the return of original episodes of Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 12.81 million; A18-49: #2, 3.4/ 9), which held up well opposite American Idol, and the aforementioned CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.84 million; A18-49: #1, 3.6/10).
Lower than I was expecting.
I thought at least 14 million for each and thet 15 Million was very possible.
We'll se how the rest of the spring goes, but 13 million is still pretty good, in this day & age.
My guess is that things won't go up. The first episodes back are usually one of the higher rated eps. See, I told you this night was in trouble. No, actually things are still fine, but these are not the hits CBS would like you to believe they are.
Well, then I'll say it, :-) "This night is in trouble."
No it's not gonna free-fall, but seriously, it's so obvious that all these procedurals are all declining. Everyone wants to blame this reason or that reason for Cold Case and now Criminal Minds and CSI:NY for underperforming.
Big Brother, NCAA, blah blah, I have to respectfully disagree.
I'll tell you why they're underperforming: CBS is aging. Procedurals are aging. And most importantly they have TOO MANY of them. Goodness gracious, look at their schedule.
Cold Case Shark CSI CSI:Miami CSI:NY NCIS Criminal Minds Without A Trace Numb3rs even 48 Hrs Mystery and The Unit
All these shows appeal to basically the same viewer. And take into account that other networks have shows similar to these as well.
It's TOO MUCH.
I keep saying, CBS had better get smart and sacrifice a couple or three of these weaker shows, and get some variety in their schedule or they will crumble in a couple seasons.
The catch 22 is, none of their shows are bad enough to replace yet (give it a season or 2 at the most) and then EVERYTHING will have gone sour (at the same time... yikes!).
They'd better have a lot of good new shows come fall 2009 or else.
CM has always had this rating against AI. So you see problems where there isn't any.
the return of original episodes of Criminal Minds (Viewers: #2, 12.81 million; A18-49: #2, 3.4/ 9), which held up well opposite American Idol, and the aforementioned CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 12.84 million; A18-49: #1, 3.6/10).
Lower than I was expecting. I thought at least 14 million for each and thet 15 Million was very possible.
We'll se how the rest of the spring goes, but 13 million is still pretty good, in this day & age.
My guess is that things won't go up. The first episodes back are usually one of the higher rated eps. See, I told you this night was in trouble. No, actually things are still fine, but these are not the hits CBS would like you to believe they are.
CM has always had about 12-13 million against AI. So i would say you are not right at all
Originally posted by the128boy: One other note about CBS...
I feel like they don't know how to promote their shows at all. It's kind of like "Welcome to the cbs network... hope you can make a go of it."
NBC on the other hand does a fantastic job of promoting shows. Their problem seems to be keeping the viewers after the first few episodes (Bionic Woman? American Gladiators anyone?)
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
[raises hand]
Well, I do. I used to work there. Yes, I was a Teen-Aged Promo Monkey.
One of the saddest Facts of Life for a Promo Monkey (of any age) is that the best promotion in the world will only get the viewers to show up the first time the show is on, maybe the second (assuming they weren't there the first time). After that, keeping the camels in the tent--love these promo catch phrases, don't you?--is the responsibility of Programming. And, if the Programming is Suckage to the Nth Degree, all the clever promo in the world won't entice the viewers back. They've already been sold that bill of goods, thanks.
It's the old, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me thingy at work.
Posts: 268 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 25 February 2008
My Name is Earl: a full hour of non-funny tonight. I guess whatever gift the CBS comedy writer's got during the strike didn't get sent to the NBC comedy writers.
ABC may exhibit questionable judgment when it comes to its own half-hour comedies (i.e., Caveman, Carpoolers, According to Jim, etc.), but the network sure has impeccable taste when it concerns its competitors' sitcoms.
Case in point: On the heels of the Alphabet's (almost official) acquisition of NBC's brilliant-but-nearly canceled Scrubs, sources are telling me that the net is making a play for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' hilarious Seinfeld-curse-busting comeback vehicle, The New Adventures of Old Christine!
According to several insiders, all of whom asked not to be identified because they would prefer to keep their jobs, execs at ABC have been engaged in informal talks with Warner Bros. Television about picking up Old Christine should CBS decide not to renew it. The third-year laffer, which earned its highest ratings of the season this week, remains very much on the bubble at CBS.
Reps at ABC and Warner Bros. were unavailable for comment.
