Record Launch for TNT's Rizzoli & Isles

THE PROGRAMMING INSIDER

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

 

Prime-Time Metered Market Tuesday Ratings:

Baseball All-Star Game Leads Fox to Victory  

 
National Ratings in Prime-Time:

Week of July 5, 2010

 

Ratings Box:

What’s Hot/What’s Not

 

On the Air Tonight:
Prime-Time Programming Options 

 

TV Tidbits:

Notes of Interest

 

TV Trivia Time:

A Tasty Dish  
________________________________________________________________________________

Prime-Time Metered Market Tuesday Ratings:
Baseball All-Star Game Leads Fox to Victory  

 

Tuesday 7/13/10

 

              HH
          Rtg/Shr

CBS   5.5/ 9
NBC 4.4/ 7
Fox    4.4/ 7
ABC 3.4/ 6
CW    0.5/ 1
 
———-
 

-Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Tuesday, July 14, 2009):

 
  
———-
 

-Yesterday’s Winners:

2010 Baseball All-Star Game (Fox), NCIS R (CBS), America’s Got Talent (NBC)

 

-Yesterday’s Losers (excluding repeats):

Losing It With Jillian (NBC), Downfall (ABC)

 
———-
 

-Ratings Breakdown:
It was an easy overnight Tuesday victory for baseball-ignited Fox, with The 2010 Baseball All-Star Game at an estimated 9.1 rating/15 share from 8:30-11 p.m. and the half-hour breakdown as follows:

 

2010 Baseball All-Star Game (Fox)

 8:30 p.m.: 8.0/14 (#1)
 9:00 p.m.: 9.2/15 (#1)
 9:30 p.m.: 9.5/15 (#1)

10:00 p.m.: 9.5/15 (#1)

10:30 p.m.: 9.3/15 (#1)

 

Compared to the year-ago Baseball All-Star Game (10.3/17 on July 14, 2009), this was a decrease of 12 percent. Keep in mind, of course, that results for any live sporting event are always approximate. Earlier in the evening on Fox was The Baseball All-Star Game Pre-Game at a dominant 6.8/12 in the 8 p.m. half-hour.

 

Despite facing baseball, summer NBC favorite America’s Got Talent was on the map with a solid (and second-place) 7.4/12 in the overnights from 9-11 p.m. But lead-in Losing It With Jillian could use more ratings weight, with a fourth-place 2.9/ 5 from 8-9 p.m. Here is the half-hour breakdown for America’s Got Talent:

 
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
 9:00 p.m.: 7.0/11 (#2)
 9:30 p.m.: 7.6/12 (#2)

10:00 p.m.: 7.7/12 (#2)

10:30 p.m.: 7.5/12 (#2)

 

Elsewhere, CBS had nothing unusual to report with its encore combination of NCIS (#2: 6.7/12), which continues to score even in repeats, spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles (#3: 5.2/ 8) and multi Emmy Award nominated The Good Wife (#3t, 3.5/ 6). If I were Julianna Margulies, I would have an acceptance speech prepared. 

 

Week four of ABC game show Downfall remained an eyesore, with a fourth-place 2.3/ 4 in the overnights at 9 p.m. (out of a third-place 4.6/ 8 for a repeat of Wipeout at 8 p.m.). Primetime: Family Secrets closed the night for ABC with a 3.5/ 6 (tied for No. 3 with The Good Wife encore). While a 3.5 in the overnights is certainly not worth celebrating, Primetime: Family Secrets did manage to build from the 9:30 p.m. portion of Downfall (2.1/ 3) by a noticeable 67 percent.

 

The CW closed the night with repeats of One Tree Hill (#5: 0.6/ 1), which is not strong enough to be anchoring Tuesday next season, and Life Unexpected (#5: 0.5/ 1).

 

As a reminder, here is what you will be seeing on the broadcast networks on Tuesdays this fall (with new shows in caps and bolded in red):

 
ABC
 8:00 p.m.: NO ORDINARY FAMILY
 9:00 p.m.: Dancing With the Stars (new time)
10:00 p.m.: DETROIT 1-8-7
 
CBS
 8:00 p.m.: NCIS
 9:00 p.m.: NCIS: Los Angeles
10:00 p.m.: The Good Wife
 
NBC
 8:00 p.m.: The Biggest Loser (two hours)
10:00 p.m.: Parenthood
 
Fox
 8:00 p.m. Glee (new time)
 9:00 p.m.: RAISING HOPE
 9:30 p.m.: RUNNING WILDE
 
CW
 8:00 p.m.: One Tree Hill (new day)
 9:00 p.m. Life Unexpected (new day)
 

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

 
 

National Ratings in Prime-Time:

Week of July 5, 2010

 

CBS and Fox dominated this first complete week in July, with CBS first in households, total viewers and adults 25-54; and Fox No. 1 in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. Fox was close to depressed year-ago levels, while CBS suffered minor single-digit losses. The Eye net has now finished first in total viewers for three consecutive weeks. 

