CBS Has Largest Audience, Most 18-49 and 25-54 Adults; Fox Has Most 18-34 Adults
Even with CSI still waiting in the wings, CBS staged a resounding win for the second week of the new 2008-9 season from September 29 – October. CBS had the largest audience, the most adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. Fox edged NBC for the most adults 18-34 for the week with ABC and CBS close behind.
CBS’s average viewership of 11.08 million beat ABC by a 1.85 million viewers. NBC with 7.3 million and Fox with 6.45 million were well behind. For demo adults 18-49 it was CBS over NBC by 4.16 million to 3.69 million with ABC (3.65 million) close behind. For adults 25-54 it was CBS over ABC by 5.04 million to 4.15 million viewers, with NBC close behind in third (4.02 million) and Fox (3.40 million) fourth. In adults 18-34, Fox edged ABC by 60,000, winning with 1.65 million to 1.59 million, ABC and CBS finished a close thirdand fourth with 1.47 million and 1.46 million respectively.
Univision was fifth across the board, and the CW was sixth across the board, typical of last season.
(click chart for full sized image)
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
I hope that given their strong showing that CBS will be willing to take a few more chances, such as renewing ‘Swingtown’ for a second season, either as a mid-season replacement or as a summer show. While viewer support is strong for procedurals at the present time, CBS and their advertisers must realize that they are essentially speaking to the same audience with every one of these shows. How many times are they going to get the same person to react to a toothpaste ad they’ve already seen seven times in the same week. However, by taking a few risks and investing in a drama like ‘Swingtown’, CBS is reaching a totally new, non-procedural, demographic as demonstrated by the drop off in viewers when Swingtown was the follow up to CSI. I hope other posters don’t justify this viewership drop off to bad content and production values, because that’s baloney. I’ll admit that it probably didn’t appeal to CBS’ usual demographic. Then again, doesn’t it make sense to offer more variety to attract different viewers? Call it their R & D project.
GO ABC beat CBS!!!
ABC has the best shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Pushing Daisies, Brothers & Sisters, Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Dancing with the Stars and in few weeks there’s Eli Stone and Life on Mars and next year Lost!)