From: TV GUIDE DOT COM
Posts: 2647 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 27 January 2007
Fox could if they wanted to (there's no current FCC rule that stops them), but I'm not sure if it's going to happen because of syndicated fare Fox affiliates are contracted to carry in that time period.
Fox technically wasn't a network when the fin-syn rules were in place, but the definition was thrown out when the rules expired in 1995.
There was something back in the day called the Prime Time Access Rule which kept the networks out of the 7pm (6pm Central)hour from 1971 to 1996, except for Sundays (which became exempted in 1975) and for network newscasts and sports overruns. PTAR also prohibited the Big 3 network affiliates in the top 50 markets from running off-network fare in Access.
PTAR was intended to create local programs in the hour before prime-time, but instead became a boon for syndicators.
Fox never fell under fin-syn or PTAR because they only programmed two hours a night (8-10 Eastern), not three, and thus weren't technically considered a network. Under FCC rules at the time, a programming service was considered a network if ran more than 15 hours of programming a week in prime time.
300!
quote:
Originally posted by uncamark: Syndication aside, isn't Fox not technically a "network" by FCC rules, so theoretically they could start "Idol Gives Back" in access at 7:30?
Even then, couldn't they claim "special event" as a reason to start in access, much as NBC does the Olympics or CBS the NCAA tourney?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: T Dog,
1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS. The only bleeding series are Shark and CC but IMO it's only beacause sports overruns have destroyed the sundayy lineup. CBS is in great shape beacause they know next season won't have big problems like other networks might have.
2. Finally a good move for ABC if they bring Christine. I don't like this sitcom but the numbers would be very good for ABC
Originally posted by robert: 1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS.
???
Doing like last year or better in what way?
Ratings-wise? Do you have numbers to back that up?
The 29th game of the 2007-08 season of the original (and challenging) P.I. Feedback Challenge is online! You have until Tuesday April 8 @ 7:59am ET to join in on the fun of this game!
The Futile Four poll is taking your votes and this Monday, the "chumpionship" will be decided between:
Originally posted by robert: 1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS.
???
Doing like last year or better in what way?
Ratings-wise? Do you have numbers to back that up?
Excluding sports, CBS is down almost 25% in the 18-49 demo this year.
Would be a nice addition to ABC, but it may be a show that needs a good leadin (Like most of the ABC Schedule). I don't see CBS giving up on it yet. At the very least, Old Christine will get a mid-season order. And like most of us "experts" here on PIF, CBS should be adding another hour or two of sitcomes to the fall schedule.
quote:
Originally posted by Justin: Christine May Move to ABC:
quote:
ABC may exhibit questionable judgment when it comes to its own half-hour comedies (i.e., Caveman, Carpoolers, According to Jim, etc.), but the network sure has impeccable taste when it concerns its competitors' sitcoms.
Case in point: On the heels of the Alphabet's (almost official) acquisition of NBC's brilliant-but-nearly canceled Scrubs, sources are telling me that the net is making a play for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' hilarious Seinfeld-curse-busting comeback vehicle, The New Adventures of Old Christine!
According to several insiders, all of whom asked not to be identified because they would prefer to keep their jobs, execs at ABC have been engaged in informal talks with Warner Bros. Television about picking up Old Christine should CBS decide not to renew it. The third-year laffer, which earned its highest ratings of the season this week, remains very much on the bubble at CBS.
Reps at ABC and Warner Bros. were unavailable for comment.
Originally posted by robert: 1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS.
???
Doing like last year or better in what way?
Ratings-wise? Do you have numbers to back that up?
Excluding sports, CBS is down almost 25% in the 18-49 demo this year.
Everyone is down because of the strike. CBS just had a little further to drop since they were leading at this time last year.
Originally posted by robert: 1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS.
???
Doing like last year or better in what way?
Ratings-wise? Do you have numbers to back that up?
Excluding sports, CBS is down almost 25% in the 18-49 demo this year.
Originally posted by robert: 1. How many times i have to read that CBS is in trouble? How on Earth is CBS in trouble. Four of their majors procedurals are doing like last year or better: CSI, CSIM, CM, NCIS.
???
Doing like last year or better in what way?
Ratings-wise? Do you have numbers to back that up?
Of course ratings-wise. CM, CSI, NCIS are doing better and CSIM at same levels as last year
No, actually things are still fine, but these are not the hits CBS would like you to believe they are. 
Friday's game is predicting the season premiere of "Battlestar Galactica" on SciFi.
