Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 5/07/08
The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)
-Total Viewers:
Fox: 14.43 million, CBS: 11.01, NBC: 7.74, ABC: 6.51, CW: 3.05
-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 5.0 rating/14 share, CBS: 2.7/ 7, NBC: 2.2/ 6, ABC: 2.1/ 6, CW: 1.5/ 4
--------------
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.
---------------
-Yesterday’s Winners:
American Idol (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)
-Yesterday’s Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Supernanny (ABC), Farmer Wants a Wife (CW)
----------
-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by fading American Idol, it was another Wednesday victory for Fox, which beat second-place CBS by an average 3.32 million viewers and 2.3 rating points among adults 18-49. Third overall was NBC, followed by ABC and the CW. Year-to-year, only NBC was on the plus side (and it is compared to hours Thank God You’re Here, Crossing Jordan and Medium on May 9, 2007).
The first half of an expanded edition of NBC’s overused Deal or No Deal and ABC’s Wife Swap shared leadership in the uneventful 8 p.m. hour as follows:
Wednesday 8-9 p.m.
Deal or No Deal (NBC)
Viewers: 7.59 million (#1), A18-49: 1.9 rating/6 share (#2t)
Wife Swap (ABC)
Viewers: 6.98 million (#3), A18-49: 2.5/ 8 (#1)
Also airing in the 8 p.m. hour were CBS’ The Price is Right (Viewers: #2, 7.59 million; A18-49: #5, 1.8/ 5), Fox sitcoms ‘Til Death (Viewers: #4, 6.04 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 6) and Back to You (Viewers: #4, 6.89 million; A18-49: #4, 2.0/ 6), and America’s Next Top Model on the CW (Viewers: #5, 3.98 million; A18-49: #2t, 2.0/ 6). As we inch closer to Emmy season, Brad Garrett from ‘Til Death is a name that should be on the ballot for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. From what I am hearing, both ‘Til Death and Back To You will be returning next season.
Top-honors at 9 p.m., and the evening overall, fell in Fox’s court, of course, with American Idol at 22.39 million viewers and an 8.0/21 among adults 18-49. But one year earlier (on May 9, 2007), Idol averaged 28.20 million viewers and a 10.8/28 in the demo. That’s a huge decrease, folks.
Second behind Idol was CBS’ Criminal Minds at a healthy 12.85 million viewers and a 3.1/ 8 among adults 18-49, which built by double-digit percentages out of lead-in The Price Is Right. Also airing the 9 p.m. hour was the second half of NBC’s Deal or No Deal (Viewers: #3, 6.86 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.9/ 5), ABC’s Supernanny (Viewers: #4, 5.14 million; A18-49: #3t, 1.9/ 5), which lost an usually large chunk of its Wife Swap lead-in, and week two of CW dud Farmer Wants a Wife (Viewers: #5, 2.11 million; A18-49: #5, 1.0/ 3). Overall, Deal or No Deal averaged 7.22 million viewers and a 1.9/ 5 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m.
CBS moved into the winner’s circle at 10 p.m., with CSI: NY at 12.58 million viewers and a 3.3/ 9 among adults 18-49. Second was NBC’s veteran Law & Order (Viewers: 8.76 million; A18-49: 2.9/ 8), followed by ABC News Special: Audition: Barbara Walters’ Journey at 7.40 million viewers and a 2.0/ 6 in the demo. Growth of 2.26 million viewers out of Supernanny keeps the news special on Barbara Walters special off the list of losers.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data
