| Scoreboard |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers (million) | 12.10 | 10.49 | 9.76 | 5.79 | 4.57 | 1.14 |
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-49 | 2.5/6 | 4.2/11 | 3.6/10 | 1.7/5 | 1.8/5 | 0.5/1 |
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-34 | 1.6/5 | 3.9/11 | 3.4/9 | 1.1/3 | 2.0/5 | 0.6/2 |
CBS took the most viewers for the night though Fox won the 18-49 demographic and CBS finished third among 18-49 year olds, also trailing NBC. The feat is still impressive though as the CBS shows were all reruns. For a rerun of NCIS to average over 14 million and a rerun of The Mentalist nearly 14 million — the Tiffany network must be happy.
As is typical Fox had the highest demo numbers for Tuesday night on the strength of House. Fringe was a repeat, and though its numbers will likely be adjusted down a bit in the finals, it had about the same demo numbers as the NCIS and The Mentalist reruns on many fewer viewers. So despite the numbers, relatively speaking Fringe repeats well. As ever Fringe lost viewers from one half hour to the next even in reruns. It averaged 7.652 million with a 3.0/8 among 18-49 year olds between 9pm-9:30p, and 6.506 million and a 2.5/6 between 9:30p-10p. Still not awful numbers for a rerun.
Over on NBC, it had solid performance in the demo with two hours of The Biggest Loser: Families and a new Law & Order: SVU easily took the 10pm hour.
ABC’s night wasn’t pretty. It couldn’t even crack a 2.0 rating among 18-49 year olds for the night. The CW ran reruns of 90210 and Privileged and the numbers were unremarkable.
Last Tuesday’s overnight report.
Full details:
| Time | Net | Show | Viewers (Millons) | 18-49 Rating/Share | 18-34 Rating/Share |
| 8:00 | CBS | NCIS (R) | 14.11 | 2.7/7 | 1.7/5 |
| FOX | House | 13.91 | 5.6/15 | 5.4/15 | |
| NBC | Biggest Loser: Families | 8.28 | 3.2/8 | 3.0/8 | |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos | 7.28 | 2.0/5 | 1.2/3 | |
| UNI | Cuidado con el Angel | 5.18 | 2.0/5 | 2.2/6 | |
| CW | 90210 (R) | 1.22 | 0.6/1 | 0.6/2 | |
| 9:00 | CBS | The Mentalist (R) | 13.65 | 2.8/7 | 2.0/5 |
| NBC | Biggest Loser: Families | 10.08 | 4.0/10 | 3.8/10 | |
| FOX | Fringe (R) | 7.08 | 2.8/7 | 2.4/6 | |
| ABC | According to Jim | 5.05 | 1.6/4 | 0.9/3 | |
| UNI | Fuego en la Sangre | 4.89 | 2.0/5 | 2.2/6 | |
| CW | Privileged (R) | 1.06 | 0.4/1 | 0.5/1 | |
| 9:30 | ABC | According to Jim | 5.34 | 1.7/4 | 1.0/3 |
| 10:00 | NBC | Law & Order: SVU | 10.93 | 3.7/10 | 3.4/10 |
| CBS | Without a Trace (R) | 8.54 | 1.9/5 | 1.2/3 | |
| ABC | Eli Stone | 4.89 | 1.4/4 | 1.1/3 | |
| UNI | Aqui y Ahora | 3.62 | 1.4/4 | 1.5/4 |
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.
House really perked up a bit with no new NCIS, so why ever would FOX put a rerun of Fringe there, when it could well have utilized the improved lead in and utter lack of competition at 9 for the show.
The real measure of how well Fringe repeats will be when it repeats out of its time slot or at the very least on a night of all reruns.
I agree.
The mystery and magic of when to spend your new episodes and when to use repeats is something that interests me. I’m not sure I can figure out a way to tease something interesting in a reasonable amount of time out of the data we get, but I will think about it.
Well I’ll bet NBC was reasonably happy with their results last night
Seriously why would they put a repeat of fringe there? I guess they’re running out of first-run episodes.
Why is According to Jim still on? One of the great mysteries of the Multiverse!
