Prime-Time Ratings:
Thursday 10/04/07

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

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 16.47 million, ABC: 12.19, NBC: 8.39, Fox: 7.15, CW: 3.76

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 4.9 rating/13 share, ABC: 4.8/13, NBC: 3.8/10, Fox: 2.1/ 5, CW: 1.5/ 4

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
Survivor: China (CBS), CSI (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Without a Trace (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
The Office (NBC)

-Worth Positively Noting:
Ugly Betty (ABC), My Name is Earl (NBC), 30 Rock (NBC)

-Time to Call it Quits:
ER (NBC)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Nothing…a positive sign for network television.

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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 approximately 9 percent during week two in 2006 to about 20 percent at present, the overall results have been negatively impacted.

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS dominated this second Thursday of the 2007-08 season, finishing first in both total viewers and adults 18-49. But its advantage over second-place ABC was just one-tenth of a rating point (or two percent) in the demo. NBC was third, followed by Fox and the CW.

CBS’ veteran Survivor: China opened the evening first in the 8 p.m. hour, with 14.07 million viewers and a 4.4 rating/13 share among adults 18-49. Comparably, that was down by 1.76 million viewers and 21 percent in the demo from one year earlier, but it still wins the hour. And that still makes Survivor: China a winner. ABC’s Ugly Betty was second in the 8 p.m. hour in total viewers (9.78 million), and tied for No. 2 among adults 18-49 (3.4/10) with NBC’s My Name is Earl and 30 Rock. But before I get into the NBC comedies, keep in mind that the year-to-year losses for Ugly Betty are more noticeable at 4.48 million viewers (`4.26 to 9.78 million) and 24 percent in the demo (4.5/13 to 3.4/10).

Fans of NBC’s 30 Rock, take note: there is some positive news. The second season opener (featuring the over-rated Jerry Seinfeld) kicked-off with 7.38 million viewers (#4) and a record high 3.4/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8:30 p.m. While 30 Rock is not, and will never be, a mass appeal hit, the retention out of lead-in My Name is Earl (Viewers: #3, 8.00 million; A18-49: #2, 3.4/10 at 8 p.m.) was 92 percent in viewers and 100 percent in the demo. This is good news, folks.

Also airing in the 8 p.m. hour was Fox’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Viewers: #3, 8.53 million; A18-49: #4, 2.3/ 7), which is a vast improvement over fall 2006 occupants ‘Til Death and Happy Hour, and the CW’s Smallville (Viewers: #5, 4.56 million; A18-49: #5, 1.8/ 5). With the CW’s recently introduced Reaper and Gossip Girl in search of an audience, it looks like there could be life for the veteran Smallville past this season.

ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and CBS’ CSI shared dominance in the 9 p.m. as follows:

Thursday 9 p.m.
CSI (CBS)
Viewers: 20.81 million (#1), A18-49: 6.3/16 (#2)

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Viewers: 18.13 million (#2), A18-49: 7.4/18 (#1)

Third at 9 p.m. was a one-hour edition of NBC’s The Office, at 8.49 million viewers and a 4.5/11 among adults 18-49. The Big three networks combined, in fact, totaled 47.43 million viewers and an 18.2/45 among adults 18-49 from 9-10 p.m. DVR usage may be up, but the network broadcasters are still a force to reckon with.

Also airing in the 9 p.m. hour was Fox game show Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Viewers: #4, 5.78 million; A18-49: #4, 1.8/ 4), which remains a improvement from year-ago occupant The O.C., and the third-season premiere of the CW’s Supernatural (Viewers: #5, 2.97 million; A18-49: #5, 1.2/ 3). One year-earlier, and opposite baseball on Fox, Supernatural averaged 3.34 million viewers and a 1.5/ 4 in the demo. Retention for Supernatural out of Smallville was a typical 65 percent in total viewers and 67 percent in the demo. Give the competition in the 9-10 p.m., this is definitely livable for the CW.

At 10 p.m., CBS’ relocated Without a Trace led the troops, with 14.54 million viewers and a 3.8/11 among adults 18-49 -- one-tenth of a rating point ahead of both ABC’s Big Shots and NBC’s ER in the demo. Week two of Big Shots (Viewers: #3, 8.66 million; A18-49: #2t, 3.7/10) dipped by an expected 2.44 million viewers (11.10 million to 8.66) and 18 percent among adults 18-49 (4.5/12 to 3.7/10). Deteriorating ER averaged 9.00 million viewers (#2) and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49 (#2t), which dropped from lead-in The Office by 18 percent in the demo. Say goodbye, ER.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Good for 30 Rock! I wish it was on following the office, that's a much better, more sophisticated combo than stupid MNIE.

Oh what disheartening news for Supernatural. sigh I knew the office added to the timeslot was going to be a killer. I still love it, but I've got to be realistic.

Amazing that Without A Trace got 6 million more viewers than Big Shots, and yet only a 0.1 advantage in the A18-49 demo. I expect Big Shots will do well with A18-34, and most particularly M18-34, just like it did last week.

Marc, could you please post the half-hour breakdowns for both SV and SN? Thanks.

Peace!!

Oh Supernatual. I was pretty optimistic about how it would do...but the timeslot is killer and it's even worse than last year. I'd like to see it tick up passed 3 million in the final numbers, since it's so close.

Just a reminder that the third game of the 2007-08 fall season of the P.I. Feedback Challenge has just premiered online! You have 3 days left before this game's deadline!

I just posted the top 20 timeshifted programs in broadcast, cable and in syndication in the Week of 9/10/07 Ratings Thread

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Douglas,

That's not bad for 30 Rock. It'll experience drop-off next week obviously, but it's not like NBC has a anything to replace it with. I'm happy, for now.

Okay, I totally disagree with Seinfeld being overrated (at least, I think his show was historic, hilarious, and amazing; if you're talking about other things he does, I don't know...)

I dig the snark you sneak in, though.

CSI did fantastic. I didn't expect a 2.5 million victory

ABC must be really disappointed with BS. Another missed oportunity to capitalize on GA's numbers

Man...I read the numbers wrong. Crap and it is disheartening.

Peace!

Smallville
8:00 p.m. V: 4.23 million, A18-49: 1.7/ 5
8:30 p.m. V: 4.89 million, A18-49: 2.0/ 5

Supernatural
9:00 p.m. V: 3.04 million, A18-49: 1.2/ 3
9:30 p.m. V: 2.89 million, A18-49: 1.2/ 3

quote:

Originally posted by wenart25:
Marc, could you please post the half-hour breakdowns for both SV and SN? Thanks.

Peace!!

Do we think that Supernatural's numbers will increase due to the free iTunes downloads as well? I believe they are (or should be, at least) factored into the final ratings.

2.97 million for SN?. Are you kiddind?. I just don't know what to say. I thought for sure it would do better than that. Being on at 9 is a killer, but will that continue to be livable for the CW as you say?. That's a 960,000 drop from the last year's premiere's final number(3.93 million). Do you think things will get any better once The Office is no longer an hour?. Supernatural is the CW's best show, not that there is a lot to choose from, so they should do whatever they can.

4.56 million is still pretty positive for Smallville. If it stays steady and consistent, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be a season 8. What else has the CW got?.

quote:

Originally posted by galveston:
Oh what disheartening news for Supernatural. sigh I knew the office added to the timeslot was going to be a killer. I still love it, but I've got to be realistic.

Supernatural's viewership last night is the top 9 pm level for The CW this week so far, and tied for the top 9 pm demo. Not bad at all considering the top flight competition across all six English networks.