Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 1/14/09

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 29.85 million, CBS: 11.35, NBC: 6.02, ABC: 4.48, CW: 1.13

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 11.6 rating/29 share, CBS: 2.9/ 7, ABC and NBC: 1.7/ 4 each, CW: 0.5/ 1

----------

-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Knight Rider (NBC), 13 Fear is Real (CW)

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
Fox’s American Idol is alive and very well, with last night’s two-hour edition at a whopping 29.85 million viewers and an 11.6 rating/29 share among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. Compared to one year earlier (Viewers: 30.44 million; A18-49: 12.6/30 on Jan. 16, 2008, based on the final nationals), that was down by just 590,000 viewers and eight percent in the demo. As a true testimonial to the strength of this ongoing juggernaut, the second most-watched program of the evening was CBS’ Criminal Minds at 14.05 million viewers at 9 p.m. Once again, American Idol is in a league of its own.

Here is the half hour breakdown:

American Idol (Fox)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 24.87 million, A18-49: 9.5/26
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 29.60 million, A18-49: 11.2/28
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 32.51 million, A18-49: 12.8/31
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 32.44 million, A18-49: 13.0/31

Next Wednesday, look for the debut of Fox drama Lie to Me out of American Idol at 9 p.m.

As expected, the four competing networks took a hit opposite the new season of Idol. CBS finished a distant second overall for the evening, with its combination of The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #2, 7.27 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 5), compatible Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #2, 7.07 million; A18-49: #2, 2.1/ 5), aforementioned Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 14.05 million; A18-49: #2, 3.3/ 8) and veteran CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.84 million; A18-49: #1, 3.3/ 9). But compared to year-ago 8-9 p.m. game show Power of 10, the CBS comedies were up by double-digit percentages.

NBC’s soon-to-depart Knight Rider opened the evening with a mere 5.34 million viewers (#3) and a 1.6/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8 p.m. That led into a repeat of Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: #3, 4.52 million; A18-49: #4, 1.2/ 3) and granddaddy Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 8.19 million; A18-49: #2, 2.2/ 6) from 9-11 p.m.

In preparation of the return of Lost next Wednesday, ABC aired three back-to-back repeats, which averaged just 4.48 million viewers (#4) and a 1.7/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#3t) for the evening. Here is the hourly breakdown:

Lost R (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.60 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.26 million (#4), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#3)

Next Wednesday, clips special Lost: Destiny Calls will air on ABC at 8 p.m., leading into two original episodes from 9-11 p.m.

The CW took the biggest hit opposite American Idol, with its combination of week two of reality/competition 13: Fear is Real (Viewers: #5, 1.57 million; A18-49: #5, 0.7/ 2) and a repeat of 90210 (Viewers: #5, 693,000; A18-49: #5, 0.3/ 1). Compared to it’s week-ago debut (Viewers: 2.40 million; A18-49: 1.1/ 3 on Jan. 7, based on the final nationals), 13: Fear is Real dipped by a significant 830,000 viewers and 36 percent in the demo.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Wow! Idol usually suffers a steeper drop from the premiere to the second audition episode... this is only down 200K viewers from the fast nationals yesterday, and has 100% of the demo!

I think that CW should move the 90210 encore to Friday so that at least one airing of the show doesn't go opposite Idol. CW can then double up on the 13:Fear is Real (encore/new) on Wednesday as the sacrificial lamb.

quote:

Originally posted by TravisYanan:
Wow! Idol usually suffers a steeper drop from the premiere to the second audition episode... this is only down 200K viewers from the fast nationals yesterday, and has 100% of the demo!

I would attribute it to weather. I bet the HUT levels were way up last night. There is a record cold spell in the midwest and eastern part of the country with wind chills of -30 degrees in some parts. No one is leaving their house, and are all watching TV.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Lost R (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.60 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.26 million (#4), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#3)

What a horrid performance by Lost. ABC should have just aired the last 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies last night.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:

As expected, the four competing networks took a hit opposite the new season of Idol. CBS finished a distant second overall for the evening, with its combination of The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #2, 7.27 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 5), compatible Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #2, 7.07 million; A18-49: #2, 2.1/ 5), aforementioned Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 14.05 million; A18-49: #2, 3.3/ 8) and veteran CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.84 million; A18-49: #1, 3.3/ 9). But compared to year-ago 8-9 p.m. game show Power of 10, the CBS comedies were up by double-digit percentages.


Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Criminal Minds did great against the rating monster that is AI. You want to know how well? Look at CSI:NY numbers, 12.84m viewers and a demo of 3.3 against not much competition, certainly no AI. CM did 14.05m viewers and a demo of 3.3 but its competition was AI.

quote:

Originally posted by Obveeus:

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Lost R (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.60 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.26 million (#4), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#3)

What a horrid performance by Lost. ABC should have just aired the last 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies last night.

The ratings are at par with a typical Lost repeat, regardless, I think PD would not have done much better.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:

quote:

Originally posted by TravisYanan:
Wow! Idol usually suffers a steeper drop from the premiere to the second audition episode... this is only down 200K viewers from the fast nationals yesterday, and has 100% of the demo!

I would attribute it to weather. I bet the HUT levels were way up last night. There is a record cold spell in the midwest and eastern part of the country with wind chills of -30 degrees in some parts. No one is leaving their house, and are all watching TV.

Just basing this on the demo, HUT levels must've been down slightly, because on Tuesday Idol got an 11.6/28 and last night it got an 11.6/29. Still, it's unusual. Other theories?

True, but there are very few Januarys that dont have Cold, wintery weather in the East, Midwest and Plains states.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:

quote:

Originally posted by TravisYanan:
Wow! Idol usually suffers a steeper drop from the premiere to the second audition episode... this is only down 200K viewers from the fast nationals yesterday, and has 100% of the demo!

I would attribute it to weather. I bet the HUT levels were way up last night. There is a record cold spell in the midwest and eastern part of the country with wind chills of -30 degrees in some parts. No one is leaving their house, and are all watching TV.

less competition

quote:

Just basing this on the demo, HUT levels must've been down slightly, because on Tuesday Idol got an 11.6/28 and last night it got an 11.6/29. Still, it's unusual. Other theories?

Whereas I would attribute it to zero competition on the other nets. I mean come on -- Christine has a 1.9 demo! That is atrocious even by today's lowered standards of success.

Plus, based on the hour or so I have seen of Idol, the tweaks they have made do seem to make the show more tolerable overall comapred to last year. Not by much, but by a little.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:

quote:

Originally posted by TravisYanan:
Wow! Idol usually suffers a steeper drop from the premiere to the second audition episode... this is only down 200K viewers from the fast nationals yesterday, and has 100% of the demo!

I would attribute it to weather. I bet the HUT levels were way up last night. There is a record cold spell in the midwest and eastern part of the country with wind chills of -30 degrees in some parts. No one is leaving their house, and are all watching TV.

The rerun of the Lost finale last year did about twice as well, though last year said rerun was two weeks later and didn't face Idol at all. That 9pm slot should be very interesting next week.

quote:

NBC’s soon-to-depart Knight Rider opened the evening with a mere 5.34 million viewers (#3) and a 1.6/ 4 among adults 18-49 (#3) at 8 p.m.

wow knight has some loyal viewership.. it actualy held up in viewers against Idol.. who knew it was capable of that?

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Lost R (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.60 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.26 million (#4), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#3)

What a horrid performance by Lost. ABC should have just aired the last 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies Dirty Sexy Money last night.

quote:

Originally posted by lordi:

quote:

Originally posted by Obveeus:

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Lost R (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.60 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 4 (#4)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.26 million (#4), A18-49: 1.6/ 4 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 4.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 5 (#3)

What a horrid performance by Lost. ABC should have just aired the last 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies last night.

The ratings are at par with a typical Lost repeat, regardless, I think PD would not have done much better.

My point wasn't that Pushing Daisies would have done better, though I doubt it would do any worse. My point was more along the lines of:
1. Why air Lost reruns at all if they are going to do that poorly? At the very least, ABC should always pair a Lost rerun with an original episode.
2. Rumor has it that ABC is obligated to airing the last 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies and is considering fulfilling that obligation with a one night marathon of episodes. Last night would have been the perfect night for it: sacrificial lamb against Idol AND still airing Pushing Daisies close to when the rest of the episodes aired rather than months later.