Comments on: Nielsen Ratings Sun Feb 17: CBS Losing Badly With Younger Audiences

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:10:21 +0000

Dexter is #1 on ITunes download. I don’t care about CBS, as long as Showtime gets rewarded for making Dexter, I’m happy.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:10:21 +0000

Dexter is #1 on ITunes download. I don't care about CBS, as long as Showtime gets rewarded for making Dexter, I'm happy.

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:27:49 +0000

Also just noticed… despite all of the big numbers total-viewer wise, the 18/49s were abyssmal. Were all the young kids watching the NBA all-Star game at bars and then partying?

The difference between total and 18/49 was the biggest spread I can remember.

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:27:49 +0000

Also just noticed… despite all of the big numbers total-viewer wise, the 18/49s were abyssmal. Were all the young kids watching the NBA all-Star game at bars and then partying?

The difference between total and 18/49 was the biggest spread I can remember.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:07:51 +0000

Jericho performed better than Dexter, but relative performance was pretty close (and they both got their butts kicked by Knight Rider either way!), though I’d grant there was a smaller total audience watching the broadcast nets when Jericho ran.

if Dexter goes back to only being on Showtime (as will surely be the case for the “first run” of Season 3 of Dexter), who cares? But Jericho is on a trajectory to go off the air. I care!

Maybe CBS should think about putting Jericho on Showtime. I wonder how many new subscribers Showtime would have to get to keep it alive? 500,000?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:35:18 +0000

Ya, and Jericho brand spanking new while Dexter a 2 year old show censored all to heck. I’d really be interested in what kind of numbers Dexter pulls in on Showtime. I wonder how many folks have canceled HBO after the end of shows like Deadwood, Sopranos, and 6 Feet Under and migrated over to Showtime. I think the numbers for Dexter were very impressive considering the reasons stated in this article. Jericho on the other hand, I fully don’t expect it to survive this shortened season 2 and plan to see the the final episode really being the grand finale. At least they will give it a proper ending this time. I don’t intend on seeing a climb in ratings next week, as the trend in these serial shows is either you got on board or you didn’t. (I don’t know that for a fact, it’s just logical reasoning that just now popped into my head.)Now it will be just the dropoffs from those that didn’t like the first episode.

If I’m wrong, I’ll buy you a donut. But only 1, and only 1 person. I’m not rich!

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:21:54 +0000

You go Ana. Love a girl who can crunch numbers.

It’s a mele out there for programmers. Anything goes until next season. They’re just throwin half-cooked spaghetti against the fridge right now.

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:15:40 +0000

Someone posted this on the CBS Message boards:

“I think someone better look at the numbers again. The crux of this piece is that CBS can’t get the 18-49 numbers. They then go on to compare Dexter to Jericho trashing Jericho being out performed by Dexter. But WAIT A MINUTE! Can we rewind the tape?

Total VIewers: Dexter 8.1 million out of 30 miilion viewers (27% of viewers), Jericho 7.3 million out of 22.78 million viewers (31% of viewers).

18-49 Demographic: Dexter 2.3/ 6 share; Jericho 2.5/ 7 share.

Dexter 3rd in time slot out of 3 shows in total viewers (.5 million out of 2nd, 4.78 million out of 1st) and in 18-49 share; Jericho 3rd in time slot out of 3 shows in total viewers (.8 million out of 2nd, 1.19 million out of 1st) and tied for 1st in 18-49 share.

Somebody get a clue!”

Weren’t these your numbers from this week?
I’m a little confussed,
Ana

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:07:51 +0000

Ana, the problem is that with Dexter on Showtime the best it could do is a bit over million per new episode so 8 million is gravy. I compared the numbers of a cable show that first ran almost 2 years ago to a show that was trying to stay on the air deliberately.

Jericho performed better than Dexter, but relative performance was pretty close (and they both got their butts kicked by Knight Rider either way!), though I'd grant there was a smaller total audience watching the broadcast nets when Jericho ran.

if Dexter goes back to only being on Showtime (as will surely be the case for the "first run" of Season 3 of Dexter), who cares? But Jericho is on a trajectory to go off the air. I care!

Maybe CBS should think about putting Jericho on Showtime. I wonder how many new subscribers Showtime would have to get to keep it alive? 500,000?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:35:18 +0000

Ya, and Jericho brand spanking new while Dexter a 2 year old show censored all to heck. I'd really be interested in what kind of numbers Dexter pulls in on Showtime. I wonder how many folks have canceled HBO after the end of shows like Deadwood, Sopranos, and 6 Feet Under and migrated over to Showtime. I think the numbers for Dexter were very impressive considering the reasons stated in this article. Jericho on the other hand, I fully don't expect it to survive this shortened season 2 and plan to see the the final episode really being the grand finale. At least they will give it a proper ending this time. I don't intend on seeing a climb in ratings next week, as the trend in these serial shows is either you got on board or you didn't. (I don't know that for a fact, it's just logical reasoning that just now popped into my head.)Now it will be just the dropoffs from those that didn't like the first episode.

If I'm wrong, I'll buy you a donut. But only 1, and only 1 person. I'm not rich!

