Measurably more women watch Sunday Night Football when the Dallas Cowboys play.
Desperate Housewives ratings have been hurt by sports in recent weeks. But having the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football hurts a bit more. I had to go back a ways to do any reasonable comparisons, to Sunday October 18. Because on October 25, in addition to the Sunday Night Football game (NY Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals) Desperate Housewives also had to contend with playoff baseball (Yankees-Angels).
On October 18, the 9pm-10pm schedule was fairly close to last night (American Dad aired at 9:30 on 10/18, instead of The Cleveland Show which aired at 9:30 last night). CBS had huge NFL overrun that night (much more than last night’s ~20 minutes), but I don’t think CBS’ Sunday night schedule has been a particular threat to the women of Wisteria Lane.
| Network 9pm-10pm | W18-34 | W18-49 |
| ABC 10/18 Desperate Housewives | 5.7 | 6.4 |
| NBC 10/18 Bears – Falcons | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| FOX 10/18 Family Guy/American Dad | 3.6 | 3.0 |
| CBS 10/18 60 Minutes/Amazing Race | 2.0 | 3.6 |
| ABC 11/8 Desperate Housewives | 5.1 | 5.7 |
| NBC 11/8 Cowboys – Eagles | 4.5 | 5.1 |
| FOX 11/8 Family Guy/Cleveland Show | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| CBS 11/8 Amazing Race/3 Rivers | 1.7 | 2.9 |
These numbers are all based on Nielsen preliminary data for both dates, and given the differences of CBS overrun and the preliminary numbers it’s hard to make perfect comparisons, but you can see that the Cowboys-Eagles game last night outperformed the Bears-Falcons game by more than a full ratings point with women 18-49, and quite a bit with women 18-34.
By the way, other than 9p-10p when Desperate Housewives was on, last night’s game won all the other hours with women 18-34. On 10/18 Brothers & Sisters at 10pm had more women 18-49 than the football game (4.6 vs. 4.0), last night the game won 10pm with women 18-49 (4.9 for NBC vs. 4.2 for ABC).
P.S. It’s not just the women, when it comes to TV ratings, the Dallas Cowboys really are America’s team.
Yeah, have I already mentioned how much I hate the Cowboys?
Cowboys suck.
That’s a really confusing post….
non-confusing version: More women watch Sunday Night Football when Dallas plays
this DH´s season is simply awesome, watch it!!
Most of the Cowboys players have really nice asses! So of course some women would rather watch nice male behinds than a show full of whiny broads!
DH this season is amazing.. whoever isnt watching it is silly
who wants football on a sunday anyways???? it should be on a friday or something
Fun game. Glad I watched it.
Visan,
While I do truly admire the “tight ends” enjoyed when watching a football game, I cannot say that the Dallas Cowboys’ are any nicer than any other team’s. And, for the record, the “broads” on DH are much more likely to be bitchy or needy than whiny.
Now the women on B&S on the other hand…
That’s a very negative title. DH dropped this week against massive competition, but it was still the number one scripted program on the night and the fifth in the demos for the week tied with NCIS (but if it ticks up even a little, it beats Big Bang Theory and Two And a Half Men and comes in third for the week).
By the way, this site is a bit harder on ABC than on other networks (minus CW). That annoys me since ABC has THE most versatile scripted lineup (sci-fi-s, sitcoms, family drama, quirky suburban comedy, funny procedural)among the bigger networks; the others live from their sports telecast (NBC), tons of procedurals (CBS – ok, sitcoms there are a fresh spot) and the American Idol-House-Bones trio (Fox, ok Glee is a big improvement for them).
Last week ABC reigned with its scripted programs in demos for 4 days in four completely different genres (Tuesday-V, Wednesday-Modern Family, Thursday-Grey’s Anatomy, Sunday-Desperate Housewives), how come there isn’t an article about that and there is one titled “Why you are not watching Desperate Housewives” ?
@phantom,
You obviously missed the point of this post. Read Robert’s comment for an easier explanation.
