ABC Ratings Hit Record Low In Demo, Narrowly Miss Total Viewers Low

ABC set one ratings low last week and narrowly missed another thanks to Regis and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

The New York Times' Bill Carter notes that the network set its third record for lowest Adults 18-49 primetime ratings this summer, averaging just a 1.1 demo rating, according to Nielsen figures.

The AP notes, however, that the return of "Millionaire" saved the network from the brink of a total viewers record low. Its 3.5 million total viewer averaged paled against CBS' 6.2 million, NBC's 5.9 million, and Fox's 5.3 million total viewer averages. Sunday night's "Millionaire" averaged 7 million total viewers and lifted ABC to just above its record low, which was set last August.

Full AP article below (via):

NEW YORK -- Regis Philbin has saved ABC again - this time from embarrassment.

The first night of a two-week run of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" prime-time specials on Sunday was seen by 7 million people, Nielsen Media Research said. That's very different from summer 1999, when the show had audiences as big as 22 million the first time out.

Yet it was twice what ABC averaged in prime time last week. ABC's average of 3.48 million viewers was the second-lowest in the network's history, Nielsen said. Without Philbin, ABC would no doubt have a lower average than the 3.46 million it had the same week in August 2008, its low-water mark. Philbin was credited by some for "saving" ABC with the original "Millionaire" when the network was in a ratings trough.

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" gave ABC its biggest summer audience on a Sunday for a nonsporting event in two years.

CBS' lineup of reruns helped CBS win the week, but the strength of "America's Got Talent" and a Saturday night National Football League exhibition game led NBC to a solid second-place showing.

CBS averaged 6.2 million viewers (4.1 rating, 7 share), NBC had 5.9 million (3.8, 7), Fox 5.3 million (3.2, 6) and ABC a 2.2 rating and 4 audience share. My Network TV had 1.4 million viewers (0.9, 2), the CW 970,000 (0.7, 1) and the ION Network 660,000 (0.4, 1).

Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision averaged 3 million viewers (1.6 rating, 3 share), Telemundo had 870,000 and TeleFutura 830,000 viewers (both 0.4, 1) and Azteca 210,000 (0.1, 0).

NBC's "Nightly News" topped the evening newscasts with an average of 7.6 million viewers (5.0, 11). ABC's "World News" was second with 6.5 million (4.4, 10) and the "CBS Evening News" had 5.1 million viewers (3.6, 8).

A ratings point represents 1,145,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.5 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

For the week of Aug. 3-9, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday), NBC, 12.96 million; "America's Got Talent," (Wednesday), NBC, 10.67 million; "NCIS," CBS, 9.89 million; "So You Think You Can Dance," (Thursday), Fox, 9.57 million; "60 Minutes," CBS, 9.5 million; "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 9.46 million; "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 8.39 million; "Wipeout," ABC, 8.02 million; "CSI: NY," CBS, 7.99 million; NFL Exhibition: Buffalo vs. Tennessee, NBC, 7.92 million.

___

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp. CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. Fox and My Network TV are units of News Corp. NBC and Telemundo are owned by General Electric Co. ION Television is owned by ION Media Networks. TeleFutura is a division of Univision. Azteca America is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V.

___

On the Net:

http://www.nielsenmedia.com

The network recently announced an aggressive programming push for the fall.

Comments

[veritas2u]

Don't be surprised when they offer Sarah Palin her own talk show, or at least a steady guess spot on another show in order to boost their ratings, Perhaps an alternative to the View in order not to upset any one group of their loyal viewers.

[Mustang Sally]

Scrubbing innocent messages again. I'm using big words, not naught words.

[GEM-592]

I only wonder why Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy held them up for so long, I never understood the fascination. They're clever shows, but are too preachy (always a narrator cuts in with life's little lesson for the episode ... YAWN) , repetitive, and unimaginative. For that matter, what's with ABC and the preachy narrator ... I notice that "Defying Gravity" has that aspect as well.

