It seems like an empty victory given the 100-day writers strike and the lack of breakout hits, but, for the first time ever, Fox is ending a season with the most viewers of any network. The American Idol-fueled network is already slated to win the 2007-08 season in the all-important adults 18-49 demo, but what is notable is its unprecedented viewer average: 11.1 million, 600,000 more than second place CBS. In fact, Fox is expected to finish the season at No. 1 in all key demographics, including young adults, men, and teens — a testament to its largely strike-proof schedule (and the benefit of having aired the Super Bowl). Fox was the only network to build on adults 18-49 versus last year, while NBC lost 10 percent, ABC was down 14 percent, CBS dropped 19 percent, and the CW fell 15 percent.
Once again, American Idol is slated to finish out the year as TV’s most-watched program, though the show’s Tuesday installments were down by five percent from a year ago (to 28.8 million viewers) and Wednesdays were down by 10 percent (27.3 million). Desperate Housewives was the most-watched drama of the season with an audience of 18.2 million, up 4 percent versus last year.
The 2007-08 season officially ends on Wednesday.
Comments (1-6) of 6 Add your comment
Whatever will FOX do without their beloved money machine that is American Idol? They will never have that kind of success again when it’s gone.
To me, its more noteworthy that “Desperate Housewives” finished as the top drama (I didn’t realize it was ahead of the CSIs and “Grey’s Anatomy.”)
I’m very happy to see DH’s ratings are up (if only a bit from last year) given that the show significantly improved this season (thanks Dana Delaney). It’s gotta be tough for a show in its fourth season to recapture its creative spark, and “Desperate Housewives” has done that…so it’s nice to see that reflected in its ratings.
What I still don’t understand is where they are getting the ratings FROM? Are they taking into account Tivo, cable DVRs, Direct TV DVRs, Itunes and of course internet? Or are these based only on the obsolete and old-fashioned Nielsons that have nothing to do with reality? Most people in the 16-24 coveted demographic either watch exclusively online on their laptops, or they watch in groups of people in college rooms and family basements. I think ratings are way off-base. And I hear the rumor that not enough people are watching the CW? Every teenage and college student I know watches some show on the CW. The CW is the youth channel – they all watch it. Its ridiculous to think otherwise.
If I’m not mistaken, Desperate Housewives was the top rated scripted series last season as well. Well Desereved!
So we have 3 out 20 Top 20 Songwriting Finalist on Clay Aiken CD’s. We also have the winner of this year and the winner of last years songwriting contest are good friends and co-
writers on several songs. You get better odds of getting struck by lightning while buying a winning lottery ticket. What you see above is just the tip of the iceburg, and only deals with
this years contest, last year’s contest is even worse. (10 of the 2007 Top 20 Finalist had working relationships with Judge Paula Abdul, Judge Randy Jackson, Host Ryan Seacreast,
Bandleader Rickey Minor, Idol Producer Clive Davis, American Idol, Fox Television …… IF someone will only check out my webpage you would find everything I’m saying has links
to prove it. Please do something about this. Thank you, Simon
http://americanidolexposed.weebly.com
http://www.sneakeralley.com