Tuesday, May 26, 2009
NBC Preempts 2 SVUs next week.....
NYC Marathon Date Change
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
All NBC Clients Updated!
The stereotypical IT Helpdesk question of "did you reboot your machine?" isn't as cynical as it sounds when we talk about MediaOffice. Each time your desk PC loads MediaOffice, it grabs the very latest inventory and estimates I've created for your station.. but once it starts, MediaOffice doesn't automatically update them while running.
If you've seen a new update here on this blog, chances are, it's time to close MediaOffice and re-start it. Fresh and accurate info is a good thing. Don't miss out.
Sunbelt, Raycom and SarkesTarzian complete....
While Helena has new inventory published, I'm still working on Selling Book estimates at the moment.
Still to be done tonight... Granite stations....
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
More than 70 lines in Prime Inventory alone....
It's taking about 5 hours per station for this update.. more involving than a new sweeps data release, and for me, much more fun! Here's where I get to use 25+ years of broadcast ratings experience in markets all over the US to predict how each program will do, on each station, in each market, by quarter.
Remember, you'll be able to see the planner I create for your station by going to MediaOffice's Avail/Packages, then Open Package, and click on View Public Area.. and unclick View Only My Avails. If you Open As Template, you'll be looking at a prime avail through March 2010.
NBC Upfront: Splitting Seasons, Lots of Leno
NBC is splitting its new series offering between fall and winter, limiting its fourth quarter debuts to two new dramas, one new sitcom—and a whole lot of Jay Leno.
The network also has passed on scheduling "Medium" and "My Name is Earl," with both shows expected to either die or jump to another network.
As for scheduling strategy, NBC is following through with its announced plan to have shows share time slots throughout the season, thus cutting back on repeats—and providing more lead-in support to Mr. Leno's 10 p.m. comedy hour. The network will use its February coverage of the Winter Olympics as a natural division between its two seasons.
"We have the ability to be in originals all year long ... and drive circulation into Jay," Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, told TVWeek. "We've all seen repeats collapse."
In terms of specific nights, NBC is moving one of its biggest scripted assets, "Heroes," to 8 p.m. on Mondays in order to launch new high-octane drama "Trauma" at 9 p.m. The network is betting Sunday football will serve as a strong promotional base for the Monday-night action block.
"It's reinventing the night and making it fresh again," NBC Entertainment President Angela Bromstad said of the Monday rejiggering. "'Heroes' has such a passionate audience, and 'Trauma' is one of the strongest shows we've had."
NBC is keeping "The Biggest Loser" as a two-hour event on Tuesdays. The network considered splitting the show into hours, but didn't want to give up the high-rated 9 p.m. hour of "Loser" as a lead-in for Mr. Leno.
Mr. Silverman said he hopes the "big female circulation (from 'Loser') will flow" into Wednesday nights, where NBC is hoping for impressive things from its new family drama "Parenthood." The latter series will air at 8 p.m., leading into "Law & Order: SVU" at 9.
Thursdays will remain relatively stable, though 8 p.m. anchor "Earl" is gone. As previously announced, it will be replaced by "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" at the start of the season, with "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office" remaining in their current 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. timeslots, respectively.
"Community" will begin the fall at 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, but will soon be challenged by a move to 8 p.m. before year's end so that "30 Rock" can return at 9:30.
Fridays will be crime time in prime time on NBC, with "Law & Order" leading into sophomore hour "Southland." While some are interpreting the move as aggressive—since NBC has been very public in its support of "Southland"—the scheduling suggests that NBC realized "Southland" needs to be in a lower-risk timeslot after its weak overall performance Thursdays at 10.
It also shouldn't be hard for NBC to improve its ratings performance on Fridays with "Southland" and "L&O."
After the Olympics, NBC will shake up several key nights.
"Chuck," which escaped cancellation in part due to a fan campaign, will return from an extended break, staying on Mondays at 8 p.m. It will serve as a lead-in to new limited series "Day One."
Mr. Silverman credited viewer and advertiser passion for the "Chuck" pickup.
"Both the fans of the shows that matter and the advertisers of the shows raised their hands to say, 'We need “Chuck” on the schedule.' We will send you Nerds. We will buy Subway $5 footlongs. We will do whatever it takes'," Mr. Silverman said, adding that the pressure from fans was "relentless."
