Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 10/31/07

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

-Yesterday’s Winners:
Criminal Minds (CBS), Private Practice (ABC), CSI: NY (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Phenomenon (NBC), Kid Nation (CBS), Life (NBC)

Note: The listing of winners and losers are subject to change after the fast affiliate ratings are posted at PIFeedback.

----------

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS was the most-watched network on this holiday Wednesday, while two networks -- ABC and CBS -- tied for forst among adults 18-49. Third was NBC, which nose-dived as a result of a two-hour installment of reality/competition Phenomenon, followed by Fox and the CW. Keep in mind that HUT levels were lower last night due to Halloween.

Week five of ABC’s Pushing Daisies won the 8 p.m. hour, but 8.58 million viewers and a 2.6 rating/8 share among adults 18-49 is a series-low for the critically acclaimed drama. Comparably, that was a decrease of 1.09 million viewers and 19 percent among adults 18-49 from one week earlier (Viewers: 9.67 million; A18-49: 3.2/ 9 on Oct. 24). As creative a show as this is, is it really that addictive?

Second in the 8 p.m. hour was CBS’ disappointing Kid Nation (Viewers: #2, 6.89 million; A18-49: #2, 2.0/ 7), followed by a two-hour edition of NBC’s Phenomenon, with 5.95 million viewers and a 1.9/ 6 in the demo from 8-9 p.m., and 6.18 million viewers and a 2.3/ 7 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. One week earlier, Phenomenon kicked-off with 8.55 million viewers and a 3.0/ 8 among adults 18-49. Yes…this show, and CBS’ Kid Nation, and both fizzles.

Capping off the 8 p.m. hour were repeats of Fox sitcoms Back to You (Viewers: #4, 5.17 million; A18-49: #4, 1.7/ 6) and ‘Til Death (Viewers: #4, 4.90 million; A18-49: #5, 1.6/ 5), and a clips edition of America’s Next Top Model on the CW (Viewers: 3.28 million; A18-49: 1.6/ 5). As good as the chemistry is between Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher on ‘Til Death (and it is very good -- last night’s encore was a hoot), the sitcom would benefit with a stronger supporting cast.

ABC and CBS shared leadership in the 9 p.m. hour as follows:

Criminal Minds (CBS)
Viewers: 14.69 million (#1), A18-49: 3.5/10 (#2)

Private Practice (ABC)
Viewers: 11.23 million (#2), A18-49: 3.8/10 (#1)

Also airing in the hour was a repeat of Fox’s Kitchen Nightmares (Viewers: #4, 3.84 million; A18-49: #4, 1.9/ 5) and a repeat of Gossip Girl (Viewers: #5, 1.49 million; A18-49: #5, 0.6/ 2).



CBS remained the network to beat at 10 p.m. as a result of CSI: NY, with 13.84 million viewers and a 3.7/10 among adults 18-49. Compared to one year earlier, however, CSI: NY was down by a hefty 2.80 million viewers (16.64 to 13.84 million) and 31 percent in the demo (5.4/15 to 3.7/10). One of the things I will be discussing in today’s season to-date webcast is the beginning to fade CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. Did you sign-up yet (see link below).

Also at 10 p.m. was ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money (Viewers: #2, 8.38 million; A18-49: #2, 2.9/ 8), which is holding about three-quarters of its Private Practice lead-in, and a series-low 5.72 million viewers and a 2.0/ 6 among adults 18-49 for NBC’s dying Life.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

PD is now below where it needs to be to get a second season. I think it's dropping further, but it needs to go up, and fast.

Of course, with the strike coming, it may all be a moot point.

Yes, it was Halloween. Yes, that is the excuse Veronica Mars fans gave last year, isn't it?

Ouch for PD and PP.
Slowly but surely PD becomes the next Studio 60

Great for CM once again

So any word on whether or not the Writer Guild will be going on strike? I saw that their contract expired at midnight last night and I haven't found any info about it yet.

In other thoughts, I can't believe that Kid Nation is still on the air. After all the talk of Jericho bringing in such low ratings for CBS, now we have this insanely crappy reality show barely bringing in 7 mil each week.

