| Scoreboard |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers (million) | 11.17 | 6.07 | 5.67 | 4.34 | 1.63 |
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-49 | 2.6/8 | 1.9/6 | 1.6/5 | 1.1/3 | 0.7/2 |
I have to tip the cap to CBS. It pulled off something fairly remarkable on a Friday night. Every show in the CBS lineup crossed the eleven million mark. with the NCIS rerun marginally beating out Numb3rs as the night’s most-watched program, while Ghost Whisperer at 8pm had the best demo performance of the night (not just for CBS, but all of broadcast).
What’s remarkable about this to me is that in total viewers these numbers are better across the board than the same night a year ago (Friday November 9, 2007). There is no real bad news here for CBS, unless you’re very focused on year over year results. By that view while CBS averaged nearly two million more viewers for the night than a year ago, but it was slightly down among 18-49 year olds (2.7/8 last year vs. 2.6/8 last night). But compared to last spring after the writer’s strike, or even earlier in the current season, CBS must be pleased.
Things were better for everyone across the board than last Friday, but that was Halloween so I don’t read too much into the week over week results.
Things may look bad for everyone else, but Fox also improved its performance over a year ago by more than a million viewers on average. ABC was down about a million and a half viewers vs. a year ago, but NBC and the CW were both down on average by more than three million.
It may be the most interesting thing about Friday night ratings to report until a few months from now, when Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles moves to Friday, and is joined by Fox’s new show Dollhouse. On a Friday the 13th, no less.
Full details:
| Time | Net | Show | Viewers (Millons) | 18-49 Rating/Share |
| 8:00 | CBS | Ghost Whisperer | 11.05 | 2.8/9 |
| FOX | Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader | 6.42 | 1.6/5 | |
| NBC | Deal or No Deal | 5.53 | 1.1/4 | |
| ABC | Wife Swap | 4.61 | 1.7/6 | |
| CW | Everybody Hates Chris | 1.72 | 0.7/2 | |
| 8:30 | CW | The Game | 1.6/8 | 0.8/2 |
| 9:00 | CBS | NCIS (R) | 11.26 | 2.4/7 |
| ABC | Supernanny | 5.43 | 1.9/6 | |
| FOX | Don’t Forget the Lyrics | 4.93 | 1.6/5 | |
| NBC | Crusoe | 4.16 | 1.0/3 | |
| CW | America’s Next Top Model (R) | 1.55 | 0.6/2 | |
| 10:00 | CBS | Numb3rs | 11.21 | 2.6/8 |
| ABC | 20/20 | 8.19 | 2.2/7 | |
| NBC | Lipstick Jungle | 3.34 | 1.2/4 |
Shows are sorted by viewers in each time slot.
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.
Ghost whisperer is on fire, has it ever pulled as much viewers as this?
Who said fridays were dead??
CBS is doing really well! and Numbers beat GW for the first time in a while!
Paul, yes, probably several times. For the Friday night *two* years ago (11/10/06) CBS did a bit better with Ghost Whisperer, Close to Home and Numb3rs than it did last night. All shows had more viewers than last night, though none had more than 11.8 million. GW had 11.46 million, CTH had 11.38 and Numb3rs 11.76
wow great for CBS.
How much of the problems that these are having are self-inflicted.
To think you guys, in a country of over 500 million are getting broadcast ratings of 5/6 million for your middling shows, when we, in a country of 70 million, can get these numbers also.
In fact, we’re getting 2.5 million each week watching Heroes, which almost a third of what you guys get, with a ninth of the population, and as an import.
But I do wonder, with the amount of shows axed from Fridays, Moonlight, Las Vegas, etc, were these problems not avoidable, and how long will it be before we see, House + Bones repeats on Fox Fridays, and Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy repears on ABC Fridays, just to bump the numbers up.
Well Ghost Whisperer had a special potentially plot-pivotal episode last night, so I’m not surprised with the numbers.
Although the buzz on the net is that fans of the show are not pleased with the outcome of last night’s show…
this is definely one of the most watched episodes of ghost whisperer EVER!
