| Scoreboard |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers (million) | 15.960 | 11.54 | 8.80 | 6.54 | 4.496 | 3.61 |
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-49 | 4.9/13 | 4.0/10 | 3.9/10 | 2.1/5 | 1.9/5 | 1.5/4 |
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-34 | 3.1/9 | 3.5/10 | 3.9/11 | 1.6/5 | 2.1/6 | 1.4/4 |
Now updated with all our usual data.
CSI opened its season with a larger audience than the comparable date last year last year’s premiere and pushed CBS to the overall viewership and demo adults 18-49 win for the night. Grey’s Anatomy faded noticeably from its premiere, but helped ABC take second for viewers and 18-49 adults for the night.
Survivor: Gabon beat down the competition from 8-9 winning easily, but did slip 0.1 in the 18-49 demo from last week. Ugly Betty was just about even with last week, while My Name is Earl kept its audience steady, but lost 0.2 ratings points in the 18-49 demo.
Kath & Kim did much better than I expected (and better than Earl) in its premiere, beating everything but Survivor in the demo for its half hour.
CSI premiere topped its 2007-8 premiere and pushed Grey’s Anatomy down at 9pm. Interesting to see if Grey’s can stabilize at that level. The Office held its audience from 9/25, but slipped 0.3 rating points in the 18-49 demo.
Life on Mars and Eleventh Hour premiered to nearly identical numbers at 10pm. The horse race of the new shows was closer than I would have thought, it will be interesting to watch it develop. While it came in behind the premieres, ER won the 18-49 demo for the hour, and bettered its 9/25 audience by 1.4 million and its 18-49 demo by 0.7 rating points, quite an improvement.
Full details:
| Time | Net | Show | Viewers Live+SD (Millons) | 18-49 Rating/ Share | 18-34 Rating/ Share |
| 8:00 | CBS | Survivor: Gabon | 13.306 | 4.4/12 | 2.5/8 |
| ABC | Ugly Betty | 8.484 | 2.6/7 | 2.4/8 | |
| NBC | My Name is Earl | 7.095 | 2.7/8 | 2.3/8 | |
| FOX | MLB Playoff pregame/game | 5.910 | 1.8/5 | 1.5/5 | |
| UNI | Cuidado con el Angel | 4.635 | 1.9/5 | 2.1/7 | |
| CW | Smallville | 4.079 | 1.6/4 | 1.5/5 | |
| 8:30 | NBC | Kath & Kim (premiere) | 7.459 | 3.2/9 | 3.2/10 |
| FOX | MLB Playoff: Dodgers/Phillies | 6.562 | 2.0/6 | 1.7/5 | |
| 9:00 | CBS | CSI (premiere) | 22.985 | 7.0/17 | 4.5/12 |
| ABC | Grey’s Anatomy | 14.541 | 5.6/13 | 5.4/14 | |
| NBC | The Office | 8.998 | 4.6/11 | 5.6/15 | |
| FOX | MLB Playoff: Dodgers/Phillies | 6.468 | 2.0/5 | 1.7/4 | |
| UNI | Fuego en la Sangre | 5.484 | 2.3/5 | 2.5/7 | |
| CW | Supernatural | 3.138 | 1.4/3 | 1.4/3 | |
| 9:30 | NBC | Saturday Night Live Special | 10.587 | 5.0/12 | 5.3/14 |
| 10:00 | ABC | Life on Mars (premiere) | 11.601 | 3.8/10 | 2.7/8 |
| CBS | Eleventh Hour (premiere) | 11.588 | 3.4/9 | 2.3/7 | |
| NBC | ER | 9.346 | 4.0/10 | 3.3/10 | |
| UNI | La Rosa de Guadalupe | 3.369 | 1.4/4 | 1.5/4 |
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30 Minute breakdowns for the new 10pm shows:
| Time | Net | Show | Viewers Live+SD (Millons) | 18-49 Rating/ Share | 18-34 Rating/ Share |
| 10:00 | ABC | Life on Mars (premiere) | 12.272 | 4.1/10 | 2.9/8 |
| 10:30 | ABC | Life on Mars (premiere) | 10.929 | 3.5/10 | 2.4/7 |
| 10:00 | CBS | Eleventh Hour (premiere) | 12.547 | 3.7/9 | 2.4/7 |
| 10:30 | CBS | Eleventh Hour (premiere) | 10.628 | 3.0/8 | 2.1/6 |
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Shows are sorted by viewers in each time slot. Timeslot demo winners are in bold.
