Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 13 percent at this same point last year to approximately 23 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.
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-Ratings Breakdown: NBC dominated Saturday, of course, as a result of the ongoing 2008 Summer Olympics from Beijing, which averaged a whopping 29.25 million viewers and a 9.5 rating/29 share among adults 18-49 for the prime-time (8-11 p.m.) portion. Here is the half-hour breakdown:
Comparably, this was the largest audience for any NBC show on Saturday since sitcom Empty Nest on Feb. 24, 1990. According to NBC, the networks of NBC Universal have reached 191 million total viewers who have watched some or all of the coverage through the first nine days of the 2008 Summer Olympics -- 14 million more than the first nine days for Athens (177 million) and five million more than the Atlanta Games (186 million). The nine-day total for these Games now surpasses the final overall 17-day viewership totals for the Salt Lake City (187 million) and Sydney Games (185 million).
As I always say, Saturday can come alive if the networks program something worth watching.
Elsewhere, CBS was barely on the Saturday map with its encore combination of a repeat of Crimetime Saturday (Viewers: #2, 4.02 million; A18-49: #3, 1.2/ 4 at 8 p.m.) and two repeat installments of 48 Hours Mystery (Viewers: 4.47 million; A18-49: 1.2/ 4 from 9-11 p.m.). ABC aired a repeat of theatrical Legally Blonde 2 (Viewers: 3.33 million; A18-49: 1.0/ 3 from 8-10 p.m.) and a repeat of Eli Stone (Viewers: #3: 2.46 million; A18-49: #3, 0.7/ 2 at 10 p.m.). And Fox capped off the night with its perennial combination of Cops (Viewers: #3: 3.46 million; A18-49: #2, 1.3/ 5) and America’s Most Wanted (Viewers: #3, 4.07 million; A18-49: #2, 1.4/ 5).
Once again, it is all about NBC until the Summer Olympics from Beijing end. Overall, the 2008 Summer Olympics have been a massive success for NBC and its cable partners.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: As I always say, Saturday can come alive if the networks program something worth watching.
Let us know when something other than sports does well on Saturday. it is meaningless to compare Olympic coverage to what the networks can expect to draw with regular programming.
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Once again, it is all about NBC until the Summer Olympics from Beijing end. Overall, the 2008 Summer Olympics have been a massive success for NBC and its cable partners.
That about sums it up. With only a few more weeks left to go for the TV year, how much will the Olympics lift NBC in that year-long standing?
Originally posted by Marc Berman: As I always say, Saturday can come alive if the networks program something worth watching.
I know Marc likes to tout this claim every time big ratings occur on a Saturday.
So I put these questions out to everyone: Which network show(s) would you like to see air on Saturday nights? And, which show(s) do you think would be remain successful or even become more successful on Saturday nights?
It'll never happen but I bet ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" would be just as big a hit on a Saturday night. Of course, the consequence would be that ABC wouldn't know what to do with Mondays.
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I'd like to see Grey's Anatomy, CSI, or The Office air on Saturday so that something I want to watch can finally be slotted in at 9pm Thursday!
What will be successful on Saturday? Not much as pretty much any show would lose 50%+ of its normal audience. Best bet for success of Saturday: America's Funniest Home Videos.
I'm not sure any of this success will really translate into the fall season for NBC. The ratings have been phenomenal, mainly, due to Michael Phelps. Watch the ratings nosedive with fewer live events this week and no Phelps.
As for Saturday, I've always thought the networks' reluctance to program Saturday night had more to do with attempting to cut costs by not airing scripted original program on the evening. Instead, we either get mildly successful reality programming ("Cops," "America's Most Wanted") or reruns of procedurals (the "CSIs," the rest of CBS' schedule). With the rapid decline in network viewership, can they really afford to program an extra night?
I think the ideal Saturday night show to get maximum viewership would be something older skewing yet gender neutral and something that has appeal among a wide audience. It would probably have to be something produced on a budget with an international tie in or co-production if possible. Looking at the shows in development, I think the best fit for a Saturday try out show is NBC's Law and Order: London or FOX's Mental.
CBS should step to the plate on Saturday. Air two scripted dramas from 8-10 p.m. (one could be The Unit) leading into 48 Hours Mystery. Focus on crime dramas. Or any of the Big 3 nets could air a night of game shows. CBS could anchor it with The Price is RIght and NBC Deal or No Deal.
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Originally posted by Douglas:
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Originally posted by Marc Berman: As I always say, Saturday can come alive if the networks program something worth watching.
I know Marc likes to tout this claim every time big ratings occur on a Saturday.
So I put these questions out to everyone: Which network show(s) would you like to see air on Saturday nights? And, which show(s) do you think would be remain successful or even become more successful on Saturday nights?
It'll never happen but I bet ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" would be just as big a hit on a Saturday night. Of course, the consequence would be that ABC wouldn't know what to do with Mondays.
I thought CBS should've started a Saturday night lineup with Close to Home, which would've done no worse on that night than it did on Fridays and they could've cheapened the cast by dumping David James Elliot for someone cheaper (if he even was expensive for that show). The Unit would be an interesting choice too although I don't think that would do as well. 48 Hours Mystery should really be the one to jump start the night at 8 since its the cheapest and then try to grow out of it.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: CBS should step to the plate on Saturday. Air two scripted dramas from 8-10 p.m. (one could be The Unit) leading into 48 Hours Mystery. Focus on crime dramas. Or any of the Big 3 nets could air a night of game shows. CBS could anchor it with The Price is RIght and NBC Deal or No Deal.
I think a block of Game proven/classic game shows would do decent numbers. Scripted shows wouldn't do that well.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: CBS should step to the plate on Saturday. Air two scripted dramas from 8-10 p.m. (one could be The Unit) leading into 48 Hours Mystery. Focus on crime dramas. Or any of the Big 3 nets could air a night of game shows. CBS could anchor it with The Price is RIght and NBC Deal or No Deal.
I think a block of Game proven/classic game shows would do decent numbers. Scripted shows wouldn't do that well.
Gameshows and reality would be a cheap solution for maybe a million or two million viewer increase. Classic gameshows may do worse in the demo than the crime repeats. I still believe older skewing female stuff like Close to Home would work. Ghost Whisperer could probably even do as well. For instance, ABC could've dropped the movies for Primetime's themed franchises, Women's Murder Club, and a new female oriented procedural of some sort. I bet WMC would've pulled nearly idential demos as it did on Tuesdays and nearly the same total viewers.
