| Scoreboard |  |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating/Share: Adults 18-49 | 2..4/8 | 1.3/5 | 0.9/3 | 0.8/3 |
| Total Viewers (million) | 6.60 | 3.87 | 4.09 | 3.96 |
Note: coverage of live events like last night’s ABC College Football makes these numbers far more subject to change than on a typical night. See below for more information on these Fast Affiliate ratings.
Against all repeat competition, ABC’s Saturday Night College Football game featuring the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Virginia Tech Hokies propelled the network to the win with a 2.4 rating for adults 18-49 and averaged 6.60 million viewers.
I’d be gloating about the Hokies loss last night, if the hapless Virginia Cavaliers hadn’t lost to William & Mary. Ye gods.
FOX went with a four repeat block of Cops (8p-10p). NBC had an L&O repeat tri-fecta Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU.
CBS ran a repeat of Ghost Whisperer and a double repeat of 48 Hours Mystery.
Here are the half hourly results from Marc Berman/Mediaweek.
8:00 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 5.44 million (#1), A18-49: 1.9 rating/7 share (#1)
CBS – Ghost Whisperer (R)
Viewers: 2.44 million (#4), A18-49: 0.5/ 2 (#3t)
NBC – Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)
Viewers: 3.01 million (#3), A18-49: 0.5/ 2 (#3t)
Fox – Cops (R)
Viewers: 3.39 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#2)
———-
8:30 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 6.93 million (#1), A18-49: 2.5/ 9 (#1)
CBS – Ghost Whisperer (R)
Viewers: 2.77 million (#4), A18-49: 0.5/ 2 (#4)
NBC – Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)
Viewers: 3.40 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#3)
Fox – Cops (R)
Viewers: 4.15 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/ 5 (#2)
———-
9:00 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 6.71 million (#1), A18-49: 2.4/ 8 (#1)
CBS – 48 Hours Mystery (R)
Viewers: 3.67 million (#4), A18-49: 0.6/ 2 (#4)
NBC – Law & Order (R)
Viewers: 4.30 million (#2), A18-49: 0.9/ 3 (#3)
Fox – Cops (R)
Viewers: 4.07 million (#3), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2)
———-
9:30 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 7.02 million (#1), A18-49: 2.6/ 9 (#1)
CBS – 48 Hours Mystery (R)
Viewers: 4.29 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#4)
NBC – Law & Order (R)
Viewers: 4.78 million (#2), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#3)
Fox – Cops (R)
Viewers: 3.86 million (#4), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#2)
———-
10:00 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 5.79 million (#1), A18-49: 2.2/ 7 (#1)
CBS – 48 Hours Mystery (R)
Viewers: 4.92 million (#2), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#3)
NBC – Law & Order: SVU (R)
Viewers: 4.31 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#2)
———-
10:30 p.m.
ABC – Saturday Night Football (season Premiere, Alabama vs. Virginia Tech)
Viewers: 7.69 million (#1), A18-49: 3.0/10 (#1)
CBS – 48 Hours Mystery (R)
Viewers: 5.68 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/ 4 (#2)
NBC – Law & Order: SVU (R)
Viewers: 4.72 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 3 (#3)
Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)
You can see TV ratings from other recent Overnight ratings reports here.
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 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 and Numbers 102.
College Football Season is back! Wish CBS would develop a Sat night game as they have ties to the premier NCAA Div 1 Powerhouse Conference and ratings friendly games found in the South Eastern Conference (SEC). Not sure how cost effective it would be against traditional TV shows but would be great competition to what ABC traditionally offers.
ahh but BSU beat the ducks.. so everything is right with the world! Do we know that ESPN’s numbers were like during prime time last night? probably not, but might be an interesting comparison
gbd – I thought CBS did SEC games on Saturdays last season? Did they lose the contract?
And, I’ve suggested this before, but imagine Notre Dame in primetime on NBC – everyone would watch in order to cheer them, or their opponents, on
Robert – at least VMI won last night
from Satellite TV News:
http://www.satellitetv-news.com/tag/2009-sec-football-on-cbs-college-sports-network/
SEC on CBS on September 19th, gbd
gbd – hyperlink filter didn’t like my previous post…Bill, you can let the filter munch my previous post, with only one hyperlink (sigh)…
…the Satellite TV News website said that CBS’ SEC schedule starts in two weeks, on September 19th, with Tennessee versus Florida…
…my guess is that CBS did not have rights for non-conference SEC games.
If you program the night aggressively people will come folks!
That would be awesome if NBC moved Notre Dame games to prime time. Imagine their Saturday and Sunday ratings helping get them to third place.
Theoacme: Thanks for the info! I was talking more of a “SEC Football on CBS Saturday Night.” CBS does carry the majority of the SEC games but I thought CBS had scripted shows on Saturdays in primetime? As the fall progresses CBS tends to carry noon and 3:30 games only. The Tennessee/Gator game is scheduled for 3:30 this year although it has been broadcast at 8:00 pm in the past when both are national contenders.