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:21:54 +0000

You go Ana. Love a girl who can crunch numbers.

It's a mele out there for programmers. Anything goes until next season. They're just throwin half-cooked spaghetti against the fridge right now.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:17:58 +0000

Jon V: I’m as surprised as you about The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Knight Rider. I had no idea Knight Rider was even going to be on and had I, I’m not sure I would have watched it. I will dig up the movie and give it a look though.

I’m not sure it’s strike related or a fluke. Nostalgia, good theme song, talking cars. It seemed to gain strength every half hour and had very good 18-49 demo performance.

P.S. I think bell-bottoms were a late 60s and early 70s phenomenon. I was straight leg all the way in the 80s.

By: Ana

Ana — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:15:40 +0000

Someone posted this on the CBS Message boards:

"I think someone better look at the numbers again. The crux of this piece is that CBS can't get the 18-49 numbers. They then go on to compare Dexter to Jericho trashing Jericho being out performed by Dexter. But WAIT A MINUTE! Can we rewind the tape?

Total VIewers: Dexter 8.1 million out of 30 miilion viewers (27% of viewers), Jericho 7.3 million out of 22.78 million viewers (31% of viewers).

18-49 Demographic: Dexter 2.3/ 6 share; Jericho 2.5/ 7 share.

Dexter 3rd in time slot out of 3 shows in total viewers (.5 million out of 2nd, 4.78 million out of 1st) and in 18-49 share; Jericho 3rd in time slot out of 3 shows in total viewers (.8 million out of 2nd, 1.19 million out of 1st) and tied for 1st in 18-49 share.

Somebody get a clue!"

Weren't these your numbers from this week?
I'm a little confussed,
Ana

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:08:32 +0000

Yah… what was up with Knightrider kickin butt? Are we about to trend back to the 80’s… I think I’ve still got some bell-bottoms in storage. Is this a strike-related interim issue or just a fluke. (By the way, bought a new ‘Stang last year cuz I just gotta have it).

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:17:58 +0000

Jon V: I'm as surprised as you about The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Knight Rider. I had no idea Knight Rider was even going to be on and had I, I'm not sure I would have watched it. I will dig up the movie and give it a look though.

I'm not sure it's strike related or a fluke. Nostalgia, good theme song, talking cars. It seemed to gain strength every half hour and had very good 18-49 demo performance.

P.S. I think bell-bottoms were a late 60s and early 70s phenomenon. I was straight leg all the way in the 80s.

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:08:32 +0000

Yah… what was up with Knightrider kickin butt? Are we about to trend back to the 80's… I think I've still got some bell-bottoms in storage. Is this a strike-related interim issue or just a fluke. (By the way, bought a new 'Stang last year cuz I just gotta have it).

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:05:56 +0000

I shoulda mentioned that the only FOX I use are the Sunday animations because I hate reality. Figgered they had been hyping the NEW episodes all week on all of their big ratings-winning shows and i would benefit without selling out. Now FOX finally gets ‘creamed’ and I’m all over it like s**t on stink.

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:38:57 +0000

What a chump i am. Took the new FOX animations on my TV BigShot entries to have a nice night with all of their fans… and got creamed.

What happened?

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:05:56 +0000

By: Jon V

Jon V — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:38:57 +0000

What a chump i am. Took the new FOX animations on my TV BigShot entries to have a nice night with all of their fans… and got creamed.

What happened?

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:32:28 +0000

How is this for an absolute nightmare scenario? Can’t you just imagine Ben Silverman looking at those inexplicably great Knight Rider numbers and penciling it in for fall Friday nights at 9 pm (the same time slot it had in the 1980s I believe), and tossing our beloved Friday Night Lights in the cancellation pile? Makes me sick to my stomach. This….the 1980s network of St. Elsewhere, Hill St. Blues, Cheers, Golden Girls, Cosby Show, Family Ties…….and what show do they try and remake??? The David Hasselhoff series.

By: Daniel C

Daniel C — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:35:28 +0000

Oh, absolutely Robert. I agree that FOX will win this year, overall. However, let’s see how May sweeps go when all nets are at full strength.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:32:28 +0000

How is this for an absolute nightmare scenario? Can't you just imagine Ben Silverman looking at those inexplicably great Knight Rider numbers and penciling it in for fall Friday nights at 9 pm (the same time slot it had in the 1980s I believe), and tossing our beloved Friday Night Lights in the cancellation pile? Makes me sick to my stomach. This….the 1980s network of St. Elsewhere, Hill St. Blues, Cheers, Golden Girls, Cosby Show, Family Ties…….and what show do they try and remake??? The David Hasselhoff series.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:28:06 +0000

Daniel, I’ll wager many beers FOX wins the year (with the “year” ending with the May sweeps). , reruns of CSI, etc., performed much better for CBS than reruns on other networks and that will be their “we withstood the strike!” mantra I suppose. completely agree with you about CBS inability at being nimble vs. the other nets, though I wouldn’t say ABC was all that effective either.

By: Daniel C

Daniel C — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:26:26 +0000

I go back to the strike and that it hurt CBS the most. They are big and set in their ways and were not nimble in new programming. When the shows get going again, CBS will be back on top.