May Sweep Prediction GameYes, spring is in full swing, and that means the May Sweep Prediction Game is just days away. This year, the Sweep starts early, running from Thursday April 24th to Wednesday May 21st.
A few months ago, I would have said it was a fait accompli that FOX would win the May Sweep, but now, with originals back on all networks, the May Sweep is shaping up to be a real four-way brawl. How well will the top six ad-supported English-language broadcasters do? Will American Idol give FOX yet another Sweep victory, or are it’s falling numbers a sign of weakness?
And now, with ABC and CBS all tied up in the A18-49 season-to-date numbers (and NBC just 0.1 behind), expect an absolute donnybrook for second place. I fully expect each of the networks has a few Sweep stunts in store...I for one can’t believe that ABC will leave those super-sized season finale editions of Grey’s Anatomy and Lost for late May and outside of the May Sweep period…watch for stuff to get yanked by ABC on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, especially if they’re within striking distance of FOX.
Look at how bunched up the numbers are for the current 2007-08 season-to-date (up to the end of Week 29 last Sunday):
Season-to-Date, Weeks 1-30, Broadcasters
Ranked on A18-49 (000's of 2+ Viewers)
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1. FOX 4.3 11.300
2. CBS 3.0 10.460
2. ABC 3.0 9.140
4. NBC 2.9 8.330
5. CW 1.0 2.570
6. MNT 0.4 1.120
Even the fight for fifth will be a closer race this year with the surging MyNetworkTV challenging The CW on certain nights of the week.
Enquiring minds may want to know how did the networks fare in the May Sweep last season? Here are the results from last season:
2007 May Sweep Results
Ranked on A18-49 (000's of 2+ Viewers)
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FOX 4.1 10.488
ABC 3.7 10.624
CBS 3.0 10.962
NBC 2.4 7.109
CW 1.2 2.936
MNT 0.4 .934
So now it's your turn. Using the template below, state your predicted viewer and A18-49 averages for each of the six networks. As the Sweep progresses, check under last nights results for my nightly Sweep reporting to see how you are faring with your prediction.
When the sweep is over, I'll score it (like they do in the daily game) so that the person who was closest at predicting the 12 Sweep result numbers will join Zedman2 in the vaunted SweepMaster club and take the crown as the very second
Sweep Master. Unless Zedman2 defends his title successfully???
My 2008 May Sweep Prediction is:
NET A18-49 (000's of 2+ Viewers)
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ABC ?.? ??.???
CBS ?.? ??.???
NBC ?.? ??.???
FOX ?.? ??.???
CW ?.? ??.???
MNT ?.? ??.???
Good luck to all contestants who enter, and most especially, good luck to the networks in the 2008 May Sweep.
The deadline for final entries will be 8:00 AM on Friday April 25th as the very first overnight reports are being relayed across the country. 