The executive took a swipe at two bubble shows that didn't return: "Medium" and "Earl."
"On the other side, we had an aging franchise, without a single fan letter, not one hand raised (at all of NBC's Infront sessions with advertisers). That speaks for itself. We believe in the future. We believe in shows without ceilings."
Tuesdays will remain the home to "Loser," but the show will go on a New Year's diet, shrinking to a 90-minute format so that NBC can launch new comedy "100 Questions" at 9:30 p.m.
On Wednesdays, "SVU" stays at 9, but NBC plans to replace "Parenthood" with new nurses hour "Mercy."
Thursdays and Fridays are expected to remain stable midseason. Sundays, look for Jerry Seinfeld's reality show "The Marriage Ref" at 8, with "The Celebrity Apprentice" back from 9-11 p.m.
Ms. Bromstad said NBC has chosen to put its new shows "in strategic timeslots that position them for success.”
"They join some of the highest quality returning shows on television, which will serve as a strong foundation to the new schedule," she added. "I think viewers are going to be happy to see this lineup of great new shows that will truly fit the NBC legacy of quality, culturally defining shows."
Other notes on NBC's new schedule:
—Mr. Silverman said NBC will bring back "Weekend Update" prime time two other times during the season for "strategic" purposes. He didn't say when or how the show would be used.
—NBC will once again expand "The Office" to an hour at least once next season.
—Mr. Silverman seemed skeptical of ABC's plans to launch so many new shows next fall. "We don't want to launch 10 new shows in a quarter," he said. "We can do three or four."
Of course, NBC is launching more new hours of programming next fall than any other network. When Mr. Leno's show is factored in, NBC will have eight new hours of prime-time programming in the quarter. ABC will have six.
New Season Schedule Announced..
NBC FALL 2009 SCHEDULE
*New programs in UPPER CASE
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Heroes"
9-10 p.m. - "TRAUMA"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" (two-hour edition)
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "PARENTHOOD"
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY" (multi-episode run)
8:30-9 p.m. "Parks and Recreation"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "COMMUNITY" (moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. after multi-episode run "30 Rock" returns)
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. "Southland"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "TRAUMA" (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (encore broadcast)
SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"
NBC MID-SEASON 2010 SCHEDULE
(2010 WINTER OLYMPICS preempt regularly scheduled programming from February 12-28)
*New programs in UPPER CASE
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Chuck" (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. - "DAY ONE"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
TUESDAY
8-9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" (90-minute edition) 9:30-10 p.m. "100 QUESTIONS"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "MERCY"
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "COMMUNITY"
8:30-9 p.m. "Parks and Recreation"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "30 Rock"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. "Southland"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "Southland" (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (encore broadcast)
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. THE MARRIAGE REF
9-11 p.m. "The Celebrity Apprentice" (season premiere; two-hour edition)
(as you might imagine, I'll be putting this data in my NBC client inventories for the next couple of days)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
While you wait for Fall Schedules....
NBC Hired a Hit Maker. It’s Still Waiting.
WHEN NBC hired Ben Silverman in May 2007, he was the hottest executive in the television business, the man who had a hand in bringing reality shows and “The Office” to America. He also happened to be taking a job he had dreamed about as a junior high schooler hooked on television: the top programmer position at NBC.
Two years in, his dream job is significantly different. So is Mr. Silverman.
His assignment of reviving NBC’s long-troubled fortunes in prime time has proved heavier lifting than Mr. Silverman anticipated, thanks to a combination of external factors — like a writers’ strike and a battered economy — and internal factors, including some gossip-stoking incidents in his personal life and a few comments about others that he now acknowledges were ill-advised.
And as always, there is the issue of ratings.
While it has been a meager year everywhere for hits in the network business, NBC has for several years been all but desperate for a new breakout show — or two or three. Mr. Silverman’s first full cycle of programs has not yet produced anything fitting that description. The fall lineup was fallow; two spring entries have generated some great reviews but only hints of future ratings gold.
When the hits did not flow in the fall, it enflamed critics who were already disposed to find fault with Mr. Silverman over what they labeled as arrogance and a self-involved management style.