Tony, US population is somewhat over 300 million, not 500 million. So it’s about 4.5x the UK’s population. And US prime-time television viewing/household overall has been pretty consistent for quite some time, flat or slightly up, it’s broadcast viewing that’s down in favor of non-broadcast networks.
I am not at all qualified to comment on the variety of TV options available to UK residents vs. US residents, which could be a significant factor. If someone can comment with authority, I’d love to hear about it.
WOW for CBS, that just shows how badly GW and Numb3rs were affected by Moonlight and Ex-list. CBS should’ve sticked with C2H
We don’t have enough data for last night to tell you what % were watching cable, but among 18-49 year olds between 8p-11p, ~75% who were watching TV, were not watching any of the programs/networks listed above. There is definitely still a ton of television viewing in the US, even on a Friday night — it’s just very spread out. Nielsen has the US television viewing population age 2 and up at just under 300 million.
Bob, While I love Robert’s headline, I think “Freed from Moonlight and Ex-List, CBS Rules Friday” would have been fun too.
CBS needs to find a solution for their rather poor sunday numbers. Cold Case would be perfect for Fridays, but what you put on sundays?
Bill, do you think CBS finally got the message? I doubt they’ll try “original” shows next time around
Bob, I don’t know if there’s a general lesson to be learned here or a specific (show) one. You could claim the lesson is “program shows like all your other shows” and you’ll do well. But then you never increase your audience beyond that (in CBS’s case, aging) demo. Or the lesson might be a specific one “don’t program shows that will be unpopular”. If it were only that easy.
““don’t program shows that will be unpopular”. If it were only that easy.”
I think it is that easy Bill. That ability to do so isn’t easy, but the lesson is easy.
Almost everyone knew VL or Ex-List would bomb.
Nick, that’s what I meant. Easier said than done.
Moonlight Reruns beginning on SCIFI channel on Jan 23rd 2009! WOW! Guess forum begging works after all
Well I’m happy for Mark Harmon and his show. And nothing against CBS. But it does upset me that another timeslot that hsa proven worthy to a great show is loosing out to reruns. Also, I’m guessing that CBS might be loosing out on the female audience, the one they are trying to attract? Is that true?
I’m sorry that ratings is everything in america. Compared to places like England where they focus more on building a Fanbase. That is why a remake of DR. Who is so popular, aside from Knight Rider, and so heavily syndicated as well.
Oh ok. Thanks for reclarifying my points. The other point I was thinking was why don’t CW try and buy re-run rights to Spongebob and Hannah Montana (that is a joke, but look at their Sunday numbers. It cant get any worse!)
Oy! NBC’s numbers look horrible! I love Lipstick Jungle, so I’m pleased to see that it actually won the night in the demo for NBC. Not much of a distinction, but that’s something, especially since it got 2 million less viewers than Deal or No Deal.
Also, did you hear that LIFE got picked up for the full season? Yeah! Is Lipstick really on the chopping block with the numbers for NBC looking so crappy?
But it seems that this is what Friday Night is destined for – rerun wateland!
Is there any chance that the CW will get canned all together. Though they have ordered additonal scripts for gg, they have cancelled smallville’s replacement the graysons. Could they be on their last leg?
Those are amazing Friday ratings for CBS. That’s the highest that it has been for any channel on a Friday in quite some time. It’s a shame though that a repeat gets such a high rating, it means that TV bosses won’t bother trying new shows on the night.
that’s what NBC gets for canceling Las Vegas. Which was one of Friday night’s stronger shows.
moonlightfan, The Graysons was pulled by WB, seems their new DC Movie VP (best thing to call him) had a problem with the show.
Off Topic
Somebody knows to say if Swingtown was cancelled? I live Brazil and I adore the TV by the Numbers. Debtor!
There is no public financial information about the CW. Even so, I’d think the likelihood that it goes away is very low. Management change is far more likely if it’s perceived to be in trouble.
Paul British television is very different to American; for a start the styles are different, we don’t have main seasons were tv booms in the ratings like the fall and mid season and we have a broadcasting company that is funded by the government (4 billion a year to be exact). So to compare American ratings to British just doesn’t work; Heroes hasn’t changed in the UK but in the US it has; proberly because the British aren’t used to 4million an episode budget, cinematic shows like Heroes, LOST or whatever else. It just doesn’t work.
