Originally posted by T Dog: I heard this morning that "Idol" was outdrawn in the household ratings here in Chicago by "Dancing", 23 to 22 share. Not sure if Sanjaya is to blame, but his hanging around sure is hurting the program's credibility. (Pass the earplugs.)
I agree about iTunes likely becoming a better resource, but on to this post: I disagree. I think Sanjaya is an easy target, but honestly, the rest of the contestants are boring this year. The bald guy really shouldn't still be on, and while there's talent, there's no "full package" or "X-Factor" as Paula likes to say, whilst sipping from what is likely a bourbon and painkillers cocktail in a Coca Cola glass.
I think that Sanjaya is the only thing that's keeping American Idol in the media. He sucks, sure, but what about the no-talent stripper in Season 1? Or the no-talent Hawaiian girl in Season 3 or 4?
There have been plenty of people on American Idol who've made it further than Sanjaya has who really didn't deserve to.
Originally posted by tv avenger: I truly believe that the free downloads have had a huge impact on the ratings of once red-hot shows. I guarantee you if they were not available these shows would probably be doing better.
quote:
Originally posted by sarahvma: With regards to the big losses this year for Desperate Housewives, American Idol and CSI, is it possible that this is just the noticeable effect of free downloads and TiVo?
Good call, TV Avenger (my Hero!!!)
Check out this article about the anemic 18-49s this season and recent alarming drops in ratings across the board on all nets: (from Media Daily News)
JUST IN TIME FOR THE upfront, broadcast ratings erosion is back--across the board.
After three years of relatively stable viewing, 18-49 ratings among the four networks were down 11% to a collective 13.4 versus last year. This data is "live only" season-to-date ratings data through April 8, and it doesn't include the Super Bowl.
In the last four seasons, starting in 2004, the collective ratings among the four networks were 15.3, 15.2, 15.0 and now, 13.4. "That's a pretty steep drop," says Brad Adgate, senior vice president and corporate media director at Horizon Media. "That's pretty serious." Network by network, Fox has slipped the least--to a 3.7 among 18-49 viewers, from 3.8 last year. ABC is down to 3.3 from 4.0; CBS has also dropped, to 3.3 from a 3.8; NBC is now at 3.1 from 3.4.
Analysts say the erosion is worst when adding in the CW and MyNetworkTV. Starting in 2004, looking at the collective ratings of WB and UPN, the numbers were: 2.9, 2.8, 2.6, and now, with CW and MNTV, 1.5.
"Where did the viewers go?," asks Adgate. "I don't know. They didn't seem to go to cable, or PBS or pay cable. Those ratings are relatively flat." For example, when looking at ad-supported cable this year, ratings are only up a smidge. "Less than 1%," he says.
Adgate cites three possibilities for the sudden fall: a rise in DVR recording, a drop in multi-set viewing or a rise in Hispanic language networks, which are now part of the Nielsen National Television Index system.
Lyle Schwartz, senior vice president and director of media research for Mediaedge:cia, says adding back in DVR viewership softens the erosion blow. But even when including DVR recording, the pace of ratings erosion has started to quicken, he says.
Other analysts believe that Internet viewing of TV shows has been stealing viewers from prime-time live viewing.
Breaking the numbers down show by show, Adgate says few returning shows have seen a hike in ratings this year. For example, shows such as Fox's "House" and "Bones" and ABC's "America's Funniest Videos" have seen some ratings boosts. But most big network shows like "CSI," "Lost," "Desperate Housewives" and "Law & Order" are down. Perhaps the biggest contributor to the decline has been "American Idol." Through the last couple of seasons, "Idol" was able to increase viewership by at least 10% for the last several seasons. This year, however, "Idol" got off to a more modest start, only up 5%. But in recent weeks, some of the numbers have dropped, versus a year ago.
So far, looking at season-to-date ratings through April 8, averaging all 27 episodes, "Idol" is actually down 7% to an 11.5 now, versus a 12.4 average a year ago. Of course, all that could change in the next several weeks, as "Idol" moves into its key final rounds of the competition.