Some detractors, rooting for his exit, have suggested that he and NBC can’t wait to part company. But Mr. Silverman, who is 38, says he is staying put. “I am a happy worker at NBC,” he said in a recent interview in Manhattan. “I plan to stay at NBC as part of the NBC family. I’m there. I’m committed.”
Jeff Zucker, Mr. Silverman’s boss and the chief executive of NBC Universal, says he continues to value Mr. Silverman’s work. “Ben has a skill set that is incredibly appropriate for these times,” he said. “If we weren’t supportive of Ben, he wouldn’t be here.”
Still, the fact that there has been no formal deal announced to renew Mr. Silverman’s contract will probably set off speculation among Mr. Silverman’s critics that Mr. Zucker does not want to make a public endorsement of him.
As for his personal life, Mr. Silverman said he had taken steps to temper his social profile, which made him a frequent target in the Hollywood blogosphere. (He famously held a party populated by models in bikinis and white tigers in cages.)
“I am more conscious of how I’m being presented,” he said.
Not that he doesn’t acknowledge some missteps. He was quoted dismissing two network competitors as “D-girls” — or low-level development executives. “I should never have called them that,” Mr. Silverman said.
“Ben made some mistakes in his first year,” Mr. Zucker said. “The first year was a learning experience. He had to learn how to work inside a corporation.”
THE ratings — and Mr. Zucker’s expectations — have ratcheted up the pressure on Mr. Silverman to make something positive happen quickly, certainly within the next year. The programming team under him has been revamped and given wider responsibilities. And Mr. Silverman and NBC seem to have agreed informally that he will continue on a year-to-year basis after his initial contract expires in June.
Among NBC’s target audience — viewers ages 18 to 49 — this season’s ratings have been flat, not bad in a business of mostly consistent downward movement. But in its current position, still last among the major networks, NBC needs up, not flat; it also had the Super Bowl this season and it won’t next year.
So, to pick up that slack, it will require something (or several somethings) shiny and successful out of Mr. Silverman’s shop.
“We need better shows,” Mr Zucker said. “That is priority No. 1 right now.”
Ever confident, Mr. Silverman believes that he has the goods coming next fall.
Mr. Zucker said he expected better shows to begin to emerge more easily, mainly thanks to the realignment of duties he put in place at NBC Entertainment early this year. The principal change involved the replacement of Mr. Silverman’s hand-picked top lieutenant, Teri Weinberg, with a veteran NBC program development executive, Angela Bromstad.
One consequence of that change has been less day-to-day involvement for Mr. Silverman in program development decisions as well as the calls on which shows to “greenlight” into production.
Few naysayers are willing to go on the record because they still need to do business with him. One program supplier said Mr. Silverman has been marginalized, and focuses more on the marketing of shows than their creation.
But a supplier who is willing to go on the record has a different take. “Ben is always front and center, where he needs to be,” said Zack Van Amburg, co-president of Sony Television, who cited Mr. Silverman’s participation in the development of that studio’s comedy called “Community,” from the first cast reading of the script. (The series was selected for NBC’s fall schedule.)
Mr. Silverman said he remained a participant in decisions to greenlight shows, and he argued for patience before his programming grade is handed out.
“I’d like to think time will tell,” he said, “because you can’t really judge your programming skills in a strike-shortened, 18-month period.”
MR. SILVERMAN’S background is more high culture than pop culture. The son of an avant-garde composer, he forged his reputation in television as an independent — and untraditional — operator. In 1995, he became an agent at William Morris and relocated to London, then considered a show-business backwater.
It was there that he noticed a trend sweeping European television: reality programming. Mr. Silverman became a middleman in deals that brought shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and “Survivor” to American networks.
That led Mr. Silverman to create Reveille, a production studio. Reveille generated a string of successful shows on cable, like “Nashville Star” and “The Tudors,” but gained real prominence for its network shows. Two Reveille series, “The Office” and “The Biggest Loser,” remain the biggest hits on NBC.
While at Reveille, Mr. Silverman became an eager spokesman for a vision of the network business built around international co-productions and partnerships with advertisers to get their messages directly into the content. For example, he created a reality show called “The Restaurant” with the backing of American Express; the company’s card was used exclusively in the show. He arrived at NBC prepared to carry out those plans.