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. Source Marc Berman/Mediaweek.
Definitions:
Fast Affiliate Ratings: These first national ratings, including demographics, are available at approximately 11 AM (ET) the day after telecast, and are released to subscribing customers daily. These data, from the National People Meter sample, are strictly time-period information, based on the normal broadcast network feed, and include all programming on the affiliated stations, sometimes including network programming, sometimes not. The figures may include stations that did not air the entire network feed, as well as local news breaks or cutaways for local coverage or other programming. Fast Affiliate ratings are not as useful for live programs and are likely to differ significantly from the final results, because the data reflect normal broadcast feed patterns. For example, with a World Series game, Fast Affiliate Ratings would include whatever aired from 8-11PM on affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone, following the live football game, but not game coverage that begins at 5PM PT. The same would be true of Presidential debates as well as live award shows and breaking news reports.
Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent.
Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific area at a specific time. (See also, Rating, which represents tuning or viewing as a percent of the entire population being measured.)
Time Shifted Viewing – Program ratings for national sources are produced in three streams of data – Live, Live+Same Day (Live+SD) and Live+7 Day. Time shifted figures account for incremental viewing that takes place with DVRs which are currently in approximately 24.4% of all U.S. TV households. Live+Same Day (Live+SD) include viewing during the same broadcast day as the original telecast, with a cut-off of 3:00AM local time when meters transmit daily viewing to Nielsen for processing. Live+7 Day ratings include incremental viewing that takes place during the 7 days following a telecast.
For more information see Numbers 101.
Actually, that’s the third episode from last season. The season premiere actually got over 25 million viewers two weeks prior. I’d still consider that a good number though, since there won’t be another scripted program topping 20 million viewers for a long, long, long while.
I’m really impressed by The Office though, dropping only 3-4% from its premiere despite CSI, in comparison to Grey’s, which more or less imploded. Maybe The Office could beat one of the two shows in the Demo by the end of the year? It’ll make its post-Super Bowl episode all the more interesting. Also, the show was AWESOME last night quality-wise.
FOX must be ALL kinds of pissed at the Cubs right now. Does anyone care about this series?
If you get the data, could you please post the half-hours for Life on Mars and 11th Hour? Thanks!
I really don’t get why NBC starts off the night with “My Name is Earl” in the ‘Friends’-slot. They have the hottest show with ‘The Office’, and put it against CSI. The Office could double its ratings in a spot at 8pm where viewers could watch instead of going online on Hulu the next day. Office-30Rock-Earl-Kath&Kim would be the way to do it.
Jonathan, good catch, I have edited.
Holly, will do. Our other data is strangely late today.
Funny that ER beats both new shows in the demo. Could it be due to Angela Bassett joining the cast? I also heard that there were appearances by former cast, so maybe there was the curiosity factor? Anyway, if NBC actually keeps this show in winner’s circle, maybe they might want to reconsider this being the last season…
ER was much stronger than I thought it would be at 10pm. That Saturday Night Live special certainly helped NBC. And CBS’s strong start to the season continues, CSI had a big audience for its first episode.
GA is dropping like a stone. If it comes in 2nd in the demo to CSI next week (I don’t think CSI will stay at the gigantic number), you know things are worrisome.
Fred, if NBC moved The Office to 8, they would have very little chance of even making a slight dent at 9. Plus, HUT is higher at 9, so who is to say that moving The Office to 8 would actually increase its audience anyway?
I think moving the office to 8:00 would increase it’s audience, but I know why they aren’t going to. If they moved the office to 8:00, there comedy show in the 9:00 hour (Kath and Kim/My Name is earl/30 rock whatever they’d choose) would be totally demolished. The Office is “taking one for the team” so to speak.
I can’t remember exactly, but is this the first time Grey’s has been under 15 mil since before it moved to Thursdays? (With the exception of the idiotic move on ABC’s part to air new episodes on Thanksgiving.)
You know, I always questioned just how much Supernatural’s Thursday timeslot affected the ratings, but watching the ratings fluctuate the past few weeks I think it really does matter. I wonder how much higher they would be if we led Smallville instead of the other way around.