Overall, with the upfront only weeks away, this news isn't good for anyone involved in TV. Adgate says: "I don't think this benefits the advertisers; I don't think it benefits the media."
I knew GG was new last night but honestly I've stopped caring about the show...
meggie - that makes me happy that CW aired 2 promos for VM's return in 2 weeks. obviously i wasn't watching to be able to tell!
This is the best PCD has done on Tuesday since the premiere... but is far below that premiere rating (which was the only other post-original GG airing). In fact, the uptick was really, really small compared to the last few weeks after the GG reruns. Tomorrow's post-Model airing will likely be above tonight's original again.
Do you think it'll be the same next week for the finale? If not... CW doesn't have a hit on their hands. Because no one cares to see who wins when it first happens.
Posts: 4465 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 21 September 2006
At 10 p.m., a special edition of ABC’s Primetime focusing on the Virginia Tech tragedy led the hour with 11.34 million viewers and a 3.6/10 among adults 18-49. Second was a repeat of NBC’s aging Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: 8.32 million; A18-49: 2.3/ 7), followed by CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery, also focused on Virginia Tech, with 6.49 million viewers and a 2.2/ 6 in the demo.
This proves what I've been saying all along: neither The Batchelor (which I cannot watch) nor Boston Legal (which I like) are good lead-outs for Dancing performance/results shows, as this Primetime special beat them both. Yes, it was on a high profile event, but so was competing 48 Hours mystery, and that faultered badly. If Primetime can get 11.5 million viewers and, even more impressively, a 3.6 in the demo (from a 4.1 for DWTS), the right scripted or reality show, or even a newsmagazine, from the looks of it, would be better options that the lead-outs ABC now has.
I think a procedural is the best option following DWTS. ABC has some in development. Maybe one will work.
Very interesting article, Paul. I wonder if serial shows are to blame (as well as the dwindling sitcom genre)? More serial shows means lower rated repeats (as episodics are higher rated). Sitcom repeats used to have, like, 80% of their original audience... down to about 60% now and the highest rated sitcom now (2.5 Men) does about half of what a Friends repeat did!
Posts: 4465 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 21 September 2006
Originally posted by TravisYanan: Very interesting article, Paul. I wonder if serial shows are to blame (as well as the dwindling sitcom genre)? More serial shows means lower rated repeats (as episodics are higher rated). Sitcom repeats used to have, like, 80% of their original audience... down to about 60% now and the highest rated sitcom now (2.5 Men) does about half of what a Friends repeat did!
ABC in particular will have to deal with the serial dilemma...if I recall last summer they had dreadful ratings, and this year they have more of them.
Thanks for posting that article, Paul. I think this season's preponderance of serialized shows might be a factor, but it seems like even the episodic series are down, along with everything else.
Certainly, DVR viewing and online viewing have taken a toll, but I wonder if the wide availability of DVD sets factors in, too. I know quite a few people who now prefer to wait for a seasonal DVD set and watch all of the episodes in a few marathon sessions, rather than watch the show week-by-week, either live or via DVR. Since these people aren't the type who participate in online discussions of TV, and there isn't much of a water-cooler atmosphere anymore, waiting until the end of the season doesn't have an effect on their enjoyment of the show.
At 10 p.m., a special edition of ABC’s Primetime focusing on the Virginia Tech tragedy led the hour with 11.34 million viewers and a 3.6/10 among adults 18-49. Second was a repeat of NBC’s aging Law & Order: SVU (Viewers: 8.32 million; A18-49: 2.3/ 7), followed by CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery, also focused on Virginia Tech, with 6.49 million viewers and a 2.2/ 6 in the demo.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data
What do you all make of the fact that ABC's Primetime did way better than CBS's 48 Hrs.? How much is retention from "Dancing" and how much does it have to do with CBS's perennial third-place finish in newscasts?
Originally posted by vlis: do summer ratings count for anything?
Not much I don't think...last year I think the main concern was if ABC's new season promos were getting enough exposure. But they came back strong once the new season started. They didn't have any troubles until they started rerunning shows again in December!
