The real DVR viewing standout for the week of October 12-18 was Grey’s Anatomy, which not only had the biggest absolute ratings increase of the week from DVR viewing (1.6 ratings points), but the fifth biggest increase on a % basis (32%). Thursday 9pm is crowded with strong shows, and all the broadcast competition (Office, CSI, Supernatural, Fringe, 30 Rock) was in the top 20 for % ratings gained by DVR viewing.
Typically, shows with tiny ratings top the list of biggest % ratings increase from DVR viewing. No different this week, as Melrose Place, with among the weakest new episode ratings on English broadcast for the week, got the biggest % increase. That tiny 0.3 ratings point addition is a big jump in the Live+7 rating over the 0.7 Live+SD rating.
Dollhouse fans, your show didn’t air the week of October 12-18.
Disclaimer: all the numbers we have seen point to a scenario where the additional days of DVR viewing beyond the Live+SD numbers play almost no role in a shows’ fate. In a recent conversation with the head of research for a broadcast network he agreed that perhaps 10% of the viewing beyond the Live+SD period serves to increase the C+3 commercial ratings that are used to price advertising.
Note that the tables below contain adults 18-49 demo program ratings, not millions of viewers.
To see previous weeks most DVR’d TV Shows lists click here.
Those of you interested in DVR viewing numbers might enjoy:
When Do DVR’d Shows Get Watched? Same Night or After?
Doing My Part To Combat DVR Misinformation
Largest 18-49 Demo Increase From DVR Viewing for Broadcast TV Shows (October 12-18):
| Rank | Programs | Net | 18-49 Live+SD (rating) | 18-49 Live+7 (rating) | Post Airdate 18-49 Ratings Increase | Post Airdate Increase from DVR Viewing | % of All Viewing By DVR Post Airdate |
| 1 | GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.0 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 32% | 24% |
| 2 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.2 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 25% | 20% |
| 3 | OFFICE | NBC | 4.1 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 27% | 21% |
| 4 | PRIVATE PRACTICE | ABC | 3.9 | 4.9 | 1.0 | 26% | 20% |
| 5 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 29% | 22% |
| 6 | BIG BANG THEORY | CBS | 5.0 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 18% | 15% |
| 7 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 4.6 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 17% | 15% |
| 8 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 3.6 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 22% | 18% |
| 9 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 3.8 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 21% | 17% |
| 10 | GLEE | FOX | 3.5 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 23% | 19% |
| 11 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 26% | 21% |
| 12 | CSI | CBS | 3.7 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 22% | 18% |
| 13 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 36% | 27% |
| 14 | HEROES | NBC | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 29% | 23% |
| 15 | NCIS | CBS | 4.5 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 16% | 13% |
| 16 | BONES | FOX | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 25% | 20% |
| 17 | 30 ROCK | NBC | 3.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 23% | 19% |
| 18 | LIE TO ME | FOX | 2.8 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 21% | 18% |
| 19 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.3 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 26% | 21% |
| 20 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 30% | 23% |
| 21 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 4.0 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 15% | 13% |
| 22 | SURVIVOR: SAMOA | CBS | 3.5 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 17% | 15% |
| 23 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 4.8 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 10% | 9% |
| 24 | HELL’S KITCHEN | FOX | 3.8 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 13% | 12% |
| 25 | BIGGEST LOSER 8 | NBC | 3.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 14% | 13% |
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The 18-49 Demo Increase From DVR Viewing ranks which of the top broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest absolute adults 18-49 ratings increase in viewing by DVR in their adults 18-49 Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows after the airdate on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
Largest 18-49 Demo Percentage Increase From DVR Viewing for Broadcast TV Shows (October 12-18):
| Rank | Programs | Net | 18-49 Live+SD (rating) | 18-49 Live+7 (rating) | Post Airdate 18-49 Ratings Increase | Post Airdate Increase from DVR Viewing | % of All Viewing By DVR Post Airdate |
| 1 | MELROSE PLACE | CW | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 43% | 30% |
| 2 | FRINGE | FOX | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 36% | 27% |
| 3 | 90210 | CW | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 36% | 27% |
| 4 | GOSSIP GIRL | CW | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 33% | 25% |
| 5 | GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 5.0 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 32% | 24% |
| 6 | COMMUNITY | NBC | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 30% | 23% |
| 7 | HEROES | NBC | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 29% | 23% |
| 8 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 29% | 22% |
| 9 | SMALLVILLE | CW | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 27% | 21% |
| 10 | OFFICE | NBC | 4.1 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 27% | 21% |
| 11 | CASTLE | ABC | 2.3 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 26% | 21% |
| 12 | FLASHFORWARD | ABC | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 26% | 21% |
| 13 | PRIVATE PRACTICE | ABC | 3.9 | 4.9 | 1.0 | 26% | 20% |
| 14 | BONES | FOX | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 25% | 20% |
| 15 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 25% | 20% |
| 16 | PARKS AND RECREATION | NBC | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 25% | 20% |
| 17 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 25% | 20% |
| 18 | HOUSE | FOX | 5.2 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 25% | 20% |
| 19 | EASTWICK | ABC | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 24% | 19% |
| 20 | 30 ROCK | NBC | 3.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 23% | 19% |
| 21 | GLEE | FOX | 3.5 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 23% | 19% |
| 22 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 3.6 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 22% | 18% |
| 23 | VAMPIRE DIARIES | CW | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 22% | 18% |
| 24 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 22% | 18% |
| 25 | CSI | CBS | 3.7 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 22% | 18% |
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The 18-49 Demo % Increase From DVR Viewing ranks which of the top broadcast shows [by Live+7 viewers] had the largest percentage adults 18-49 ratings increase in viewing by DVR in their adults 18-49 Live+7 audience numbers from viewers watching shows after the airdate on their digital video recorders (DVRs).
