Lost Most Time-Shifted Show By Percentage, American Idol By Viewers
Everything about American Idol seems to be getting bigger this season including its time-shifted viewership. Lost the time-shifting leader for the previous two weeks was pushed to third for the largest absolute time-shifted audience size by two episodes of American Idol. With 4.01 million time-shifted (DVR) viewers, Wednesday’s American Idol had the largest absolute time-shifted audience for the week of March 3-9, followed by Tuesday’s American Idol with 3.96 million time-shifted viewers. Rounding out the top 10 for was Lost, Thursday’s American Idol, Survivor: Micronesia, the “two episode” finale of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Medium, Law & Order, and Celebrity Apprentice.
Lost’s time-shifted viewership didn’t move down much [3.98m to 3.66m], but the time-shifted viewership of both American Idols moved up.
Fox had the most shows (7) out of the top 20 in absolute time-shifted audience size.
Top 20 Largest Time-shifted Audience Broadcast TV Shows:
| Rank | Programs | Network | Persons Live+7 (000) | Persons Live (000) | Timeshifed Audience (000s) | % Increase Over Live |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 29,431 | 25,423 | 4,008 | 15.8% |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 29,777 | 25,814 | 3,963 | 15.4% |
| 3 | LOST | ABC | 14,933 | 11,269 | 3,664 | 32.5% |
| 4 | AMERICAN IDOL THU SP-3/6 | FOX | 27,394 | 24,051 | 3,343 | 13.9% |
| 5 | SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA | CBS | 13,687 | 11,340 | 2,347 | 20.7% |
| 6 | TERMINATOR: SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES | FOX | 9,467 | 7,495 | 1,972 | 26.3% |
| 7 | TERMINATOR:SCC SP-3/3 8P | FOX | 8,845 | 6,924 | 1,921 | 27.7% |
| 8 | MEDIUM | NBC | 10,428 | 8,606 | 1,822 | 21.2% |
| 9 | LAW AND ORDER | NBC | 10,684 | 9,297 | 1,387 | 14.9% |
| 10 | APPRENTICE 7 | NBC | 9,529 | 8,153 | 1,376 | 16.9% |
| 11 | BIG BROTHER 9-TUE | CBS | 6,646 | 5,292 | 1,354 | 25.6% |
| 12 | NEW AMSTERDAM | FOX | 14,249 | 12,898 | 1,351 | 10.5% |
| 13 | JERICHO | CBS | 6,659 | 5,355 | 1,304 | 24.4% |
| 14 | BIG BROTHER 9-WED | CBS | 6,016 | 4,719 | 1,297 | 27.5% |
| 15 | BIG BROTHER 9-SUN | CBS | 6,781 | 5,510 | 1,271 | 23.1% |
| 16 | NEW AMSTERDAM SP-3/6 9P | FOX | 10,813 | 9,561 | 1,252 | 13.1% |
| 17 | ELI STONE | ABC | 8,029 | 6,815 | 1,214 | 17.8% |
| 18 | LIPSTICK JUNGLE | NBC | 6,625 | 5,472 | 1,153 | 21.1% |
| 19 | MOMENT OF TRUTH | FOX | 15,217 | 14,116 | 1,101 | 7.8% |
| 20 | BIGGEST LOSER 5 | NBC | 9,054 | 8,015 | 1,039 | 13.0% |
The Largest Time-shifting Audience table ranks which of the Top 150 broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest absolute number of time-shifted viewers on their digital video recorders (DVRs). %SD of Total = percentage of a show’s total DVR viewing that happened the same day up to 3am the morning after the show aired.
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Lost Has A 36.1% Increase Via DVR Viewing
For the week of March 3-9, Lost’s audience increased by 32.5% over the 11.27 million that watched it Live giving it a Live+7 audience of 14.93 million, again making it the leading broadcast show for % increase in viewing via DVR.
One of the episodes in the season finale doubleheader of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles had its audience increase by 27.7% over its Live airing placing it second for the week. Rounding out the top 1o were Wednesday’s Big Brother, America’s Top Model, the other finale episode of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Tuesday’s Big Brother, Jericho, Sunday’s Big Brother and Medium.
CBS had the most time-shifted shows on a % basis with 5 of the 20.
