The most puzzling strategy of all the networks in dealing with the paucity of fresh episodes caused by the WGA strike has to be CBS.
All this month, CBS has been running fresh originals of Ghost Whisperer, Moonlight, and Numbers, and now all those series have finished their stock of new episodes.
I looked ahead to the February Sweep, and while other networks have tucked away a few originals (NBC), CBS will be all encore during the February Sweep with the exception of a few music specials.
In fact, if I was a CBS affiliate in a non-metered market (which is where I watch television), I would be very disappointed in CBS, who have left very few of their 10 pm shows having fresh episodes for the February Sweep (and the 10:30 pm half-hour is the most critical for affiliate news or syndicated programming). The only fresh series programming that CBS will be offering at 10 pm during the February Sweep will be Jericho on three Tuesdays and 48 Hour Mystery on Saturdays...CSI Miami, CSI New York, Without a Trace, Numbers and Shark will all be depleted of any originals.
Given this, CBS has offered up the 10 pm hour to rival networks that will be offering fresh alternatives. I fully expect the following nightly victories in the A18-49 demo will occur in the 10 pm hour:
- Mondays: Medium (NBC) will win, and CSI Miami (CBS)encores should a bit ahead of October Road (ABC) - Tuesdays: Law & Order SVU (NBC) encores will probably edge Jericho (CBS) originals and Boston Legal (ABC) encores - Wednesdays: Law & Order (NBC) will handily win, and I think Cashmere Mafia / Men in Trees could place second when CSI: New York is in encores - Thursdays: Eli Stone (ABC) should win over Lipstick Jungle (NBC) by virtue of a stronger lead-in from Lost, and Without a Trace will probably be third in the demo - Fridays: Las Vegas (NBC) should dominate Fridays at 10 pm over 20/20 (ABC), and Numbers (CBS) will be third - Saturdays: 48 Hours Mystery (CBS) originals should give CBS its only nighly victory at 10 pm against ABC theatricals and NBC drama encores - Sundays: Brothers and Sisters (ABC) originals will romp over CBS's Shark / Dexter encores and NBC Big Event programming
Had CBS tucked a few more originals in the cupboard for February (the 8-10 pm hours are only better due to some original reality programming), they might not be doing as well in January as they are. However, with the absence of original programming on CBS, especially at 10-11 pm hour, I am predicting that CBS will have its worst ever February Sweep result that will see it run a poor fourth place.
Didn't know where to post this - but I thought it was interesting. Here is a list of the top shows among adults 18-49 last week (January 7-13, 2008).
You almost now have to consider a major hit any show that grabs over a 4.0 rating 18-49. I've always started I could care less about households. No one bases ad rates on it and 18-49 is where the $$ are.
With that said, the top shows last week overall 18-49 were:
FOX Sun 7:00 60 min NFL Over Run: Dal v NYG 40.060 15.1 CBS Sat 8:30 180 min NFL Playoffs: NE v Jax 30.90 11.5 FOX Mon 8:15 180 min Championship Game: OSU v LSU 23.070 8.2
However, if you look at regular series, the top shows were as follows:
FOX Sun 8:00 60 min Terminator: SCC 18.360 7.7 ABC Thu 9:00 60 min Grey's Anatomy 17.860 7.1 ABC Sun 9:00 60 min Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 14.000 5.6 FOX Sun 9:00 30 min Family Guy 11.330 5.5 NBC Tue 10:00 60 min Law & Order: SVU 15.150 5.1 CBS Thu 9:00 60 min CSI 18.180 5.0 NBC Mon 8:00 60 min American Gladiators 10.910 4.8 NBC Tue 8:00 120 min Biggest Loser 5 10.130 4.3 ABC Sun 10:00 60 min Brothers & Sisters 10.900 4.2 FOX Sun 9:30 30 min American Dad 8.620 4.2
The fact that EMHE and B&S weren't on Marc's winner's list seems surprising. They were among the top ten rated 18-49 shows of the week.
It also shows how ER - which a lot of people think is done, is still a valuable commodity in the 3.5 18-49 range.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Anthony,
Posts: 408 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 27 October 2006
Plenty of people already trashing SCC but as somebody who hated the movies ( I saw 1 and 2 but found neither impressive ) but really enjoys the series I think FOX might just keep it around just like I think CBS is going to renew Moonlight too !! But sure would like to see ML hike up the viewership numbers and demos.
CBS is probably the only network that repeats well so I'm sure I'll do fine. After all they still have Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race which are all amongst the top 10 tv shows.
You have until Tuesday January 22 @ 7:59am ET to join in on the fun of both games!
Want in on choosing the winners (by spread) and guessing the combined scores of each NFL football conference's championship games this Sunday? You have your chance right now (until Sunday January 20 at 3PM eastern). Click the Super Bowl icon above or below to participate from now until kickoff of the first playoff game!
Originally posted by SW: Character actor Allan Melvin, best known to children of the 70s as Alice's boyfriend Sam the Butcher on The Brady Bunch, has died at age 84.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: Oh, what a shame!
quote:
Originally posted by SW: Character actor Allan Melvin, best known to children of the 70s as Alice's boyfriend Sam the Butcher on The Brady Bunch, has died at age 84.
I was saddened when I read this as well. The Brady Bunch has a very special place in my heart. I keep bracing myself for the day we hear of the passing of Ann B. Davis. Hopefully that day is far, far away.
R.I.P. Allan.
Posts: 343 | Location: Indiana | Registered: 10 January 2007
Originally posted by lopez: I was watching the Terminal and in 10 minutes, I saw 2 promos for Lost and in the end another Lost promo.
WOW!
Watching college basketball today on ABC...lost promos every ten minutes, not to mention the number of times the announcers discussed its premiere. On ESPN today...the "Bottom Line" read like this: NCAAM...NCAAW...TENNIS...ABC...NCAAM..etc.
When "ABC" came up, we got a reminder of the Lost 2-hour season premiere on January 31!
That's a job well done!
Posts: 343 | Location: Indiana | Registered: 10 January 2007
Watching college basketball today on ABC...lost promos every ten minutes, not to mention the number of times the announcers discussed its premiere. On ESPN today...the "Bottom Line" read like this: NCAAM...NCAAW...TENNIS...ABC...NCAAM..etc.
When "ABC" came up, we got a reminder of the Lost 2-hour season premiere on January 31!
That's a job well done!
I think Lost will be the #1 scripted show on TV on February Sweeps.
CBS is probably the only network that repeats well so I'm sure I'll do fine. After all they still have Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race which are all amongst the top 10 tv shows.
those shows are so not among the top 10 shows, who lied to you and told you so?
