Cancelled:
Cashmere Mafia (fun show that could be a time period hit, but will not catch on its own)
October Road
According to Jim
Carpoolers
Anne Heche show

I think it is fair to say that this schedule would have few, if any, holes with a strong back up of shows to decrease repeats. Interestingly, if FOX were truly dominating they would expand to 10 PM, but I sense that could be the death of them.

What would you do?

quote:

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Law & Order (NBC)

quote:

CBS’ winter edition of Big Brother remains a bust, with a fourth-place finish in both total viewers (5.24 million) and adults 18-49 (1.9/ 5) from 8-9 p.m.

quote:

Cashmere Mafia (Viewers: #3, 4.77 million; A18-49: #3, 1.6/ 4).

double ouch for PCD

I can see why BB is doing so bad. I watch for the drama but for the gameplay drama this is just too highschool for me. What are the chances that the big hats will step in and break up the couples quick fast?

quote:

Law & Order (Viewers: #1, 10.85 million; A18-49: #1, 3.1/ 8). Considering that Law & Order faced a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY, the results could have actually been better.

Those are not BAD numbers, but considering the competition in that hour, They should be a lot bigger.

ANTM has integrity issues.......witness: Heather and Lisa we're smokin' hot in te last cycle, but as my 13 year old tells me, threatened Tyra, so off they went. When your viewers vote Heather the top gal 98 weeks in a row, and you toss her off, despite saying that they took the best pictures....as in, last I checked, models were in a picture based industry. Dani and Jaslene couldn't talk their way out of a paper bag, and Saleisha was, as Ms. J said, a commercioal model at best.

The show, based on Tyra's ego, shot itself in the foot.

Last night there were two girls of note. Ashley, or whatever the #1 girl picked was, and Domeneque, who got picked as an after thought.

One of the only two potential models got picked as an afterthought?

Ms. Tyra should check her bank account, and leave her ego at the stage door.

quote:

Originally posted by TV-aholic:

quote:

Law & Order (Viewers: #1, 10.85 million; A18-49: #1, 3.1/ 8). Considering that Law & Order faced a repeat of CBS’ CSI: NY, the results could have actually been better.

Those are not BAD numbers, but considering the competition in that hour, They should be a lot bigger.

I agree. The numbers should have been better for Law and Order.

I'm not surprised by the bad Top Model premiere. I was shocked at how well it did this fall considering the first hour was the "semi-finals" where they take 33 or so girls and after an hour reveal the Top 13 who are the actual contestants. Only problem is that the Top 13 have already been revealed by CW press releases, marketing, etc. Back when the Top Model premieres were two hours, the first hour was always much lower rated than the second (but not this low), because it was the semi-finals, and then the second hour was much higher rated as it was an actual competition hour (with moving into the house/apartment, a task, a photoshoot, and an elimination). I suspect Top Model will go up next week. But CW is really, really in trouble because even last fall, without Idol against it, Top Model started losing steam. And it's the flagship show.

ABC needs to get rid of who is in charge of scheduling and who is running this ship first.

It's a mess.

I have to agree about BB- losing to Wife Swap, of all shows, isn't good. BB was just meant to be a summer show, no ifs ands or buts about it...

I'm a fan of the show and this season is so meh to me that I haven't turned on the feeds once, or watched one of the shows (CBS or Showtime )live for the first time in 9 seasons....the question is will it cause irreversible harm to the brand perhaps for the normal summer timeframe?

quote:

Originally posted by KSO:
ABC needs to get rid of who is in charge of scheduling and who is running this ship first.

It's a mess.

Given the weak competition AI's numbers are far from stellar. Very good yes, but stellar no way.

Everything goes awfully wrong for CW