Top 20 Most % Time-shifted Broadcast TV Shows:
| Rank | Programs | Network | Persons Live+7 (000) | Persons Live (000) | Timeshifed Audience (000s) | % Increase Over Live |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOST | ABC | 14,933 | 11,269 | 3,664 | 32.5% |
| 2 | TERMINATOR:SCC SP-3/3 8P | FOX | 8,845 | 6,924 | 1,921 | 27.7% |
| 3 | BIG BROTHER 9-WED | CBS | 6,016 | 4,719 | 1,297 | 27.5% |
| 4 | AMERICA'S TOP MODEL-4 | CW | 4,035 | 3,170 | 865 | 27.3% |
| 5 | TERMINATOR: SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES | FOX | 9,467 | 7,495 | 1,972 | 26.3% |
| 6 | BIG BROTHER 9-TUE | CBS | 6,646 | 5,292 | 1,354 | 25.6% |
| 7 | JERICHO | CBS | 6,659 | 5,355 | 1,304 | 24.4% |
| 8 | BIG BROTHER 9-SUN | CBS | 6,781 | 5,510 | 1,271 | 23.1% |
| 9 | MEDIUM | NBC | 10,428 | 8,606 | 1,822 | 21.2% |
| 10 | LIPSTICK JUNGLE | NBC | 6,625 | 5,472 | 1,153 | 21.1% |
| 11 | SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA | CBS | 13,687 | 11,340 | 2,347 | 20.7% |
| 12 | ONE TREE HILL | CW | 3,300 | 2,761 | 539 | 19.5% |
| 13 | OCTOBER ROAD | ABC | 5,976 | 5,021 | 955 | 19.0% |
| 14 | PARADISE HOTEL 2 | MNT | 1,258 | 1,060 | 198 | 18.7% |
| 15 | ELI STONE | ABC | 8,029 | 6,815 | 1,214 | 17.8% |
| 16 | APPRENTICE 7 | NBC | 9,529 | 8,153 | 1,376 | 16.9% |
| 17 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 29,431 | 25,423 | 4,008 | 15.8% |
| 18 | MEN IN TREES | ABC | 6,442 | 5,571 | 871 | 15.6% |
| 19 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 29,777 | 25,814 | 3,963 | 15.4% |
| 20 | LAW AND ORDER | NBC | 10,684 | 9,297 | 1,387 | 14.9% |
The % Time-shifting table ranks which of the Top 150 broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest % increase in viewing between Live audience and Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows later on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Bill, the higher percentage time-shifted viewing for T:SCC was for the first hour of the finale?
Seems like people came into the show late because they knew their DVR was getting it.
Bill, the higher percentage time-shifted viewing for T:SCC was for the first hour of the finale?
Seems like people came into the show late because they knew their DVR was getting it.
Frank, I know you asked Bill, but he’s out of pocket until later this evening. You read the #s correctly. The first hour had a higher percentage increase even though the second hour had slightly more absolute DVR viewers.
While I suspect there is some truth to your theory the real reason looks like it was just because almost 600,000 more people (total) watched the 9pm installment, and almost all of the that difference was LIVE viewers.
Frank, I know you asked Bill, but he's out of pocket until later this evening. You read the #s correctly. The first hour had a higher percentage increase even though the second hour had slightly more absolute DVR viewers.
While I suspect there is some truth to your theory the real reason looks like it was just because almost 600,000 more people (total) watched the 9pm installment, and almost all of the that difference was LIVE viewers.
Thanks, Robert!
Thanks, Robert!
By the way, Robert, it looks like FOX just renewed Prison Break for a full season.
I’m correct in remembering that Terminator consistently beat out Prison Break in the 18-49yr demographic, right? Or was it only total viewership? If it’s as I remember I’m hoping that bodes well for Sarah Connor getting a full second season.
Then again, this is FOX we’re talking about…
By the way, Robert, it looks like FOX just renewed Prison Break for a full season.
I'm correct in remembering that Terminator consistently beat out Prison Break in the 18-49yr demographic, right? Or was it only total viewership? If it's as I remember I'm hoping that bodes well for Sarah Connor getting a full second season.
Then again, this is FOX we're talking about…
frankj,
Although we haven’t really assembled any data, when we occasionally have 30 minute breakdowns of the overnight ratings data it’s pretty much guaranteed that the second half hour of a show in the 8-9pm hour gets more viewers than the first. I think that’s just the tardiness of people tuning in.
And you were correct that TSCC was on average better than Prison Break for both 18-49 and total viewers.
Check the numbers here:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/03/19/fox-on-the-bubble-terminatorscc-many-others/3019
frankj,
Although we haven't really assembled any data, when we occasionally have 30 minute breakdowns of the overnight ratings data it's pretty much guaranteed that the second half hour of a show in the 8-9pm hour gets more viewers than the first. I think that's just the tardiness of people tuning in.
And you were correct that TSCC was on average better than Prison Break for both 18-49 and total viewers.
Check the numbers here:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/03/19/fox-on-the...
Those timeshifted numbers TSCC gets every week are very consistent. I also heard New Amsterdam tanked today. With a few slots open for next fall I believe TSCC is the better show. Not only in the ratings but also in the overall quality.
Those timeshifted numbers TSCC gets every week are very consistent. I also heard New Amsterdam tanked today. With a few slots open for next fall I believe TSCC is the better show. Not only in the ratings but also in the overall quality.