When I heard that it cost nearly 7 million dollars to make the pilot for Lost – I nearly suffered an aneurism. You have got to be kidding me!!
The pilot for lost was over 2 hours, but I heard it was closer to $25 million.
You have to remember that pilots cost a little more as the sets have to built: initial costs.
No, the pilot for Lost was $11-$12 million. The most expensive pilot of the history.
So here is my question…does CBS go with a NCIS like show for next season, or do they move NCIS to Fridays?
If CBS wants to attract younger or female viewers, they need to put those shows with others that are at least not going after the opposite audience. Especially not on Fridays, when no other networks puts on an effort and it’s either stick with CBS or can the TV night altogether. Moonlight and The Ex-List were killing a good performer like Numbers.
Also case in point: The Mentalist. It’s not doing badly by any means, but CBS probably hope that the twist to the premise and Simon Baker would attract the important demo. What it does is make about 70% of old people not switch channels after NCIS is over.
Here’s a thought, put 48 Hours Mystery which does pretty good on Saturday on Friday @ 9, showing reruns of NCIS is going to burn this series out, should have kept Close To Home on
wow, Crusoe’s doing worse than I ever expected. Friday’s are an absolute dead zone.
I think this shows that Fridays are not dead, at least for CBS – they were just choosing the wrong line up.
Maybe CBS is finally waking up and taking their “lemons,” in terms of their audience age, and making “lemonade.” Of course, NCIS has been a steady show and has now gronw its audience over six seasons, so CBS is taking a proven show and putting it in its trouble spot, and its working. However, does CBS have to take a lower ad rate for reruns since they don’t bring in as many viewers generally, or can they still get a good rate if they show still gets good numbers? I am sure that CBS certainly prefers that 11 million number over the lower ones, but even at that number, that’s about six million less than NCIS gets with a new show. Can CBS be satisfied with the good numbers, or are they going to have to find a new show of some kind soon to take that spot, even when an old one is doing so well?
byeu, CBS can certainly be satisfied because they don’t have to put out any money to produce this show and it still gets much better ratings, including in the demo, than previous shows they put there.
The ad rates go by slot. They can get better ad rates Friday at 9 with repeats of NCIS than they could with new episodes of Moonlight or The Ex-List.
If an NCIS repeat is doing this well on a Friday night, maybe they should move the show to this day permanently. I’m sure the thought has popped into the CBS execs’ head.
Marco, “Swingtown” has not been canceled. No official word from CBS yet. Chances are if/when it would come back is in the Summer. Producer Mike Kelley has said he’d rather leave it that way. Summer seems to be the only time of year for different programming.
Umm, I’m afraid you’re wrong, Tracy. I read an article month ago or so which was saying that Bravo bought the rights for showing the re-runs at the end of this year or next, can’t recall. Basically the argument was that
once the purchase is done, CBS can’t do more episodes and Bravo just won’t.
Though, yeah. Nothing is officially set in stone yet.
And here’s the link, I knew I wasn’t dreaming this…
http://www.tvrage.com/Swingtown/news/?read_news=4742
It really is unfortunately because it was easily one of my favorite shows over the summer… obviously.
Tony, why would they want to move NCIS there permanently when it is their second highest rated scripted show in first runs? This would drop it to the bottom half. They get the best of both worlds here. Great first run numbers, and then second showings that win the timeslot and the night. They are getting more bang for their buck this way.
Alde, I think you are misinterpreting the wording of that article.
The facts are these:
a) Bravo bought the 13, already produced episodes.
b) Bravo did not buy the series rights, simply a straight acquisition of existing product
c) CBS has not made a decision
d) the fact CBS chose to sell off the rerun rights of the first season doesn’t bode well for a pick up elsewhere.
There’s nothing there that states CBS can’t make more episodes because of this deal, otherwise they wouldn’t point out that CBS hasn’t made a decision yet.