Julia, Last year the only time it went below 15 mill and a 6.0 in the demo was that Thanksgiving airing. Since last year was down from the year before, I assume this is a first for GA.
Ouch, CSI beat Grey’s by over 8 million… Ugly Betty seems to be following the same pattern it did last year, but wow, Grey’s… 5th Grader did much better last year than the MLB game and it also almost beat Betty a few times… now Ugly Betty has a comfortable 2nd place seat every week, but My Name Is Earl seems to be gaining…
I thought Eleventh Hour would do better. Maybe CBS isn’t the best network for a Science show, because I see it dropping off a lot next week.
Pretty happy with the numbers from lastnight. I watched Kath & Kim and being a fan of the Aus. original I’m not so sure about it, it lacks a little something. I’m not crossing it off just yet though. Will be viewing Life On Mars later today. High hopes! Loved the original UK version. Nice numbers for it too. Really glad to see Earl & Office hang in there and ER was up pretty well also. If only Monday night was so pleasing in the numbers…
NBC has to be happy with its showing last night with strong competition. All of the attention on SNL certainly helped its Thursday showing last night. I think Earl is benefiting by getting back to its core after a slumping season where Earl was in jail. I think that 30 rock will get a bump as well because Tina Fey is so hot right now. ER looked very good last night as well.
ABC has to be worried. Greys is not a powerhouse like it used to be. And I watched the first 10 mins of Life on Mars. Very cheesy and shot terribly. I don’t see these numbers holding up.
Fox can’t be surprised with these numbers.
still no detailed data
Waiting……
I really hope the CW keeps the competition in mind for Supernatural. 46 million people where watching CBS, ABC or NBC. Not many other shows would do that much better. My guess is the biggest thing against the show will be the production cost. Although with only 2 full time actors they have to be saving some money. Oh well it’s WAY to early to get worried
Ugly Betty and Smallville seem much lower ratings wise than last year. I think they are showing their age and declining creatively a lot this season. I find them both pretty bad lately.
SNL was impressive last night building on the office
I don’t see Eleventh Hour holding up. It will probably be cancelled by mid-season. It looks like just another procedural, it has no where to go but down. Life on Mars might go up, not really sure about it at this point.
YAY! Life on Mars is #1 in viewers in its timeslot!
I am very happy to see My Name is Earl holding it’s ratings steady I agree with Anony about Earl going back to it’s roots “the list” season 3 was bad but so far season 4 has been great and NBC looked great the entire night now I watched Kath & Kim and i’m not sure it will hold up but it was the first show so things may pick up on it creatively but The Office great numbers and the SNL Special seems to have caught fire as it did much better than I would have guessed and even ER held up i’m also happy CSI crushed Grey’s Anatomy I never “got it” when it came to Grey’s in the first place as obviously CSI is a much better show as the ratings proved they should not be neck and neck CSI should dominate as it always has in the past as the writing has not gotten old at all it’s still a great show
Just watched Life On Mars and I liked it. The first show was a pretty much copy & paste of the UK version but it translated well I think. Good actors and characters. Hope it hangs around.
Our usual data finally arrived and the post has been updated.
I have a question guys. Due to the strike do you think shows will get a longer leash (ie full season orders) to see how the ratings will go since there was no real pilot season and lack of shows to fill the gaps or do you think networks will be quick to pull the plug?
Rob, my impression is that while the bullpen might be a bit light currently, and so might keep some shows on through December that might otherwise have been pulled, by January the networks will have a enough replacements so that there may be lots of turn over then.
YES !! It’s nice to see GREY losing to CSI (which once was neck & neck with CSI in earlier seasons…) – CSI is still strong regardless of all the charachter changes – supporting cast has been strong and CSI has done a great job letting viewers get to know them – good balance over all – last night was one of thier best episodes…it was GRIPPING! Goodbye to GREY hopefully soon!
RG, CSI indeed was the victor, but Grey’s, down as it may be from its peak, is still one of the most valuable properties in television. It’s not going anywhere.
if kath and kim got a 3.2 in the 18-34 and an identical 3.2 in 18-49… doesn’t that mean that between people 34-49 they got a 0?
tom, those ratings are the percentage of people in the particular age group in the entire US TV population that were watching (not absolute numbers), so it means:
3.2% of all 18-34 year olds in the US with TVs were watching
3.2% of all 18-49 year olds in the US with TVs were watching
Whoa. The Office beat Grey’s in 18-34? That’s really surprising.
