Ratings Reality Check - With Proof

[jjrakman]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031218/ap_on_en_tv/cable_nielsens_1

Rankings for Basic Cable Networks
Thu Dec 18, 2:48 PM ET

By The Associated Press

Rankings for the top 15 programs on basic cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Dec. 8-14. Each ratings point represents 1,084,000 households. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses.

1. NFL Football: N.Y. Giants vs. New Orleans (Sunday, 8:28 p.m.), ESPN, 4.5, 4.83 million homes.


2. "Special Report: Capture of Saddam" (Sunday, 12 noon), Fox News Channel, 3.5, 3.8 million homes.


3. "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer" (Sunday, 12 noon), CNN, 3.5, 3.75 million homes.


4. "Special Report: U.S. Soldiers' Press Conference" (Sunday, 11:10 a.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.4, 3.7 million homes.


5. "CNN Sunday" (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.), CNN, 3.4, 3.65 million homes.


6. "Special Report: Capture of Saddam" (Sunday, 12:19 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.3, 3.62 million homes.


7. "WWE Raw Zone" (Monday, 10 p.m.), Spike, 3.3, 3.59 million homes.


8. "Special Report: Capture of Saddam" (Sunday, 11:31 a.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.3, 3.58 million homes.


9. "Special Report: Capture of Saddam" (Sunday, 11 a.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.3, 3.53 million homes.


10. "SpongeBob SquarePants (news - Y! TV)" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.2, 3.41 million homes.


11. "CNN Sunday" (Sunday, 11 a.m.), CNN, 3.1, 3.37 million homes.


12. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.1, 3.36 million homes.


13. "Fairly Odd Parents" (Sunday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.1, 3.3 million homes.


14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.9, 3.18 million homes.


15. Movie: "Battlestar, Part 2" (Tuesday, 9:02 p.m.), Sci Fi, 2.9, 3.15 million homes.




So what does this mean. First off since this does include the time period of the rebroadcast on the 14, the rebroadcast did not make the top 15, much less garner a 6.7 rating.

Second, the original airing of the first installment did not make the top 15, so yes, ratings did go up for the second installment, to a 2.9.

The ratings in previous articles which cited a 3.X number, were an average for the four hours of prime time, not specific to a certain show. Remember, on the first night T2 aired before the first installment, on the second night, the first installment reran before the original airing of the second installment.

So, the big question is then, would a 2.9 rating warrant going to series, considering how much they had to advertise to get this rating? Would they be able to sustain an audience without continuing to spend the kind of advertising dollars they did for the mini-series?

[dec5]

Put it in the context that it did beat all the cable channels on tuesday night.....including some network shows...it is a winner.


If you will notice.....BG is the only show on tuesday on that list.......

[jjrakman]

O.K.

But try to put it in this context, they advertised literally everywhere to the point of being annoying. On cable, on Network TV, on radio, I even heard a commercial on the Rush Limbaugh show, in magazines, in Newspapers, online, they even put flyers for the mini in new DVD's for cripes sake.

With all that advertising, the ratings for their primetime mini series couldn't beat "Failry Odd Parents" which aired on a Sunday at 10:00 a.m., on Nickelodeon?

How would a weekly series fare WITHOUT all of that advertising?

[dec5]

...this is cable....Larry King has been on 10 years and it only gets..a 1.8???? Or maybe I am too generous.....

I get your point though....it would have been great if it actually got network ratings numbers....as it would have seemed in the overnights......but 2.9 is basically better than what most syndicated shows are doing now.....


Besides Sci fi hasn't even said anything yet....



For me personally I never saw any advertising other than the Scifi channel....and maybe Fox News.

[DCRabbit]

As for perspective. This is the premiere. All the bells and whistles year long hype showing.

It got a 2.9.. even with the trick of showing the first ep again right before it to make sure to capture those who forgot about the first night and the ones who watched it due to word of mouth from friends and such.

The Sunday repeat airing tanked. Repeat audience? Umm.. no.

There is word on Cylon.org that Scifi is desperately trying to find funds to do a series... even if it means going with the barest minimum budget which would necessitate making the series almost all interpersonal drama with very little for effects and sets and actors like EJO.

Nobody's giving them any money. And why is that?

Probably that 2.9.

DC

[jjrakman]

And don't forget, that 2.9 represents people who watched, not people who liked it. ;)

[dec5]

The Sunday night's ratings must have done OK...enough for Scifi to be working so hard to put up a series.....They must see the new BG's potential.

I think the Mini series format and DVD sales is the way to go...IMO.

[jjrakman]

Don't forget though, all rumours saying that the series is in production, or that it's won't be in productin are just that: RUMORS.

[shiningstar]

I agree with you about the Rumors Jjarkman