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Definitions:
DVR (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. 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.
DVR Viewers Past Airdate - How many people watched the show on their DVRs within 7 days following the airdate
% of All Viewing By DVR Past Airdate - Of the total viewing of that particular episode, what percentage was done via DVR.
Because of emerging practices in the TV media, and our access to the relevant data, we’re making a pretty fundamental change in the way we present DVR data. Up until the 2009-2010 season, we used the show’s Live program rating or viewership as the base upon which the Live+7 day DVR viewing was added. Now, the press seems to be standardizing around using Live+Same Day DVR viewing as the base for the calculations, plus our access to Live ratings is somewhat erratic and restricted. While there are both positive and negative aspects to basing increases on Live+SD, after discussion, Robert and I decided to make the change.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data:©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
These new tables are really confusing. I do hope you’ll consider adding the million viewership tables once again.
Anyone know how many viewers Smallville gained?
they hate viewers… just demos
NBC’s comedies kill in % increase.
Smallville info is here:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/02/dvr-viewer-increases-for-the-week-ending-october-18-house-most-dvrd-fringe-biggest-increase/32348
glad to see greys, private practice, desperate housewives, and modern family in the top 10 for precent increases! i enjoy all of these shows!
I don’t understand, around 16 million people watch Grey’s Anatomy while shows like fringe gets 5-6 million, why are people DVRing grey’s Anatomy? People watch the show live the most.
Fringe got a nice fat increase :]
wow. community has the higest % increase of any NBC show. I like it, but Parks & Rec, Office and 30 Rock are all much better.
@Rebecca, for some bizarre reason, Grey’s Anatomy is the most popular drama on television. Many watch it live, but many are watching other shows like “The Office” “Fringe” and “CSI” (another terrible show) and then watch Grey’s later.
NCIS got a 5.2 at least the demo is catching with its huge total viewers.
Vampire Diaries at 2.2, wow! I bet with last week’s 2.0 rating, it could climb to 2.4-2.5 when DVR numbers are added up.
GW at 2.5 and Numb3rs at 2.2, on par with their numbers last year, I wish they could still get those numbers on live airing.
Very please with 5.9 for Big Bang and 4.4 for Modern Family. n
I can’t stanbd GA; tolerate DH and Cougar Town. These are com-pletely womems shows, and yet acc. to the numbers are hot shows. I remember feeling this revulsion over the way ABC jumped on the truly flagging CBS ” meaningful comedies of NLear with Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley, two shows absolitely nobody watches anymore. I think its a collective in your face estrogen power thing, since women who watch these shows have little to cheer about in a recession with the only true heroes not ahole Cruise or Clooney but men i repeat mainly men who are dying for nothing, because of the UN agenda in Afghanistan. Keep on rocking, worms.
I’m an 18-49 woman and I find that I don’t watch anything at all that isn’t on my DVR. I think it is interesting that I look at the live viewing numbers and feel disconnected with the world because I watch very few of the top 10 shows but watch almost everything on these DVR lists. Curious how the On-Demand (service through cable co.) viewing plays into this? Is that considered DVR?
ShawnC, OnDemand viewing is not currently included by Nielsen in its ratings. One reason is because OnDemand doesn’t include the same commercials as the regular airing does, although that may be changing in the future. The little data we have seen on OnDemand viewing indicates it is very small compared to both live and DVR viewing.
Interesting…thank you. I find the On Demand freeing. Not taking up space on my DVR and relieving the stress of the 2 channel recording restrictions
My cable company doesn’t allow commercial skip On Demand which I would think might become attractive.
ShawnC, Robert and I both think that “Every Show OnDemand with No Commercial Skipping” is where the networks/cable companies should be going, and we wonder why they’re not there yet.
Bill and Robert, do you guys know anything about the new Start Over service from Time Warner, and whether or not it will eventually be used in ratings? I’m a TW subscriber (unfortunately), and this service allows for certain shows to be restarted if you get to them late, whether you have DVRed them or not.
The interesting thing about this service is that TW disables fast-forwarding on it–which is the reason why I never have used it yet, and why I probably never will. But I know I represent probably a small segment of the population, and others may be more than willing to use this service, which is free, as opposed to DVR service, which is not free. Since Start Over forces you to watch commercials, I would imagine the nets would be pushing for it to be included in the ratings. Probably right now it’s too new and not getting enough usage to matter, but eventually maybe it will matter.
Personally, I think it’s going to matter not a whit, and that people will not use it much, especially if they already have a DVR. Also, if requires, I believe, that you turn on the TV and use the service prior to the ending of the program, so it’s targeting a very small subset of people who show up to watch a show live but get there late.
So, have you guys heard anything about it?
I find it amusing that you added that Dollhouse wasn’t on
(saves a lot of questions?)
Can this blog/section have the feature where you can subscribe to a topic and then get emails if someone replies or comments after you? That’s helpful and keeps some people coming back. (me, I just forget where I post. big internet out there)