Hotpocket: As far as Notre Dame on Sat in prime? NBC only has N. Dame home games. So unless they got rights to ALL the Irish’s games, which just isn’t possible, juggling a fall schedule with Notre Dame home games seems highly unlikely. That and Notre Dame is no longer the power they used to be and even if they start to win with their weak schedule, would there really be enough interest? I ’spose with NBC lackluster line up it couldn’t do any worse.
I thought CBS had more SEC games last year primetime – but then again, they do get great mileage out of repeats, as well as the odd 48 hours, all of which were already paid for, so, what do we know – we’re not Les Moonves (sigh)…
…as for the Irish, gbd, the road games would be a good investment for them, better than “Ice Road Truckers: Mongolia”, or “Law and Order: Jaywalking” (starring Jay Leno, which would keep the “Tonight Show” off of the air on one weeknight, at least) would be.
I’m trying to think what major conference games NBC could cop as well, but I don’t think any major conferences are available to them, unlike ABC, who can get any games ESPN have access to.
NBC could get rugby league from England and/or Australia, or else force FOX (whose sister companies own the local rights in England and Australia) to pick them up here to keep NBC from having them, thus maybe keeping FOX from competing for other sports properties, so NBC can cop them.
Way out of the box? If you’ve ever seen rugby league, you wouldn’t think so – hits as hard as football, no body pads, no timeouts, no commercial breaks during play, eighty minutes of play in about 2 hours of time – what’s not to love?
Or else, NBC could have “Today: Tonight”, and buy some La-Z-Boy recliners for Matt Lauer and his colleagues, since they would live at 30 Rock 24/7
Theoacme: Great suggestions and observations!!!
I’d no idea what CBS’ ratings were last fall with repeats and 48Hours. I would like to think that SEC on CBS in primetime could compete but I’d be biased as I’m a huge NCAA Football fan. I think in years past the Tennessee/Florida games broadcast in primetime have done respectfully? If they promoted it? I’d think the could generate interest. LikeHotpcoket said, I’m paraphrasing and plagiarizing, “build it and they will come” But like you astutely noted we’re not Les Moonves. He could and probably would make Julie Chen a sideline reporter for all I care I’d just like to see the SEC on every Sat night.
What with NBC’s ratings the more I thought about Rugby the more I liked it as NBC needs to try something. Anything. I think Neuterd Dame on in prime is a great idea; don’t get me wrong. That being said, what with their opponents having contractual conference agreements adn tie-ins? I gotta believe it’s impossible. Maybe just call it “Sat Sports” night in the Fall. Have some Rugby, get Nascar, Soccer, with an emphasis on the Irish? How ’bout on the nights they don’t have the Irish, play the best sports themed movies? Or they could air episodes of Sports Dramas/Comedies in between the Irish home football games with the scripted series going nonstop once fall is over? Clearly I’m thinking outta the box too.
Today: Tonight? Not THAT’S hilarious! Although you know? I wouldn’t put it past em. I don’t think my TV can handle much more of Al Roker though. Methinks Meredith’s Laz y boy would vibrate though!
Theoacme? Oops! I meant, “Today: Tonight? NOW That’s Hilarious.” I read that and actually LOL’d. Sorry ’bout the typo.
As a UVA student, I must admit: Yes, we are ashamed.
An FYI.
SEC sold its TV rights beginning this season in a 15-years package. Just talking numbers, CBS is paying $825 million and ESPN $2.25 billion. CBS gets 1st dibs on SEC games. ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN Regional/ESPN on ABC gets its picks next. Except 3:30 Eastern game on CBS, almost every other SEC conference game and SEC home game will be on an ESPN channel. ESPN channels will show other SEC sports from swimming to gymnastics to golf to softball and baseball, especially ESPNU.
Each school gets about $17 million a year just in TV money from CBS and ESPN. Add in other TV deals (each school can show 1 football game on PPV, Florida has a 10/$100 million deal with Sun Sports) and you’re talking big dollars. Schools are making $20+ million a year before they sell any tickets or sponsorships or get bowl game/championship dollars.
I mention all that because Notre Dame collected more TV money than any other school until this year. NBC pays them $9 million a year for home football games.
Notre Dame is in the first year of what it expects will become its new standard football schedule. Seven home games, four road games and one neutral-size contest.
This year, ND is playing against Washington State in San Antonio. There will be a game against Navy in Dublin, Ireland in a few years. Just two examples of neutral sites.
NBC has the rights to show eight Fighting Irish games in 2009. ABC/ESPN have committed to airing three of the road games. The Pittsburgh game is still to be determined.
CBS will broadcast the U.S. Open women’s singles final from 8 to 10 p.m. eastern Sept. 12. Serena Williams will probably be there. Her opponent? Your guess is as good as mine; the bracket is a mess like I’ve never seen in a women’s major draw.
CBS has been running U.S. Open coverage from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern all three days of Labor Day weekend. The men’s semifinals–which could feature Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic–are set for the afternoon of Sept. 12.
It’s clear CBS wants to finish U.S. Open coverage before turning its focus to college football. That’s likely one reason Fox Sports Net will start airing some SEC games, in addition to the Pac-10 and Big 12. Granted, the premiere of the SEC on FSN (Charleston Southern-Florida) left something to be desired.