 

Elsewhere, and this is certainly not the norm in the traditional (September to May) TV season, NBC ranked second across the board, with year-to-year growth of as much as 33 percent among adults 18-34.  Although two-additional hours of America’s Got Talent, both repeats, was beneficial to NBC, the six-episode encore marathon of sitcom Community on Thursday hovered at the bottom of the rating charts. Immediately following NBC in ranking was ABC, which was also on the year-to-year plus side, followed by an also stronger The CW, which aired another week of all repeats.   Upcoming reality hour Plain Jane, which debuts on Wednesday, July 28 at 9 p.m. ET, is The CW’s only original series this summer. 

 

In season-premiere news, the 12th edition of CBS’ long-running Big Brother kicked-off on Thursday, July 8 with it best opening performance in total viewers (7.35 million) since July 5, 2007, its best in adults 18-49 (2.5 rating/9 share) and adults 25-54 (2.9/ 9) since Feb. 12, 2008, and strongest in adults 18-34 (1.8/ 7) since July 6, 2006. Comparably, Big Brother finished first in the time period in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34, with growth over the comparable year-ago evening of as much as 22 percent in adults 18-34. The Sunday 8 p.m. time period premiere of Big Brother (Viewers: 7.03 million; A18-49: 2.4/ 8) also increased over year-ago levels. 

 

Over at NBC, game show Minute to Win It returned with a time-period winning 6.97 million viewers in the Wednesday 8 p.m. hour and a second-place finish (behind So You Think You Can Dance on Fox) among adults 18-49 (2.1/ 7), cracking the top 20 in both categories.

 

In ongoing new scripted series news, the results remained positive for ABC’s Rookie Blue, which just received a second-season renewal, but Sunday 9-11 p.m. occupants Scoundrels and The Gates continue to struggle. Take a look (and note the growth for The Gates out of Scoundrels).

 
ABC

Rookie Blue – Thursday 9 p.m.

Viewers: 6.22 million (#22), A18-49: 1.5/ 5 (#25t)

 

Scoundrels – Sunday 9 p.m.

Viewers: 2.98 million (#69), A18-49: 0.8/ 2 (#69t)

 

The Gates – Sunday 10 p.m.

Viewers: 3.35 million (#65), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#54t)

 

Also on ABC, and it was not noteworthy, was week three of game show Downfall at a very disappointing 3.63 million viewers (#58) and a 1.2/ 3 among adults 18-49 (#40t) in the Tuesday 9 p.m. hour. Comparably, retention out of lead-in Wipeout (Viewers: #5, 8.76 million; A18-49: #5, 3.0/10 at 8 p.m.) was just 41 percent in total viewers and 40 percent in the demo. 

 

What follows are the final national ratings for the week of July 5, 2010 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses), followed by the top 20 rated programs of the week and the top rated networks on basic cable.  

 

CBS: 4.0 rating/7 share (- 7), NBC: 3.2/ 6 (+ 3), ABC: 3.1/ 6 (+ 7), Fox: 2.7/ 5 (no change), CW: 0.7/ 1 (+17)

-Total Viewers:

CBS: 6.27 million (- 3), NBC: 5.15 (+ 8), ABC: 4.89 (+13), Fox: 4.33 (- 1), CW: 1.02 (+16)

 

-Adults 18-49:

Fox: 1.6 rating/5 share (+ 7), NBC: 1.5/ 5 (+15), ABC: 1.4/ 5 (+ 8), CBS: 1.3/ 4 (- 7), CW: 0.4/ 1 (+33)

 

-Adults 25-54:

CBS: 1.9/ 6 (- 5), NBC and Fox: 1.8/ 5 (+ 6 each), ABC: 1.7/ 5 (+ 6), CW: 0.4/ 1 (+33)

 

-Adults 18-34:

Fox: 1.5/ 6 (no change), NBC: 1.2/ 4 (+33), ABC: 1.1/ 4 (+10), CBS: 0.8/ 3 (-11), CW: 0.4/ 1 (+33)

 
——————–
 
 Top 20 Rankings
 

-Total Viewers:

America’s Got Talent – Wednesday (NBC): 11.95 million, America’s Got Talent – Tuesday (NBC): 11.82, NCIS R (CBS): 10.74, The Bachelorette (ABC): 9.14, Wipeout – Tuesday (ABC): 8.76, The Mentalist R (CBS): 8.64, NCIS: Los Angeles R (CBS): 8.58, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 8.50, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 8.32, Wipeout – Thursday (ABC): 7.89, Big Brother – Thursday (CBS, season premiere): 7.35, CSI: Miami R (CBS) and Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, Tues. 9 p.m.): 7.20 each, 60 Minutes R (CBS): 7.07, Big Brother – Sunday (CBS, time period premiere: 7.03), Minute to Win It (NBC): 6.97, CSI: NY R (CBS): 6.71, Criminal Minds R (CBS): 6.61, Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, Tues. 8 p.m.) and CSI R (CBS): 6.60 each

 
 -Adults 18-49:

America’s Got Talent – Tuesday (NBC) and America’s Got Talent – Wednesday (NBC): 3.4 rating/10 share each, Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, Tues. 9 p.m.): 3.1/10, Wipeout – Tuesday (ABC): 3.0/10, The Bachelorette (ABC): 2.8/ 8, Big Brother – Thursday (CBS, season premiere): 2.5/ 9, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS): 2.5/ 7, Wipeout – Thursday (ABC) and Big Brother – Sunday (CBS, time period premiere): 2.4/ 8 each, So You Think You Can Dance – Wednesday (Fox): 2.3/ 8, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 2.2/ 6, Minute to Win It (NBC) and So You Think You Can Dance – Thursday (Fox): 2.1/ 7 each, Law & Order: SVU R (NBC): 1.9/ 6, Rules of Engagement R (CBS) and NCIS R (CBS): 1.8/ 6 each, Last Comic Standing (NBC) and Family Guy R (Fox): 1.8/ 5 each

 

——————–

 
CABLE
 

What follows are the top 10 rated networks on cable in prime-time for the week of June 21 based on total viewers and the three key demos:

 

Total Viewers:

USA: 2.75 million, TNT: 2.42, ABC Family and History: 1.82 each, Nick at Nite: 1.77, Fox News: 1.76, ESPN: 1.72, A&E: 1.52, Syfy: 1.49, Discovery: 1.37

 

Adults 18-49:

USA: 1.04 million, TNT: 920,000, ESPN: 892,000, ABC Family: 877,000, History: 822,000, TBS: 817,000, Discovery: 724,000, FX: 718,000, Syfy: 709,000, A&E: 683,000

 

Adults 25-54:

USA: 1.14 million, TNT: 1.06 million, History: 912,000, ESPN: 869,000, Syfy: 807,000, ABC Family: 774,000, Discovery: 750,000, TBS: 716,000, A&E: 712,000, FX: 708,000

 

Adults 18-34:

ABC Family: 497,000, TBS: 473,000, ESPN: 460,000, USA: 444,000, Comedy Central: 422,000, History: 373,000, FX: 348,000, MTV: 343,000, TNT: 331,000, A&E: 306,000

 

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

 
 

Ratings Box:

What’s Hot/What’s Not

 

-Record Launch for Rizzoli & Isles on TNT:

New TNT drama Rizzoli & Isles, the modern day version of Cagney & Lacey, opened with a record 7.6 million viewers in the 10 p.m. hour on Monday, July 12, just 100,000 viewers below of the sixth season-premiere of lead-in The Closer (7.7 million). Comparably, this is now cable’s No. 1 commercial-supported series launch of all time. Results among adults 18-49 (2.08 million) and adults 18-25 (2.72) actually built from The Closer (A18-49: 1.99 million; A25-54: 2.68 million). The Closer, meanwhile, increased from its season five opener by seven percent in total viewers. 

 
-Spain vs. The Netherlands Scores on Univision:

The final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, Spain vs. The Netherlands, rose to a record performance on Univision in total viewers (8.82 million), adults 18-49 (5.37 million), adults 18-34 (3.26 million) and persons 12-34 (3.99 million) in the 2:30-5:35 p.m. block on Monday, July 11. Comparably, this is now the most-watched final in the network’s history, outperforming France vs. Italy in 2006 by as much as 53 percent. This final 2010 FIFA World Cup match-up is the third most-watched program in the history of Spanish-language television (behind Mexico vs. Argentina on Univision on June 27 and the conclusion of Univision telenovela Destilando Amor on Dec. 3, 2007). 