“What I didn’t realize is, it’s really hard to have a vision running a network,” Mr. Silverman said. “You can have an agenda. But it’s almost impossible to have a vision because of the scale of the business and the entropy that already exists.”
In the spring of 2007, when Mr. Zucker turned to Mr. Silverman, NBC was starved for hits, especially the kind the network has been associated with for a generation: high-quality drama (“ER,” “The West Wing”) and classic comedy (“Seinfeld,” “Friends”).
Initially, Mr. Silverman couldn’t do much because he arrived after NBC’s fall slate was locked in. But he did have an early effect on one NBC product: he devised a deal with the satellite service DirecTV to keep the critically acclaimed “Friday Night Lights” in production through two additional seasons.
Once he was in full control, Mr. Silverman tried to revive some older franchises, both in reality (“American Gladiators,” which worked for one cycle of programs before fading) and drama (“Knight Rider,” conceived partly as a deal with Ford, which supplied the car that was the central character. It ran for this season and was canceled). In the wake of the writers’ strike, NBC did not have many pilots and bought some shows simply on the basis of scripts. None of those worked out. The most ambitious drama, “Kings,” which played as a biblical allegory, won positive reviews but puny ratings.
From the start, many of Mr. Silverman’s management decisions came under attack from some quarters of the Hollywood establishment. Ms. Weinberg, initially in charge of program development, became a lightning rod for anger from some producers who said she was too inexperienced and played favorites. Ms. Weinberg said on Friday that at NBC she was, “collaborative, smart, inclusive and easy to work with.”
Another focus of scrutiny about Mr. Silverman has been the deal to sell Reveille, completed in February. Critics suggested that while Mr. Silverman was being paid as an executive, it looked as if he was in a position to help build up his company before selling it for an estimated $200 million to Elisabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch of the News Corporation.
Reveille certainly benefited when other shows it owned were added to NBC’s list. (Mr. Silverman imported one comedy, “Kath and Kim,” from Australia while he still ran Reveille.)
Mr. Zucker said that there was nothing improper in how Mr. Silverman dealt with Reveille. When he signed Mr. Silverman, Mr. Zucker said he agreed to a process in which he, and not Mr. Silverman, would have final say in ordering shows from Reveille.
Mr. Silverman said: “People didn’t even know it, but NBCU owned a piece of the deal. And they made all their money back on it already.” Mr. Zucker confirmed these details, saying NBC made an undisclosed profit. (Not as much as Mr. Silverman; he made an estimated $125 million.)
Ms. Murdoch, who runs the Shine Group, professes nothing but satisfaction — though she also happens to be one of Mr. Silverman’s closest friends. “We now have two powerful creative engines making hit shows in the two most valuable markets in the world,” meaning the United States and Britain, Ms. Murdoch said in an e-mail message.
Looking ahead, Mr. Silverman said he was feeling positive about the new season.
“I’m starting to get excited about it,” he said, pointing especially to NBC’s move of Jay Leno to an across-the-board slot at 10 p.m. weeknights.
That move was handled entirely by Mr. Zucker, though he credited Mr. Silverman with establishing a strong relationship with Mr. Leno.
“I’m really focused on what we’re doing right now, and on launching more shows off the Winter Olympics as well,” Mr. Silverman said. “That’s one reason I want to stay. I want to see this through. I really think we’ve got a little momentum.”
That sentiment comes easy at every network this time of year, when pilots for new shows are arriving. But Ms. Bromstad has received high marks for stabilizing NBC’s entertainment operation.
She described the new arrangement as a partnership that is working well. She said Mr. Silverman handles the larger strategy and also makes deals with talent and producers. She handles the day-to-day duties of taking pitches and ordering scripts.
“I love Ben,” she said. “We’re moving in different directions and doing different things.”
THERE is no doubt that in recent months, Mr. Silverman has altered his approach to both his personal and professional lives.
Mr. Zucker says he believes Mr. Silverman has made the necessary adjustments. He credited Mr. Silverman’s showmanship as NBC’s front man for presentations to advertisers this month. “The advertisers feel better than they have in years,” he said.