However, I can add that CBS has wiped the Swingtown related content from their press site. If they intended to bring the series back, I doubt they would do this.
I remember when Providence on NBC used to get around 15 million viewers per epsiode in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I wish there was better programing on Fridays. Especially for young moms who stay at home. I do like the Starter Wife on USA.
CBS owns friday!
I don’t know, John.
From article:
“The off-network sale essentially closes the door on the possibility of the show continuing with new episodes on CBS or another network.”
No way to misinterpret this. However, as previously noted, there hasn’t been an official information regarding Swingtown yet nor has there really been any news other than the link I gave. As I wrote above somewhere, it *might* be OK to assume that the future of the show isn’t set in stone yet. That being said, the future doesn’t really seem nothing other than bleak.
i know what the British guy means though (at the top) Anything below 5m viewers on our manin channels is seen as bad… but some US stff gets around that! and the US has like 5 times our population!
Josh, as was explained, the problem in the US is audience fragmentation. Even on a Friday night when supposedly no one watches TV, and especially not young people, approximately 31% of 18-49 year olds were watching at 8pm. But only 8% were watching broadcast nets. And it was even worse at 9. 34% were watching TV, but only 7.5% the broadcast nets.
I wish NBC had kept Las Vegas. My Friday nights are pretty boring TV wise and my DVR failed me in recording Ghost Whisperer.
Damn. I was hoping Numb3rs would continue to flounder commercially, then maybe Rob Morrow will come back to Northern Exposure.
I read your post about Friday before this one, but I think this proves that Friday can actually draw viewers. I am not a fan of either Ghost Whisperer or Numbers (I refuse to put a 3 in place of the “e”), but 11 million on a Friday is damn good, hell that’s better than some series aired Monday-Thursday! What I find most interesting is that a repeat of NCIS drew 11.26 million viewers — a repeat! If CBS truly wanted a great anchor show for Friday imagine what new episodes of NCIS could draw? Could it draw it’s normal 17 million, probably not, but what could be hurt with trying it out. Since moving repeats of NCIS to Friday both Ghost Whisperer and Numbers have seen increases in viewership.
I’ve never bought into the idea that Fridays should be abandoned by the networks. The failure of series on Friday has as much to do with their poor quality than viewer apathy towards network television on that night. CBS has always had good success on Friday going back 20+ years with top ten series like The Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, and Falcon Crest. JAG was a very successful Friday series, and The X-Files got its start on Fridays. Imagine what CBS could do if they put a series like CSI on Friday? CSI doesn’t draw 18 million people because it’s on Thursday; it draws 18 million people because it’s a great series. Put quality programming on Fridays and people will come.
What does Numb3rs gross rating translate into in the 18-49 demo? On your Renew/Cancel index, they seem to be averaging about 2.8MM. Is this consistent for this week?
tjd_chill, Numb3rs scored higher than last week’s 2.3, so I would assume this is more than the current average.
Do you think the down economy will correlate (spuriously or otherwise) to an increase in Friday night TV ratings overall? Less going out might mean more couch potato time
. Not yet for NBC and ABC, but CBS might be an early indicator here. If so, Fox just may pull something off with their stay-at-home sci-fi block on Friday nights. People with less money to spend, who are looking for a cheap way to escape on Firday nights, just might give Dollhouse a chance. Not sure about TSCC though. That might be a tough show for viewers to pick up midstream.
Any chance CBS might consider ordering 13 more weeks of “Close to Home”? Another season or so of that show would open the door to syndication revenues.
Thornton, None. I’m sure everyone involved in that show has long ago moved on.
WWE on MyNetwork Friday Night tied FOX for 18-49 at 8pm, and tied them for 3rd at 9pm.
tony s.
first of all, the US has a population of over 300 million (not 500!!!!)And with all the immigrants that ignore the anglo-mainstream culture (or people who don´t have english as their first language and/or illegal immigrants) I think is over 280,000,000 AMERICANS.
According to NIELSEN, people are watching more TV than ever, even with the competition from the internet and other media. So the viewership overall it’s not declining.
Cable viewership (especially the News) is INCREASING