 

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

 
 

On the Air Tonight:
Prime-Time Programming Options

 

Wednesday 7/14/10

 

 8:00 p.m. Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (R)

 8:30 p.m. The Middle (R)
 9:00 p.m. Modern Family (R)
 9:30 p.m. Cougar Town (R)

10:00 p.m. Castle (R)

 
CBS:
 8:00 p.m. Big Brother (time period premiere)
 9:00 p.m. Criminal Minds (R)

10:00 p.m. CSI: NY (R)

 
NBC:
 8:00 p.m. Minute to Win It
 9:00 p.m. America’s Got Talent

10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R)

 
Fox:

 8:00 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance (two hours)

 
CW
 8:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (R)
 9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (R)
 

Of Note on Cable:

-Hot in Cleveland (TV Land): 10 p.m. ET

-Psych (USA): 10 p.m. ET (season premiere)

 
______________________________________________________________________
 

TV Tidbits:

Notes of Interest

 

-Sela Ward Joins Cast of CSI: NY:

Two time Emmy Award winner Sela Ward will join the cast of CBS’ veteran CSI: NY next season as an experienced investigator from Washington, D.C. Ward, who steps in for departing Melina Karakaredes, will make her first appearance in the season-premiere when the show moves to Fridays at 9 p.m. (out of relocated Medium) this fall.

 

-In Other Casting News:

Peter Weller is heading to Showtime drama Dexter in eight episodes of the upcoming fifth season. He will play a troubled Miami police officer who is involved in an internal affairs investigation.

 

-Mario Lopez on VH1:

Extra/America’s Best Dance Crew host and former Dancing With the Stars runner-up Mario Lopez will be featured alongside girlfriend Courtney Mazza on an upcoming docu-soap on VH1 that will chronicle the upcoming birth of their first child. 

 

-Fox Fall Premiere Dates:

Fox has announced the following season and series-premiere dates for the 2010-11 season. All times are Eastern Standard. 

 

-Cops: Saturday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. (season premiere): 800th telecast

-America’s Most Wanted: Saturday, Sept. 11, 9 p.m. (season premiere)

-House: Monday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-Lone Star: Monday, Sept. 20, 9 p.m. (series premiere)

-Glee: Tuesday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-Raising Hope: Tuesday, Sept. 21, 9 p.m. (series premiere)

-Running Wilde: Tuesday, Sept. 21, 9:30 p.m. (series premiere)

-Hell’s Kitchen: Wednesday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m. (season premiere): two hours

-Bones: Thursday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-Fringe: Thursday, Sept. 23, 9 p.m. (season premiere)

-Human Target: Friday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-The Good Guys: Friday, Sept. 24, 9 p.m. (season premiere)

-The Simpsons: Sunday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-The Cleveland Show: Sunday, Sept. 26, 8:30 p.m. (season premiere)

-Family Guy: Sunday, Sept. 26, 9 p.m. (season premiere): one-hour

-American Dad: Sunday, Oct. 3, 9:30 p.m. (season premiere): 100th episode

-Lie to Me: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. (season premiere)

-Hell’s Kitchen: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 9 p.m. (time period premiere)

 
______________________________________________________________________________
 
TV Trivia Time:
A Tasty Dish
 

Which one of the following TV characters considered leg of lamb his favorite meal?

 

a)      Peter Brady (The Brady Bunch)

b)      Joe Carson (Petticoat Junction)

c)      Sam Malone (Cheers)

d)      Adrian Monk (Monk)

e)      Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show)

 

The answer to yesterday’s question…

 

What is the real first name of “Ducky” Mallard on CBS mega-hit NCIS?

 

a)      Darryl

b)      David

c)      Donald

d)      Norman

e)      Wilbur

 

Is: c) Donald, who is played by the king of cool, David McCallum. 

 

-Current kudos goes to:
Danny Aguilar, Janice Barney, Gerry Bixenspan, Larry Collins, Tom Condosta, Harold Cooper, Kay Copeland, Leslie Creason, Sue Doron, Andy Ehlen, John Ferlazzo, Maureen Goldman, Michael Grewe, Melissa Hodgdon (2x), Bob Ingersoll, Deb Kainer, Synda Kollman, Steve Kurtzer, Melinda Lujan, Patty Lynch, Kathy Martin, Tom Mertes, Debbie Mirr, Jim Moore, Ken Penney, Francine Purcell, Gordon Purcell, Tracy Reiner, Con Rigg, Colleen Roth, Joe Rubi, David Ruckman, Michelle Stanton, Karen Tobin, Trenna Underhill, Tammy Wiard, Abbot Wool