The Office did well. Great numbers for SNL better than expected. Let’s hope some of those 10 mill saw the prommo for 30 Rock. ER winning Demos is good with me. I think it will be interesting after next week when Maura Tierney is gone. She is a fan favorite. ER still, I think, is compelling medical drama and I think that is what some of these younger viewers are finding too.
Wow, I can’t believed NBC won the 18-34 demo. Having SNL on certainly helps and Kath & Kim did better than I predicted. When 30 Rock returns, I hope the numbers increase because Tina Fey seems to be pretty hot right now from her Palin impressions.
I am getting a little tired of hearing how Grey’s Anatomy is gonna get canceled. The series in renewed until 2011 for one thing. Also, if you have not noticed most all series, except those of CBS, are down. So therefore, you are need to stop saying its gonna get canned. I think the show is having a very sucessful revival after having a horrible 4th Season. I look for the show to average 16 to 17 Million Viewers this season. So calm down!
thanks for the respond bill. things aren’t looking good for my two new fave shows of chuck and pushing daisies but maybe just maybe ABC and NBC will give those shows a break this season for the strike but i do not have my fingers crossed. As for grey’s the ratings have been down but it seems to be the number of viewers lost for the season and just about for every show is the same amount of viewers lost due to the strike in general
Well Knight Rider might be safe.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib51a5e93dda16ab7614bcfd21099dbe5
Is this the best showing NBC has had in quite some time on Thursday?
that is good to hear, I’m a chick that diggs the car!!
Too bad I’m not living in the US right now!!!! I really wanted to see Kath & Kim, (I’ve never seen the Australian version) I really wanted it to get more than 8 million viewers, but 7.4 mill. is good nowadays.
I’ve seen the promos for Kath & Kim, and it seems like a good show, I already connected with the characters, by watching the promos!!!!
About that Knight Rider order… NBC must be desperate.
cesarr – The Australian original is very funny. I saw a clip of the US version on E! and it made me laugh, hopefully it’ll be consistently funny. It’s a shame about NBC.
I had to turn off Life on Mars part way through because of all the over-acting going on. The show was just not good enough to hold my attention even though I’m a big fan of Jason O’mara I don’t expect this show to last.
Can we talk about Kath & Kim? I didn’t laugh even once, but the edges of my lips turned up slightly when the boyfriend began to interact more with the mother. This show is lame and even with all of Molly Shannon’s talent she won’t be able to save this show!
Hopefully the networks will put us out of our misery and pull this show before it airs too many more times.
Earl is laugh out loud funny consistently week after week. Maybe I’m just trailer trash and can identify with most all of the characters, but the scripts are completely original, fresh and first rate!
You go Earl!
The things that stands out most to me are:
1. MLB playoff games don’t draw the big audiences anymore.
2. 11th Hour lost more than half of CSI’s audience, while LOM retained more than 80% of Grey’s Anatomy audience. Thursdays could become a tossup if LOM continues to grow and 11th hour continues to shed viewers because the 9:00 battle between CSI and GA will definitely tighten up within a few weeks.
3. Sunday Night Football won’t be the only NBC show to draw at least 10 million viewers this week.
Look anyone saying Grey’s will be cancelled is just nuts. There is no plausible way it will be cancelled. It has at least another season after this one, probably more.
A part of me wishes the Office wasn’t up against such tough competition. Victory in the 18-34 though and that’s what NBC seems to be going for these days.
The only reason ER has faded in the ratings over the last few years is that it has no lead in. Put it on ABC after Grey’s Anatomy and its as popular as ever attracting 15 million viewers a week. I still like it. NBC is making a mistake ending it as It could go on forever!
NBC should continue with either weekly or bi-weekly SNL Weekend Update Specials to take advantage of the election interest and to compete with The Daily Show & Colbert Report… add this to a return of 30 Rock & Tina Fey and they might actually win a night
So Rob, care to make any predicitons? What shows do you see going away? i dont want to get attached LOL. And I think Life On Mars was great! Dont understand how anyone would have to turn it off. I dont know anyone who didnt think it was awesome!