The other big mystery is why 10 million people watch Biggest Loser. For NBC that makes it a blowout hit and they need all the help they can get.
Fringe was a repeat because the first half of Season 1 is over ending with last weeks cliffhanger and wont pick up again for a couple of months. What else would they put there? American Idol reruns? I guess they could have tried putting TSCC to see if having a strong lead in would help. Though somehow I dont think so.
I agreed with idizzle’s point that we will know a lot more about how Fringe really does in repeats when it’s on a night of all repeats. Of course, with Idol as a lead in, we will only rarely see that.
John, I suspect “number of shows in the queue” — data which neither Bill or I will likely ever bother to track down for ALL shows (though I’m sure much of it could be dug up, it’s work) — is a *huge* part of the magic. I don’t believe Bill will be able to figure out any meaningful analysis that doesn’t include that data beyond seasonal aspects that are known.
I think in the case of Fringe, if you *didn’t* have the American Idol lead-in coming you would definitely have to take advantage of pairing it with a new House against repeats on CBS. But Fringe does have the American Idol lead-in coming so, while it still appears to be somewhat of a squandered opportunity, it’s probably not a big deal. Fringe is airing no new episodes until January 20, and I’m guessing didn’t have a Christmas-themed episode to stick there, and for all I know (I did zero research) had no episode at all ready to air.
Joe Cool, what we hear is that ATJ is still on the air because it makes money for Disney/ABC via syndication. I suspect that’s true, because if it’s not something like that, it would be completely baffling.
I agree with Joe Cool. They didn’t show a new Fringe because the last episode was a major cliff hanger.
Since Fringe aired a week before House, I guess new episodes didn’t line up and House aired a week after Fringe went on hiatus.
Shame though.
Strictly looking at the ratings, FOX would most likely have done much better with a House repeat at 9pm, but that’s not even the point.
Intuitively I just agree with CBS’ strategy of putting complete nights on repeat at a time instead of wasting a perfectly good House christmas episode on a Fringe rerun.
I’ll admit though that I don’t watch Fringe, so I did not know there was a midseason finale of sorts. Maybe they could have sonchronized that sooner? It’s not like it matters now.
Eli Stone did aweful, but then again it had a terrible lead-in from According to Jim: 5.34, 1.7/4 18-49? thats a joke
Idizzle that was House’s second highest episode yet in overall veiwers and what would be the point of airing a christmas episode in january? But i do see your point about Fringe, but what else could FOX do.
awful lead in for Eli? it had DWTS for 10 weeks, and now Atj is averaging higher than Eli.. so there’s no excuse.
Fin, obviously by synchronizing I meant they should have maybe preempted Fringe another week. Definitely not airing House’s christmas episode in January. FOX has been yanking House around for the sole benefit of Fringe more than enough.
I’m glad Law & Order SVU is still dominant after so many years. That show, in my opinion, is what’s holding NBC’s head above water.
Actually, for Fringe, I think it had a lot to do with when it started in September. It premiered before House, I think. They knew in the planning stage where they were going to have the mid-season finale with the cliffhanger way back then, I imagin. And Fringe had a repeat while House was a new episode back in the fall. So it’s not really unprecidented.
Although, it *was* a missed opportunity for last night to take advantage of Mentalist being a rerun. I have to wonder how a show like Bones would do with competition like Mentalist? All of its[Bones'] Wed night competition is pretty much dead.
But Fox yanks House around because it is a tent-pole show, able to help new freshmen shows with a good lead in. They put it where they need it. Fringe gets the American Idol lead-in in the spring to bolster its numbers so that maybe, according to the Fox execs (and I’m a little scared about this), Fringe will be like Bones and House – something that can be used to give props to other new freshmen shows.
Personally, I’m ecstatic about Fringe having AI as a lead-in. I hate AI with an ungodly passion, but I won’t bite the hand that feeds my favorite new show this year at all. Not AI hatin’ from me this year.
We’ll see how Fringe does in reruns when all we have is reruns, but I’m happy that the numbers weren’t shabby for this week’s rerun.
