Prime-Time Ratings:
Wednesday 10/22/08

-Total Viewers:
Fox: 13.52 million, CBS: 12.29, ABC: 6.43, NBC: 6.34, CW: 3.42

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 4.3 rating/11 share, CBS: 3.4/ 9, ABC: 2.3/ 6, NBC: 1.9/ 5, CW: 1.6/ 4

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-Yesterday’s Winners:
World Series, Game 1 (Fox), Criminal Minds (CBS), CSI: NY (CBS)

-Honorable Mention:
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Gary Unmarried (CBS)

-Yesterday’s Losers:
Pushing Daisies (ABC), Stylista (CW), Dirty Sexy Money (ABC), Lipstick Jungle (NBC)

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 20 percent at this same point last year to approximately 28 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Ratings Breakdown:
Fox led the Wednesday troops, with game one of The 2008 World Series (Philadelphia at Tampa Bay) at an approximate 13.91 million viewers and a 4.5 rating/12 share among adults 18-49 for the prime-time portion from 8:30-11 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown:

2008 World Series, Game One (Fox)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 14.63 million, A18-49: 4.6/12
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 13.94 million, A18-49: 4.4/11
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 13.34 million, A18-49: 4.3/11
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 14.40 million, A18-49: 4.7/12
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 13.24 million, A18-49: 4.4/12

As good as this is, one year earlier, game one of the Colorado versus Boston World Series averaged 16.90 million viewers and a 5.8/16 among adults 18-49 on Oct. 24, 2007.

Earlier in the evening on Fox was the half-hour baseball pre-game at an estimated (and dominant) 11.57 million viewers and a 3.6/10 among adults 18-49 in the 8 p.m. half-hour. Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate.

CBS finished a solid second overall with its very respectable combination of The New Adventures of Old Christine (Viewers: #2, 8.01 million; A18-49: #2, 2.4/ 7), Gary Unmarried (Viewers: #2, 7.85 million; A18-49: #2, 2.5/ 7), Criminal Minds (Viewers: #1, 14.71 million; A18-49: #1, 4.0/10) and CSI: NY (Viewers: #1, 14.24 million; A18-49: #2, 3.9/10). What remains particularly promising for the recently introduced Gary Unmarried was a series high performance (out of a season-high for The New Adventures of Old Christine) and perfect compatibility out of Old Christine. I smell a full season renewal.

ABC remained out of the competitive loop with its line-up of Pushing Daisies (Viewers: #4, 5.67 million; A18-49: #5, 1.9/ 5), Private Practice (Viewers: #3, 7.77 million; A18-49: #3, 3.0/ 7) and Dirty Sexy Money (Viewers: #3, 5.86 million; A18-49: #3, 2.0/ 5). While growth for Private Practice out of Pushing Daisies – 2.10 million viewers, 58 percent among adults 18-49 -- warrants the recent back-nine episode order, a better idea is to move it to Thursday at 10 p.m. out of parent show Grey’s Anatomy (if ratings for current occupant Life on Mars keep plummeting). What could air on ABC smack in the middle of Wednesday is a whole other issue, of course. Any ideas out there?

NBC’s troubles continue, meanwhile, care of Knight Rider (Viewers: #3, 7.23 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 6), Deal or No Deal (Viewers: #4, 7.60 million; A18-49: #4, 1.9/ 5) and Lipstick Jungle (Viewers: #4, 4.19 million; A18-49: #4, 1.6/ 4). That’s right…only 7.60 million viewers for Deal or No Deal, but keep in mind that it did face game one of The World Series. Wasn’t it painful watching last night’s contestant squander his potential winnings? As for Knight Rider, if NBC was in better shape chances are it would not have seen a full season renewal.

In series-premiere news, CW reality/competition Stylista was left at the starting gate, with a distant fifth-place finish in both total viewers (2.46 million) and adults 18-49 (1.2/ 3) at 9 p.m. Comparably, retention out of lead-in America’s Next Top Model (Viewers: #5, 4.38 million; A18-49: #3t, 2.1/ 6 at 8 p.m.) was just 56 percent in total viewers and 57 percent in the demo. Considering this is a female driven hour, you can’t necessarily blame baseball for the slow start. And if the drop from Top Model is this severe, the female results cannot be positive.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Kudos to the CBS shows, the World Series, Top Model, and Private Practice. Knight Rider gets an honorable mention for airing on NBC and having nothing to work with. The rest are all losers, especially DOND which lost demo from its lead in. NBC doesn't even have that show anymore.

OC broke 8 mil. That is good news as it was against the world series.

Not surprised by PD's low numbers. I heared ABC didn't even air a single promo.

Mushu, kudos to PP? Really. Barely 3 in demos? In a couple of weeks GU may tie PP in demos actually (maybe not in a cpuple of weeks cause GU won't air next week)

PD and Styilista did horribly, PD should be canceled NOW

CBS does amazingly well on Wed. The sitcom block gets better and better

NBC a wreck

quote:

Not surprised by PD's low numbers. I heared ABC didn't even air a single promo.

Good money after bad--and promos can't help a Dead Show Walking, anyway.

The demo is the same as last week's ep, for which they DID air promos--no show was more promoted than PD. Promotion is not the problem. Timeslot is not the problem. Competition is not the problem.

PD IS THE PROBLEM. ABC's problem. They know how to fix it.

Marc,

Knight Rider should have a honorable mention.

Last nights episode of Dirty, Sexy, Money was really good.

quote:

Originally posted by Walter:
Marc,

Knight Rider should have a honorable mention.

With 2.1 in demos? Are you kdding?

KR should have an honorable mention for making PD look even weaker than it already did.

quote:

Originally posted by robert:

quote:

Originally posted by Walter:
Marc,

Knight Rider should have a honorable mention.

With 2.1 in demos? Are you kdding?

No i am not kidding.

quote:

Originally posted by pisher:
KR should have an honorable mention for making PD look even weaker than it already did.

Yes thats why!

PP rebounded nicely this week. It is the only show producing any numbers on Wednesday. ABC will take a 3.0 demo.

KR stayed consistent in the viewers, but it dropped a bit in the demos.

DOND was disappointing for NBC. 1.9 in the demo? It does get some points for being the most watched show and pulling 7.6 million viewers. However, it does almost as well on Friday and DOND is a Friday show.

LJ should be cancelled today. 4.19 million in viewership? 1.6 demo? ANTM rated better than it. When CW beats you, you are in trouble. It lost almost half of its lead in. Something needs to be put here next week, and definately before November Sweeps.

PD and DSM also should be cancelled today. Both are too low and are tanking the overall network numbers. 1.9 and 2.0 in the demo are too low and both are under 6 million. If I were ABC, I'd find anything that can fill in those spots for November Sweeps. 20/20, Primetime specials, Supernanny specials, anything.

Would ABC make more money airing one last ep of PD next Wed, or by running the Paid Political Ad?

The ratings merit immediate cancellation/Friday banishment, but it's not often your network gets to be the only one (shaddup, CW) offering an entertainment program in a given timeslot. Could be the final shot at getting exposure for their investment.

Beyond next week, with two pre-emptions the following two Wednesdays (11/5 and 11/12), there is no justifiable reason to ever return PD on Wed at 8 again.

quote:

Yes thats why!

Marc isn't as vindictive as we are.