Mr. Silverman pitched a batch of new comedies and dramas, including two introduced this spring, “Parks and Recreation” and “Southland,” a police series that was the best-reviewed show on network television this year. They will be the first scripted shows in Mr. Silverman’s tenure to return for a second season. He also rejuvenated the “Apprentice” reality franchise.
And he continues to try to find ways to merge advertisers’ messages into the network’s programming. Eric Hadley, general manager of worldwide marketing for Microsoft, said the company had ambitious plans to place product messages in NBC shows.
“The way Ben thinks about shows, it takes in programming, advertising and what’s culturally relevant,” Mr. Hadley said.
“Those kinds of deals are what we have to do to drive the survival of our content base,” Mr. Silverman said. “At the end of the day if we’re still going to make the best programming in the world, we’ve got to find the funding for it.”
“I am resilient,” he said.
Friday, May 15, 2009
A Thank You to RDRx Clients & OneDomain
Some of these folks have worked with me as far back as 1984.. things sure have changed in the quarter-century since.
Thank you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Howie Doesn't... Air This Friday
All of my MediaOffice NBC clients have already been updated. Close MediaOffice and re-open it to see changes. Remember, you MUST re-start MediaOffice at least as often as you see updates here. If you don't see a program in inventory, chances are you need to re-start MediaOffice.
Monday, May 11, 2009
4th Quarter Golf & Sports Specials Announced
A HUGE thank you to NBC and WRCB; ODI Research now has access to APT, and up to 7 years of historical program titles.. essential for those NBC Sports Specials estimates.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Google finally uses the reach medium.. TV
Color, motion and emotion. A call to action at the end. The most massive internet advertising company in the world will now use plain old television (although just cable at the moment) to expand their reach.
These guys/gals ARE smart!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Changes to Summer Overnight NBC
This will be on all client stations today.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Another Free Lunch from RDRx
http://www.unthinkfc.com/
Farrah's Story: Friday May 15th
Derby Delivers 10.2 HH Rating / 22 Share
by Frank Angst from ThoroughbredTimes.com
The combined efforts of NBC and Churchill Downs Inc. to angle the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) broadcast to a wider audience apparently paid dividends.
NBC Sports reports the race segment of its broadcast registered the highest overnight rating in 17 years. During the hour of the race—6 p.m.-7 p.m. EDT on May 2—the Derby registered a 10.2 overnight rating and a share of 22.
The race ratings are up 6.8% from last year and are the highest since 1992, when Lil E. Tee won the classic.
NBC included segments in its broadcast designed to interest women, including red carpet celebrity arrival coverage, Top Chef, and fashion segments.
“I think a key word for our coverage is balance: balance serving the horsemen and journalism; balance in serving the male-female viewers,” said NBC Sports Spokesman Adam Freifeld. “Balance in covering the scene and the race.”
NBC also employed its “big event” marketing strategy for the race by providing coverage and promotion through the "TODAY" show, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "NBC Primetime," Bravo, and Oxygen. NBC started the promotion with an ad on Super Bowl Sunday.
NBC also promoted the race through iVillage and its companion service BlogHer.
Frank Angst is senior staff writer of Thoroughbred Times
Monday, May 4, 2009
Some Fall Prime Announced: No Schedule till May 19th
The new and returning series will launch next season and the epic event series "Day One" is slated to premiere out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
"The Jay Leno Show" will be broadcast Monday-Fridays, 10-11 p.m. ET beginning in the fall. Previously announced series pickups include "The Office," "30 Rock," "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Friday Night Lights," and new alternative series "The Marriage Ref," "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins" and "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Additional series pickups will be announced May 19, when NBC announces its 2009-2010 schedule.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Celebrity Apprentice to Return in Spring 2010
Yawn.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
All NBC Clients Have March-based Estimates
Once you've had a chance to review the MarchMayES selling book, get in touch with me regarding how you would like March shares reflected in the rest of the selling books. If I don't hear from your station, I'll use my own judgment.. LOL.
Later this week, I'll be updating everyone's Golf... Tiger's back and the March survey shows it.
(Oh, and Idaho Fox is done, too.)
What the heck is a MarchMayES book?
