Comments on: Nielsen Ratings Apr 27: Housewives Desperate for Last Year’s Ratings

By: Clayton

Clayton — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:43:31 +0000

As a Monk/Psych fan, I don’t think NBC has done those shows justice by bringing them over for reruns. I was hoping they were going to have new eps. No wonder ratings are bad.

By: Clayton

Clayton — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:43:31 +0000

As a Monk/Psych fan, I don't think NBC has done those shows justice by bringing them over for reruns. I was hoping they were going to have new eps. No wonder ratings are bad.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:39:59 +0000

Wait, Aliens in America was new last night? I looked on my cable guide last night and it didn’t even say Aliens in America was on last night. My DVR didn’t record it either. I had no idea either. Not that it would help it that much. The ratings are astoundingly bad even for the CW…

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:39:59 +0000

Wait, Aliens in America was new last night? I looked on my cable guide last night and it didn't even say Aliens in America was on last night. My DVR didn't record it either. I had no idea either. Not that it would help it that much. The ratings are astoundingly bad even for the CW…

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:52:32 +0000

Ditto Robert's point about it not being entirely clear how much "sweeps" effect national advertising. Sweeps periods are times when Nielsen diaries are used in all 210 US markets. Normally just the 56 people meter markets are measured. Those diaries help set local ad rates in the non-people meter markets.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:52:32 +0000

Ditto Robert's point about it not being entirely clear how much "sweeps" effect national advertising.

Sweeps periods are times when Nielsen diaries are used in all 210 US markets. Normally just the 56 people meter markets are measured. Those diaries help set local ad rates in the non-people meter markets.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:50:18 +0000

Daniel, my understanding is that advertisers don’t put a lot of stock in sweeps numbers at this point, especially with such a large portion of the ads being sold via upfronts where they’re more or less locking in rates for ratings points up front.

It’s an industry riddled with legacy thinking, including “bragging rights,” even though there’s not much to brag about these days…

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:50:18 +0000

Daniel, my understanding is that advertisers don't put a lot of stock in sweeps numbers at this point, especially with such a large portion of the ads being sold via upfronts where they're more or less locking in rates for ratings points up front.

It's an industry riddled with legacy thinking, including “bragging rights,” even though there's not much to brag about these days…

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:22:33 +0000

Robert,

My understanding was the purpose of ratings was to measure audience in order to set advertising rates and the sweeps were the times when these rates were set for that quarter. Is it your understanding that this is not longer the case?

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:22:33 +0000

Robert,

By: jay turney

jay turney — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:20:37 +0000

Certain shows symbolize different things for different people. The old half-kidding another sign of the apocalypse, or sign of SOS or something. Personally, I like DH far more than I could ever like Grey’s, Private Practice etc because and I don’t care how often I say it: It does not gratuitously male bash and set up the new double standard. The 40/50 male/female split shows that. The women are sexy but not objectified. The men are not objectified on DH as they are on every other show on ABC. It is a nice, entertaining, middle of the road crowd-pleaser with true crime and mystery elements. It also broke the ground for its imitators.

By: jay turney

jay turney — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:20:37 +0000

Certain shows symbolize different things for different people. The old half-kidding another sign of the apocalypse, or sign of SOS or something. Personally, I like DH far more than I could ever like Grey's, Private Practice etc because and I don't care how often I say it: It does not gratuitously male bash and set up the new double standard. The 40/50 male/female split shows that. The women are sexy but not objectified. The men are not objectified on DH as they are on every other show on ABC. It is a nice, entertaining, middle of the road crowd-pleaser with true crime and mystery elements. It also broke the ground for its imitators.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:03:05 +0000

CSI only drew 16 million,Grey’s Anatomy drew 16.7,DH drew 16.2 overall people just arent watching tv alot Networks are counting on the shows highly anticipated 2 hour season finales to bring in the viewers but trust this fall things will be where they used to be so dont act lik all is lost on DH they’re just going through what all the top rated shows are going threw

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:03:05 +0000

CSI only drew 16 million,Grey's Anatomy drew 16.7,DH drew 16.2 overall people just arent watching tv alot Networks are counting on the shows highly anticipated 2 hour season finales to bring in the viewers but trust this fall things will be where they used to be so dont act lik all is lost on DH they're just going through what all the top rated shows are going threw

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:49:01 +0000

Daniel, in the overnight results post for Thursday, I offered up that I don’t think sweeps really matter as much anymore and trying to win them is probably as meaningful as trying to win the Pro Bowl.

NBC is perhaps a little TOO aligned with my thinking though…

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:49:01 +0000

Daniel, in the overnight results post for Thursday, I offered up that I don't think sweeps really matter as much anymore and trying to win them is probably as meaningful as trying to win the Pro Bowl.

NBC is perhaps a little TOO aligned with my thinking though…

By: STEVE

STEVE — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:46:35 +0000

so, wow REALLY good discussion………that’s what the internet is for:)DH rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: STEVE

STEVE — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:46:35 +0000

so, wow REALLY good discussion………that's what the internet is for:)DH rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:43:20 +0000

I’m very embarrassed by the whole thing. I guess I just can’t believe networks would run cable reruns on a Sunday night during sweeps.

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:43:20 +0000

I'm very embarrassed by the whole thing. I guess I just can't believe networks would run cable reruns on a Sunday night during sweeps.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:34:24 +0000

This year’s May sweeps = April 24-May 21. They started last *Thursday*. If you’re just skimming the posts, I won’t fault anyone — I’m a chronic skimmer myself. But if it’s a lack of trust: c’mon!

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:34:24 +0000

This year's May sweeps = April 24-May 21. They started last *Thursday*. If you're just skimming the posts, I won't fault anyone — I'm a chronic skimmer myself. But if it's a lack of trust: c'mon!

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:26:17 +0000

Hey, you’re right! I keep overestimating the intelligence of the networks

By: Daniel C.

Daniel C. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:26:17 +0000

Hey, you're right! I keep overestimating the intelligence of the networks

By: Jon V

Jon V — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:14:42 +0000

I think Sweeps started yesterday… even though it’s not May yet.