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Last night’s ratings provided more ammunition for the theory that scripted programming may be doomed on Friday. The two highest-rated programs on the night in adults 18-49 by a mile were a a reality series, CBS’ Undercover Boss (2.4/8), and a newsmagazine, ABC’s 20/20 (2.0/6). The former made a very strong entry on Friday, drawing not only the highest 18-49 rating of the night but also the largest audience (10.7 million), edging the usual Friday winner in total viewers, CBS drama Blue Bloods (10.3 million, 1.6/5 in 18-49). Seeing an unscripted show almost double the delivery of a high-end drama (A Gifted Man) in the 8 PM hour has got to give CBS, the staunchest supporter of maintaining an all-scripted Friday lineup, a pause. Especially since Undercover Boss not only outperformed A Gifted Man but posted CBS’ largest audience and 18-49 rating in the hour in three years — since the March 6 and May 1 episodes of Ghost Whisperer, the last CBS scripted series to worked in the Friday 8 PM slot. A Gifted Man (9.5 million, 1.5/4) didn’t do much with the better 9 PM time period and big lead-in from Boss, only matching its best 18-49 delivery to date.
Despite the strong numbers for Undercover Boss, CBS (1.8/6, 10.3 million) lost the No. 1 spot for the night in 18-49 to ABC (1.9/6, 7.1 million) for the first time this season after the networks finished tied twice before. ABC was paced by a big two-hour 20/20 (2.0/6, 7.1 million) devoted to Whitney Houston. ABC posted its largest audience of the night in two years and best 18-49 delivery in over a year. That despite a depressed Shark Tank at 8 PM. The new reality entry in the hour, Undercover Boss, pushed both Shark Tank (1.5/5, down 17%) and Fox’s Kitchen Nightmares (1.3/4, down 13%) lower. Fringe has been nothing but consistent, staying frozen at a series-low 1.1/3. NBC’s broadcast of the NAACP Image Awards (0.8/2) was up 33% from last year, possibly boosted by a Whitney Houston tribute. Dateline (1.1/3) was overpowered by 20/20, down 27%. The CW’s Nikita (0.6/2) was up a tenth, Supernatural (0.7/2) was down a tenth.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Everyone knows by now that this”nielsen” ratings system is quite antiquated. Few viewers watch programs “live” anymore.In this day and age of dvr’s,online viewing,and, so on and so forth-there has got to be a better way of gauging ratings. I am a Fringe fan myself and one of the reasons I am mentioning this is (now please have some patience with me) I’m gonna do my best to explain something that’s been bugging me. As mentioned in the article:Fringe has been consistent(to say the least)almost a 1.1 every single week. Here’s my problem: how is it possible that week after week-the same exact number of fans watch Fringe-I mean no differential at all. You would think because of various reasons-there would be an uptick,or,a lowering of a tenth or something like that. I may not be making sense( and I’m not saying there is nielsen ratings conspiracy)however,this consistency thing happens often with Fringe: 1.1,1.1,1.1- How do these nielsen people really know how many people are watching ,&, why is there absolutely no change-one way or another. Now,don’t get me wrong-as a Fringe fan-I’m glad the numbers didn’t drop,however, something within me says something is fishy in denmark. If I didn’t explain my point that well-I’m sorry-but,at least I hope I gave you guys something to think about.Thank you.
I so agree. As an average viewer courted in the 18-49 demo, I don’t watch a quarter of any of the shows that get that rating from the Nielsen families. They DO NOT reflect what I watch. So how the heck does the networks know what America is watching. In my opinion, Nielsen families are lazy, they might sample something once but they always go back to their previous habits. I just really am tired of losing so many of my favorite programs due to the viewing “habits” of the select few.
Just because the demo is unchanged doesn’t mean the exact same numbers of viewers watch Fringe every week. Leaving aside the season premiere the numbers of viewers has fluctuated between roughly 2.9-3.3 million so far this season. As for losing shows due to the habits of a few, well I think someone needs to take a statistics course. Nielsen’s methodology is sound.
Fringe is showing little change in demo rating because it’s a show that has shed all audience besides the most loyal. They never miss an episode, but their numbers are few.
I understand Statistics -don’t imply that I don’t. You have no idea yourself. There is a statistical evidence that Nielsen does not get the whole story of what people watch. The turnover of the Nielsen families is a big example. People are naturally are creatures of habit and they WILL watch what makes them comfortable. Networks don’t take chances -when they do the Nielsen families always return back to their comfort shows. And yeah, the methodology is sound but is limited to the mean of THAT audience -not as a whole which most assuringly would yield different results.
I watch almost everything on DVR. Most people I know do too.
The problem is that undercover boss in demos does better on sundays.
Quickly,just a follow-up to my earlier comments-just to take a quick poll:any of you leaving a comment-please indicate if you,or,anyone you know has a “nielsen” box,or,have ever seen a “nielsen” box? I sure don’t! Where are these boxes?!?
Again, I would recommend that you take the time to learn about statistics. A seemingly small demographically representative group of people with Nielsen boxes are enough to reliably estimate how many people are watching a given show.
The fact that you’ve never personally known a Nielsen family is neither notable nor relevant. In fact, I believe that Nielsen families are asked to not go out of their well to tell people that they have a box.
I’ve certainly done the paper books that they use for extra verification during sweeps periods.
I don’t know anyone with a Nielsen box. If the shows I watch (I’m 18) and the shows that all my friends at college watch were represented, there’s no way that NBC would be last place. We love the NBC comedies on Thursday night, Smash, SNL, Fallon, and (formerly) Friday Night Lights. It’s safe to say that Nielsen doesn’t represent many with my taste.
Guys,my last post on the ratings-I swear! Larry is right: with this current nielsen setup-the few can decide for the many-here’s an example of how: Let’s say a network tells a struggling show”you need one million more viewers or you’re cancelled”. Now,a miracle takes place and somehow one million new viewers start watching the show,and,guess what-the show is still cancelled,know why? Because NONE of those NEW viewers has a nielsen box!! And,those with the boxes are still watching what they have always watched,and, their shows stay on because they votes are counted because THEY have a box,To me-that seems utterly unfair to those one million new viewers the struggling show received. Only a certain amount of people across our country supposedly have nielsen boxes-what if-(and this is a real possibility) a program such as Fringe is watched weekly by 10 million or more people across this country,but,NONE of those who watch have a “nielsen” box-because- they are not part of the “statistical sample”. I don’t know about you guys,but,that seems inherently unfair to me! In this day and age-with the technology available-EVERY VIEWER SHOULD BE COUNTED-Not just the ones with the nielsen boxes deciding what you and I get to watch-EVERY VIEWER SHOULD BE COUNTED,THE TECHNOLOGY EXIST TO DO IT-STOP RELYING ON THESE D#*M BOXES!! Thank you.
what happened to CSI NY on Friday night on CBS. Cancelled? Not Cancelled???? Coming back??
whoa, nellie! 20/20 was THE WHITNEY HOUSTON DEATH SHOW. of COURSE it beat tom sellec — THIS week! d’oh….
Just happy Shark Tank did tank and got beat at its own game by undercover Boss…CBS will do fine on Fridays with a nice lead-into primetime with this show…down goes the Tank!