[Mustang Sally]

Network programming has become banal, abyssmal and totally unwatchable.

Fortunately, there are quality shows on TNT, USA, Sci-Fi, and premium cable like HBO. With the upcoming icky stuff (censors made me say that) on NBC this fall, I really don't see what can bring me back.

[TimRivers]

My problem with ABC is that every time they get me hooked on a well-written show, they cancel it (Eli Stone, Life on Mars, etc) so much to the point that I no longer want to watch any of their new scripted shows for fear of it happening again.

[KT8711]

... or Pushing Daisies.

[BurgessPenguin]

Thank God for TNT, A&E, Food Network, etc., etc., for without them there would be nothing to watch.

[cjk002]

That is the problem with the whole broadcast TV industry, more people are watching TV than ever before, yet fewer people are watching network TV. If they got rid of some of the heinous reality programs and focused on some quality scripted series, they might see some better ratings.

[Professor Zoom]

In the past couple of years, all the networks have been putting out reality shows in the summer. Which is fine, but there doesn't need to be so many. I don't know why the networks don't go the Brittish route in the summer. Put out some scripted shows that are 6-13 episodes in length. I was watching Jekyll from the BBC last week, and it was only 6 episodes, but it had me wanting more than most shows on network televison that are 20-24 episodes long. Have shows like that, and mix it up with the reality shows.

[TrippyWeekender]

Can't understand why ABC seems to think Regis is the answer to every ratings prayer.

[Steve Parker - Huffpost Blogger]

Philbin remains the workhorse wonder ... been watching him since his days in LA and the same basic act still works for him. Whatever they're paying him, it isn't enough and he deserves every penny.
He remains a 'broadcaster' in the best sense of the term.
Summer ratings don't matter much, but god knows I've tried to watch Jimmy Kimmel ... and just can't do it for more than 3 minutes! Maybe it's because he's sleeping with Sarah Silverman and I'm not, but I just don't 'get' him, I guess.
I do, however, try to never miss Craig Ferguson. Funny, but most of all --- original. He tries new things but he has a steady hand at the tiller (Carson's old producer is Ferguson's). We'll see a year or so from now if Ferguson is STILL doing new things.
NBC is now trotting-out Leno to any show which will talk with him to promote his new 10pm gig. When Tavis Smiley started asking him some personal questions last night, Leno really seemed uncomfortable...Leno's a nice, great guy who KNOWS his cars and motorcycles. My complaint about him is that he tries TOO hard to be seen as a 'regular' guy and he simply isn't. He's a huge TV star.
And Conan? It's going to take time ...
Where are all the viewers going? You're looking at it ...

[shawshank]

When they canceled Pushing Daisies, I was truly disappointed. Now, only Jeopardy brings me to ABC. And also, I've not forgotten the hit-job done on President Obama during the primaries.

[JustMusing]

The manner in which Gibson and Stephanopoulos treated Senator Obama was despicable. Haven't watched any ABC programming since that debate and hit up their advertisers to consider dropping them. Wondering now if the slide will accelerate as they are losing viewers in all demographics?

[bluguy8]

anything good is on HBO-SHowtime -BBC America -Sy FY - Bravo - FX - Lifetime . Nothing worth watching on regular tv. its time they started hiring writers again and do something experimental . even fox has some good programs--Lie to me & Glee are great .there's nothing worth watching on 2-4 or 7

[dthom403]

Ever since the Clinton/Obama horrrible debate, I guess people have committed to stop watching. They are terriblyy right wing.

[dillydawg]

That is true for members in my household.

[NoPCZone]

Mad Men, Weeds, Californication, Real Time with Bill Maher, Penn & Teller_ Bullsh*t, etc are all on cable.

Meanwhile, ABC has has-beens dancing as a form of entertainment.

[breakingrocks]

If Regis Philbin is your savior, then your network is going down the tubes.

[Tags]

Even the aegis of Regis can't save ABC now.

[ChelseaC]

I agree with Tags.