The bloom is off the rose for House, though. I haven’t been impressed with the last couple of episodes. Least of all, last night’s Christmas ep.
…I still can’t find anyone who watches NCIS around here…oh wait….someone new walked by my door—let me go ask them…
Glad to see Fringe repeat at least held in the demos versus a repeat of The Mentalist. I’m actually getting a tiny bit worried about the AI lead-in. If Fringe picks up mid-cliffhanger, AI viewers who are new to Fringe might feel lost and have trouble finding any interest in it.
I thought last week was Biggest Loser’s finale, but was it this week?
I totatlly forgot Eli Stone was even on last night. Hope my DVR caught it
As for ATJ, in addition to syndication profits, isn’t it also really cheap since they produce the show in-house?
@Mel, “The bloom is off the rose for House, though. I haven’t been impressed with the last couple of episodes. Least of all, last night’s Christmas ep.”
House is getting to relationship-y IMHO. It’s not nearly as bad as Grey’s Anatomy, but slowly it’s moving that direction! The final kiss of last night’s episode was another leap away from the biting sarcasm and nihilism that makes House such a fun show. Too many feelings, not enough grumpy House, not enough Wilson, and not arguing over medical cases!!! Wilson at least had one fun sarcastic moment though, with the green wrapping paper
According to Jim and Fringe are going down!!
R.G., go ask your mother. Whose mother doesn’t love Mark Harmon. Seriously.
I almost never comment about the contents of TV shows (Robert will probably chime in it’s because I don’t watch any), but not only do I not like the “relationship” angles occurring in House, they seem so significant as to be an obvious move to change the dynamic of the show.
Could it be an attempt to capture more female viewers? House did better last night among women 18-49 (6.2 rating), than men (4.85 rating), but we don’t know if that’s noticeably changed from earlier seasons.
I don’t think it’s all that much of a change. Last season we had Chase and Cameron making out in the janitor’s closet, and Wilson with Amber, and Foreman with more than one woman, if I remember correctly. And House has been leering at Cuddy practically since the first episode.
Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: CI are ALL TV shows. Mythbusters is a TV show. Battlestar Galactica is a TV show. Burn Notice is a TV show as is In Plain Sight! and of course Pardon the Interruption is a TV Show. While you may not actually “watch” PTI, my sense is that you watch the other shows, so I will not chime in with “you don’t watch any”.
Ok, so you don’t watch Heroes (smart, smart man), or TSCC, which honestly despite its fanbase here, I don’t know that I could recommend, or Life (which I think you’d like) or Chuck which is an incredibly fun show. But there are so many hours in the day — especially when sooner or later, you will give in and some of your TV viewing time will be SpongeBob! You will be assimilated in ways I will likely never be!
As for House, I’m not sure the relationship angles are vastly different. I think the new crop of Doctors changed the dynamic more. House/Cuddy has been more overtones than undertones this year, but if I read the last scene last night correctly, that’s done. On the other hand, if they change things to the point where House is both nesting AND paternal, I will agree with you that it’s a deliberate attempt at changing the show to change the demographic base.
Bill, I guess I am one of those oddball 18-49 women who don’t care for relationship angles in otherwise thoughtful shows.
IMHO, the smart, capable women (like Cuddy and Thirteen in House) are suddenly written into states where their brains are replaced by hormones, thoughts replaced by feelings. I find it boring and a twinge misogynistic.
So far, Fringe has avoided going the “feelings” route with Olivia Dunham, save for her need to sort out the mysteries of John Scott. Anna Torv was a bit pained and frozen at first, but now it seems to be working. Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv have a good bro-sis vibe going now. I REALLY hope the writers don’t ruin that vibe!
I’m just shocked that According to Jim did better in the second half hour. That means a few million Americans watched one episode and thought “gee, that was great. I’m gonna watch some more.”
I’m also surprised that Biggest Looser was such a young show.
Other Matt, here’s an alternate explanation:
The original 5.05 million viewers from 9-9:30 are all asleep by 9:30, contributing their viewing to the second half hour.
