Wouldn't you agree though that ABC did a much finer job promoting the Grey's Anatomy Super Bowl episode than Fox did with House? ABC made it an event (that extended past the Super Bowl) and the episode had a very effective hook, to keep audiences watching.
Completely agree. Which is why I wish the House writers / producers had been able to follow through with their plans, which would've been the start of a two-part episode, and certainly would've been event-ized (they have done two-parters before). Again, outside of the "patient on the other side of the world" and having an Academy Award winning actress in the episode... "Frozen" was a standard, formulaic episode of House, and as such, it would be hard for Fox to create the kind of excitement and event fever that ABC created for Grey's with the "Code Black" promos. Though I am (mildly) happy that there was no pandering opening shower scene between Drs. Cuddy, Cameron, and Thirteen
Originally posted by spotupj: Yes, this was my original point. I personally agree that repeats need to be counted in some way, but the current system is too easily manipulated.
But the underlying point is that the 'season average' is simple bragging rights silliness for the fans/networks. They already don't count 'holiday' episodes in the average, so maybe the networks should just claim that the Superbowl, Academy Awards, etc... are TV 'holidays'?
Shame on Fox, then, for having a way too long post-game show. Didn't everyone learn from ABC's mistake in 2003 with Alias (Fox managed to keep House in primetime, but still)!?
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Originally posted by RussTC3:
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Originally posted by TravisYanan: House started at 10:38pm. How long was the CBS post-game show? Fox's ran from 10:05-10:38pm. A little too long if you ask me.
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Originally posted by RussTC3:
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Originally posted by robert: Wait for the finals in order to compare it with CM
That actually might not be necessary to do though. Criminal Minds didn't change much in the finals and the time period it aired in was almost identically the same as House (Criminal Minds started at 10:27):
Fast Nationals vs. Final Nationals Households - 15.0 to 15.1 Viewers - 26.23M to 26.31M Adults 18-49 - 9.9 to 10.0
I didn't realize House started that late (haven't watched the episode, that's for tonight ).
It is interesting though that while both games' post game shows started at around the same time (10:04 last year, 10:05 this year) Fox's analysis extended longer than CBS's (10:27 last year, 10:38 this year).
However, Fox attracted more viewers during their post game than CBS did last year.
Originally posted by TravisYanan: House started at 10:38pm. How long was the CBS post-game show? Fox's ran from 10:05-10:38pm. A little too long if you ask me.
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Originally posted by RussTC3:
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Originally posted by robert: Wait for the finals in order to compare it with CM
That actually might not be necessary to do though. Criminal Minds didn't change much in the finals and the time period it aired in was almost identically the same as House (Criminal Minds started at 10:27):
Fast Nationals vs. Final Nationals Households - 15.0 to 15.1 Viewers - 26.23M to 26.31M Adults 18-49 - 9.9 to 10.0
Actually FOX's original plan was to do a 45 minute post game, but they cut it short because the game took longer than usual.
I think the networks always have a tough decision on their hands as far doing such a huge game justice with an extended post game for the sports junkies, versus doing a short post game to keep the non sports fan who watched the big game around to watch the lead out show.
Originally posted by spotupj: Looks like in addition to CBS, ABC also did the flipping with EM:HE at 7 and AFHV at 8. Just change the rule about in-timeslot repeats counting toward season avgs already.
I agree. Why penalize a show just because its fans don't feel the need to watch the same episodes over and over again?
You seem to think that the ratings are done for fan enjoyment (misguided bragging rights) rather than for the advertisers benefit. Clearly, the advertisers care about whether or not people are willing to watch an episode of scripted TV twice since that is how many times most scripted shows are aired.
You are right Obveeus that advertisers care about the ratings for repeated episodes. But it does seem ridiculous that networks are forced to switch time slots for the sole way of the rating not counting towards seasonal averages. For special events (like the Super Down, Academy Awards, etc) networks should be allowed to be given a "bye" as far as a rating counting towards seasonal averages. This way CBS ABC would not have to flip flop shows just to work their way around Nielsen rules.