LOL when we talk ill of NBC’s ratings (which is usually like shooting fish in a barrel) we are too hard on NBC! When we speak ill of Dollhouse’s ratings we are “harder on FOX than anyone!” When we talk poorly of Cold Case and Three Rivers ratings its “why are we so hard on CBS!”
Outside of the CW (which apparently we can’t complain about enough to satisfy fans) fans of shows from all the networks make the exact same complaint!
So you won’t – or can’t – answer my question.
how Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy are different genres? they’re both soap operas and very popular with female.
DH has consistently slid in the ratings since the 3rd season, so this season’s ratings are really no surprise. There’s just nothing fun about the show anymore – everything is derivative, and has been since the third season. The last *excellent* episode that the show had was in season 3 during the supermarket shootout. There have been some good episodes since then, but nothing that you didn’t see coming 10 miles away.
Have you seen the this season? It’s pretty good, way better than Season 5 and Season Four.
cool
Desperate Housewives is a one-hour comedy, Grey’s Anatomy is a one-hour drama. If you don’t believe me, look up all their Emmy and Golden Globe categories.
I hope more people start watching it, season 6 is so good, much better then season 5! Now that Drea de Matteo has joined the cast the show has improved so much, her character is so fresh and new.
DH for me is dramedy but that’s OK, I know they submit DH as comedy and GA as drama.
OK who cares about these silly numbers? I watched the Cowboys cause I live in Dallas and am a fan and I DVR’ed DH. And people are saying that this year’s DH is amazing, I wouldn’t go that far but it is good and it’s no different than it’s been for the last 5 years so wtf? My question is, who’s a slave to tv now that there is such a thing called a DVR? Get a life idiots!
@ThePunisher,
Actually, only slightly over 30% of homes have DVR, so the vast majority of people don’t have the option of DVRing a show. Also, a significant portion of DVR viewing is “Same Day” viewing (by 3 am) so it is reported in the regular numbers here.
I have watched every single episode of DH. When I get into a show, I stick with it until the bitter, bitter end. And that’s what’s happening with DH – it hasn’t been remotely interesting since season 3. Every fall, everybody proclaims – “It’s so much better than last year!” but any sparks initially shown are quickly snuffed out by a show that absolutely refuses to take any narrative chances.
@The Punisher
I’m a big Housewives fan and even I’m able to admit season 5 was terrible, the worst season of DH by far! Season six is amazing because they have really picked up and got things back on track. And with the upcoming place crash I’m guessing the numbers will be on the rise soon.
Desperate Housewives is in its 6th season and some of the loss in viewers is due to normal erosion.
Most TV series decrease in viewers after season 3–if not after 1 or 2. DH was at its rating’s peak in season 1.
What’s amazing is as absurd (or lackluster) as some of the storylines, this show has not yet totally “jumped the shark”. The “mystery” this season is painfully slow in developing, but it’s not stupid (yet). Here’s hoping that after football viewers come back, and the up coming plane crash and flashforwards are not “jumping the shark”.
Desperate Housewives mysteries every seasons starts out strong but midway it will lose impact. I still think it’s a mistake that they killed of Eddie.
^ I mean Edie.
DH ratings are still solid and I think they will still do well for two more seasons and if they could find a way to bring new life to the show they could rise again in the ratings.
Tony Romo is a sex symbol for women. That’s why.
Plus this isn’t just the Cowboys, the Pats too, cuz of Brady.
Most women who watch DH have husbands/boyfriends/fiances who watch football, and they are probably going to sit there and watch it with them. Conversely DH has lots of males viewers because of the reverse of the scenario, plus Eva Longoria.
@ Doug (2)
I have to disagree. The fans, including me, who say this season has been amazing, because it’s true not because the numbers are dropping.
Last season was good, but the mystery was simple awful, since it wasn’t really a “Mystery”. But I still enjoyed last season. I’m loving the new season. The show has a much darker tone than last season did.
I was pretty sure that football was the reason why DH was down this week, it is every week. I’m sure the ratings will get better once football season is over. Also, ABC should’ve started promoting the plane crash disaster episode this week. I’m pretty sure they will next week.