The increase of 290,000 average viewers from 9:30-10 consist of 1.45 million people who tune in for the minimum time to be counted into the average (which I believe is 6 minutes) realize it’s ATJ and tune out in horror. Voila, 290,000 more average viewers.
Not necessarily a plausible explanation, but more fun!
it’s not necessarily not plausible! it may be more likely there are a few million people who actually like the show, but that’s too scary for many people to even consider!
it’s possible 5 million tuned in for a mere minute before realizing it was ATJ. I think there are no minimums to be counted into the average audience numbers we report. There is a 6 minute minimum only to be counted in the Total Audience measurement (numbers we rarely see outside of press releases and NBC TAMi).
the averages are just total minutes/duration. If you watch less than 6 minutes, it should still get into the averages. If it doesn’t, that would be a pretty serious flaw in Nielsen measurement.
I think you’re right, I was confusing the TAMI 6 minute measuring.
hey do u guys have page for noobs, i dont know what rating/share means or how to read it
Frank, Numbers 101
I need to get around to completely overhauling Numbers 101. A holiday project…
Frank, that does explain “ratings” somewhat, but I’m not sure it explains share. When you see 2.5/6 for the 18-49 rating share for CBS it means 2.5% of the overall 18-49 population (of about 132 million people) were tuned in on average. The 6 share means that of all 18-49 year olds who were watching TV (broadcast or cable) 6% watched on average.
So i’m taking it that DVDs don’t count as part of the tv share? I’m also wondering why household ratings are reported. Wouldn’t just total viewers be sufficient (as well as demo ratings)?
Ben, DVD viewing is not counted In these overnight reports above, I actually agree with you about Household Ratings and total viewers, and since we report viewers we do not actually bother including the household ratings/share.
Since we don’t get overnight viewer numbers for the demos, but do get rating/share information for age demos we report them.
Bill, I agree with the “different dynamic” vibe coming through on House. I’m not liking it at all. Wilson’s relationships are part of his character – he was always the sentimental one. Other previous relationship angles amongst coworkers were more impulse-driven. As for House and Cuddy, it was purely “I’m a jerk who will sexually harass you” angle played for humor. Now we’ve got the sappy “feelings” crap going on
OK, OK, back to ratings talk. NCIS pulled huge viewers for a repeat, but (as usual) yikes on their 18-34 numbers!
Fringe will be returning in January with a new lead-in (American Idol).
House to Monday’s, Seems like it will be the death of either CBS or Fox. Im gonna continue watching CBS. Fox has never done anything for me.
NCIS is finally getting the ratings it deserves, two elements are missing from the show. The head slap and Gibbs saying Ya Think. This is far and away the best show on TV now, I wish Micheal Weatherly had gotten a Emmy nomination for his role, and the show deserves one to.
Would watch Simon Baker even if he was just sleeping. Brilliant actor!!! I only watch The Mentalist because of him. Improve on the scripts guys.
Coming in late here, but @ Clutz and Robert about House – I totally agree. It isn’t just that the dynamic has changed with the new cast, the direction of the show has changed.
I’m all for character development over time – in fact I love it more than cases sometimes – but the House/Cuddy thing is anvil-meet-head effect. Beating us over the head with it is just going to turn me off. Subtlety was my favorited flavor of UST, and though I am smack in the middle of that women 18-35 bracket, I expect a lot more out of top shows like House.
I expected a lot more Of Bones too, which is why I haven’t been watching this year.
But just because women may want more relationship dynamic in a show, doesn’t mean “most” of us want it at the cost of the show-dynamic, feel and plot. I’m a smart girl, you don’t have to beat me over the head with two character’s unresovled issues.
idizzle, House reruns from season 4 haven’t been doing that well. The last one after Bones barely made 5 million so putting in a Fringe re-run is better for Fox than a House re-run unless it’s from one of the first three seasons. The dropping of the old team and the lack of quality in the show in seasons 4 and 5 is catching up to it.
My mother doesn’t watch NCIS but my teenage daughter does and loves it. She used to watch House but now she’s not even interested in watching when it’s not on opposite NCIS.
But Bones is one of the only shows that maintains such high rates, it’s already in its 4th season so. Ratings are getting better every season. That means something.