I've been waiting for a thread to start on this one. ABC is perhaps the worst offender. Case in point: DH -- the move to Friday and then in March to 10PM Sunday -- all in an effort to be top-rated drama. The whole thing is silly. Clearly, shows like DH, GA, Heroes don't repeat well. Advertisers know it. Shifting around to another slot to avoid season averages doesn't change the fact.
Travis, what are your thoughts on the Super Bowl matching last year's numbers?
I think the higher overall numbers for the night (7-11) vs. last year is completely attributed to a significantly larger amount of viewers sticking around for the post-game show compared to last year (68.32M vs. 57.34M).
It's almost starting to look like this year's game, while liking reaching over the 90 million mark, won't achieve a greater audience than last year (93.18M) and may just barely eek by the year prior (90.75M).
Posts: 521 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 22 September 2006
Originally posted by spotupj: Looks like in addition to CBS, ABC also did the flipping with EM:HE at 7 and AFHV at 8. Just change the rule about in-timeslot repeats counting toward season avgs already.
I agree. Why penalize a show just because its fans don't feel the need to watch the same episodes over and over again?
You seem to think that the ratings are done for fan enjoyment (misguided bragging rights) rather than for the advertisers benefit. Clearly, the advertisers care about whether or not people are willing to watch an episode of scripted TV twice since that is how many times most scripted shows are aired.
You are right Obveeus that advertisers care about the ratings for repeated episodes. But it does seem ridiculous that networks are forced to switch time slots for the sole way of the rating not counting towards seasonal averages. For special events (like the Super Down, Academy Awards, etc) networks should be allowed to be given a "bye" as far as a rating counting towards seasonal averages. This way CBS ABC would not have to flip flop shows just to work their way around Nielsen rules.
I've been waiting for a thread to start on this one. ABC is perhaps the worst offender. Case in point: DH -- the move to Friday and then in March to 10PM Sunday -- all in an effort to be top-rated drama. The whole thing is silly. Clearly, shows like DH, GA, Heroes don't repeat well. Advertisers know it. Shifting around to another slot to avoid season averages doesn't change the fact.
In my opinion, I don't think serialized shows like Housewives and B&S and Ugly Betty should be repeated simply because it only confuses people. ABC has plenty of reality and other filler to use in those slots imo during a "normal" regular season. If serialized shows are repeated then it should be the special same week encores that many of the networks have done in the past.
Originally posted by Marc Berman: Life is Wild (Viewers: 749,000; A18-49: 0.2/ 0)
Is it possible that this could be the lowest rated original, scripted program on network television, ever?
Life is Wild scored only 770,000 viewers just a couple weeks ago. Pending finals, this episode still has a shot at beating that one. Even if it doesn't outrate it in the finals, it most likely will in the Live+7 data since any fans of the show likely DVR'ed it while watching the Superbowl.
As for lowest scripted ratings ever, that record likely goes to one of those MNTV telenovas.
Obveeus is correct. My records indicate that the lowest original scripted hour on any of the Big 6 English broadcasters (and including the WB, UPN, but excluding PAX) would be MyNetworkTV's telenovella "Saints & Sinners" (sorry x), which on Wednesday May.02/07 at 9 pm, recorded a 0.3HH/0%, .380m viewers, 0.10 A18-49. In fairness, it must be noted that "Saints & Sinners" was up against "American Idol".
Originally posted by spotupj: Looks like in addition to CBS, ABC also did the flipping with EM:HE at 7 and AFHV at 8. Just change the rule about in-timeslot repeats counting toward season avgs already.
I agree. Why penalize a show just because its fans don't feel the need to watch the same episodes over and over again?
You seem to think that the ratings are done for fan enjoyment (misguided bragging rights) rather than for the advertisers benefit. Clearly, the advertisers care about whether or not people are willing to watch an episode of scripted TV twice since that is how many times most scripted shows are aired.