NBC was dead last night and CM did well.

For those who will find the Halloween as an excuse for the poor PD's numbers i want to give an advice: look at CM, CSINY or DSM' numbers before

Pretty much everything took a big hit week-to-week, especially in the demo. The only real exception, interestingly, was CSI:NY.

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
Ouch for PD and PP.
Slowly but surely PD becomes the next Studio 60

Great for CM once again

Ouch for everything at 8:00 and since PD lost more younger viewers I tend to think Halloween at least played a part. The difference between this and Studio 60 is its getting better and better every week. Studio 60 got worse.

quote:

Originally posted by tvchtw:

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
Ouch for PD and PP.
Slowly but surely PD becomes the next Studio 60

Great for CM once again

Ouch for everything at 8:00 and since PD lost more younger viewers I tend to think Halloween at least played a part. The difference between this and Studio 60 is its getting better and better every week. Studio 60 got worse.

That's your personal opinion. Clearly a million viewers were so happy with the last episode they chose to skip this one

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
For those who will find the Halloween as an excuse for the poor PD's numbers i want to give an advice: look at CM, CSINY or DSM' numbers before

I guess the only excuse anyone can make is that parents take their children trick or treating earlier in the night than at 9 pm. Most children trick or treat at 7 or so. When PD is on but I don't even watch it, just giving a reason.

Demo drops, week-to-week (both times based on fast nats)

Phenomenon 2.9 -> 2.1 (down 28%)
Kid Nation 2.5 -> 2.0 (down 20%)
Life 2.5 -> 2.0 (down 20%)
Private Practice 4.5 -> 3.8 (down 16%)
Pushing Daisies 3.0 -> 2.6 (down 13%)
Criminal Minds 3.9 -> 3.5 (down 10%)
Dirty Sexy Money 3.2 -> 2.9 (down 9%)
CSI: NY 3.8 -> 3.7 (down 3%)

I left out Fox/CDub since they were (apparently wisely) in repeats. And viewer drops were usually less pronounced, which probably makes sense.

quote:

Ouch for everything at 8:00 and since PD lost more younger viewers I tend to think Halloween at least played a part. The difference between this and Studio 60 is its getting better and better every week. Studio 60 got worse.

First of all, there's always SOMEthing younger viewers can be doing at 8pm on a Wednesday night. The whole point of a show like this is to keep them home watching ABC. If Pushing Daisies can't manage that, Pushing Daisies is pushing off in the near future. It's been given every possible break, and about the easiest timeslot it could have possibly been given.

And secondly of all, it was a Halloween-themed episode, and that should have helped--if most of the people who have watched the show liked it as much as you. Fact is, a lot of people are noticing, as some people here have noticed, that the show hasn't been able to sustain its glossy production values--too costly over the long run.

Maybe the demo will go up next week.

Isn't that what the PD-boosters were saying would happen THIS week?

PD did pretty well.
No im not thinking up excuses for the low ratings, but compared to the other 8pm shows it did great.
If you notice, every 8pm show was down from the week earlier, and at 8/7c most people are out taking their kids trick or treating.
The later shows at 9 + 10 held steady because adults have brought their kids back by then because its a school night.

It WILL go up with episode 6 in 2 weeks.

QUOTE]Originally posted by robert:

quote:

Originally posted by tvchtw:

quote:

Originally posted by robert:
Ouch for PD and PP.
Slowly but surely PD becomes the next Studio 60

Great for CM once again

Ouch for everything at 8:00 and since PD lost more younger viewers I tend to think Halloween at least played a part. The difference between this and Studio 60 is its getting better and better every week. Studio 60 got worse.

That's your personal opinion. Clearly a million viewers were so happy with the last episode they chose to skip this one[/QUOTE]

And 3 weeks from tonight Ugly Betty, the office and Grey's will also get 1 to 2 million fewer viewers than the previous week. Happens every year original episodes are on a holiday (and yes I realize thanksgiving has a greater impact on viewing than halloween)

I think that before the winter break PD will remain at around 8-9 million viewers. But after the winter break (strike permitiing) i think PD will drop in the 7 million range. But still i think PD might see a second season.