You are right Obveeus that advertisers care about the ratings for repeated episodes. But it does seem ridiculous that networks are forced to switch time slots for the sole way of the rating not counting towards seasonal averages. For special events (like the Super Down, Academy Awards, etc) networks should be allowed to be given a "bye" as far as a rating counting towards seasonal averages. This way CBS ABC would not have to flip flop shows just to work their way around Nielsen rules.
I've been waiting for a thread to start on this one. ABC is perhaps the worst offender. Case in point: DH -- the move to Friday and then in March to 10PM Sunday -- all in an effort to be top-rated drama. The whole thing is silly. Clearly, shows like DH, GA, Heroes don't repeat well. Advertisers know it. Shifting around to another slot to avoid season averages doesn't change the fact.
While I agree about the general point you all have been making about not counting repeat ratings, regarding you specific point about DH, I disagree -- the reason the DH repeats are on Fridays and later on Sundays @ 10pm has much less to do with not counting the repeat ratings in its regular numbers and much more to do with not wasting a prime timeslot (following new EM:HE, one of the few remaining ABC hits during the strike) with a show they know is going to pull low ratings.
Originally posted by TravisYanan: House started at 10:38pm. How long was the CBS post-game show? Fox's ran from 10:05-10:38pm. A little too long if you ask me.
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Originally posted by RussTC3:
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Originally posted by robert: Wait for the finals in order to compare it with CM
That actually might not be necessary to do though. Criminal Minds didn't change much in the finals and the time period it aired in was almost identically the same as House (Criminal Minds started at 10:27):
Fast Nationals vs. Final Nationals Households - 15.0 to 15.1 Viewers - 26.23M to 26.31M Adults 18-49 - 9.9 to 10.0
I never ever remember a post-Superbowl show getting on the air before 10:30. In fact, most are scheduled for 10:30 so that's not really bad at all. As for the post-game, Fox normally has the 30 minute OT after regular season games so just 33 minutes for last night wasn't bad at all imo.
The Associated Press is now reporting that, according to Nielsen, this is the most-watched Super Bowl ever. But I haven't seen any final numbers yet to back that up.
Originally posted by Chimera: While I agree about the general point you all have been making about not counting repeat ratings, regarding you specific point about DH, I disagree -- the reason the DH repeats are on Fridays and later on Sundays @ 10pm has much less to do with not counting the repeat ratings in its regular numbers and much more to do with not wasting a prime timeslot (following new EM:HE, one of the few remaining ABC hits during the strike) with a show they know is going to pull low ratings.
Very well stated. No network in their right mind, even the chimps at ABC, are going to air repeats of Housewives at 9, especially when they have new Brothers and Sisters episodes yet for 10pm. I do think though that the Friday airings are ridiculous and should be pulled in favor of perhaps Primetime or WMC repeats.
Originally posted by Obveeus: But the underlying point is that the 'season average' is simple bragging rights silliness for the fans/networks. They already don't count 'holiday' episodes in the average, so maybe the networks should just claim that the Superbowl, Academy Awards, etc... are TV 'holidays'?
It may just be silliness and spin, but clearly it means enough to somebody to impact scheduling. Which I think is a shame.
If I had my way, there'd be a number for originals average and a number for repeat average, and maybe a further breakdown for in-timeslot repeats and out-of-timeslot repeats. So everything gets counted somewhere, except for maybe some holiday exemptions. But I like numbers. I guess that would be too bureaucratic for the powers that be, who just want one well-spun number to tout.
Originally posted by MetsFan: The Associated Press is now reporting that, according to Nielsen, this is the most-watched Super Bowl ever. But I haven't seen any final numbers yet to back that up.
Very good to hear (It was the best Super Bowl I've ever seen). They must anticipate the numbers to jump heavily when the finals are released. Last year's game showed little movement in the fast nationals to finals. Could that half-hour or so before the game be such a big portion of the audience?
Posts: 521 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 22 September 2006