Some agencies will insist on using March shares. Others couldn't care less. And of course, there will be those who want March shares used for Second Quarter avails, but not beyond. *That's* what a MarchMayES Selling book is for.
My suggestion is to submit both MarchMayES and MAYES and be prepared to sell the higher number.
Casper and Pocatello NBC Complete....
Gotta love NOS energy drinks on days like this.
Jackson completed; ID now, WY & MT in PM
The folks in Las Vegas needed help from Birmingham, so my work on Sunbelt's northern properties is in mid-stream now.
I'll buy ya lunch today if you haven't eaten:
http://elpolloloco.com/whatsnew/tastethefire.html
Folks, take a look at Kings. For a program moved four different times in less than a month, it delivered really decent demos. The summer schedule gives it a chance to be spotlighted... Take it from me, this is NBC's Summer version of West Wing.
Idaho/Montana/Wyoming/Mississippi Data
As soon as data is on your servers, I'll begin the installation.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Chattanooga and Fresno are installed...
If you're the DoS or GSM at an NBC station, drop me a note and let's talk about this.
Chattanooga & Fresno Data Arrives Today
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays Change this Summer
America's Got Talent's premiere expands to 2 hours on 6/23, and in August, the two hours move later by an hour.
L&O plus L&O:SVU fill the first hour of prime on Wednesday later in the summer, replacing Great American Road Trip which moves to the first hour of Tuesdays, causing the elimination of five previously scheduled specials.
Mountain and Pacific clients get Dateline this Wednesday at 8/7p, while Eastern & Central get the live POTUS news conference at that time.
If you are my client, all of these changes are already in your MediaOffice inventory.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Leno: Back On Monday Night
With Leno Ailing, ‘Tonight’ Is Canceled Again
By Bill Carter of NY Times
NBC canceled a second “Tonight Show” Friday because of the illness of Jay Leno, but the network said the show’s host was feeling better and would return on Monday. It said he probably had a stomach virus.
Mr. Leno told staff members when he arrived at his office Thursday that he was not feeling well. After some conversation with producers he decided to go to a hospital, and NBC showed a repeat on Thursday night.
Except for scheduled time off, Mr. Leno, famous for his work ethic, had never before missed a “Tonight Show” in his 17 years as host. The only other time he did not appear during a week when the show was in production was one day when he exchanged roles with Katie Couric, who was then a “Today” show host. She replaced him on “Tonight” after he replaced her that morning on “Today.”
For NBC, Mr. Leno’s health is more important than ever because he will start a new show in prime time five nights a week this fall. Mr. Leno was expected to return home from the hospital Friday afternoon.
Yes, More Summer Changes
Great American Road Trip switches days...
Wednesday Law & Orders switched around....
and more
The update begins now.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Another Press Conference 4/29
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
NBC Saturday Changes Again - March Data Appears
Kings postponed till mid-June, while Southland fits in the middle of L&O family reruns.
Want the details? Check your MediaOffice inventory this afternoon. No, you aren't confused.. this is the THIRD change NBC has made to Spring and Summer Saturdays in the past 4 business days.
March data has arrived today for Fort Wayne.. you'll be updated today, too.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Southland Encores Added to Saturdays
Thursday, April 16, 2009
If you sell NBC Programs, here's great news!
grace: Everything else
http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Dayparts_update_51/NBC_s_saving_grace_Everything_else.asp
Its ratings have certainly tumbled in primetime
By Toni Fitzgerald
Apr 16, 2009
NBC has seen its fortunes fall in primetime over the past five years, going from the No. 1 network to the No. 4. But in essentially every other daypart, it remains dominant.
During first quarter, NBC programs were No. 1 in late night, evening news, mornings and Sunday mornings, many of them by a large margin.
That’s all the more impressive considering NBC’s low ratings in primetime. It means that viewers are consciously switching over to NBC programming after tuning into other networks during primetime, where CBS dominates among total viewers and Fox among adults 18-49.
In several dayparts, NBC’s lead is even growing, due either to increases in its viewership or decreases for the competition.
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” upped its percentage lead over CBS’s “The Late Show with David Letterman” from 27 percent during first quarter 2008 to 39 percent in first quarter 2009, with an average 1.4 rating to the latter’s 1.1. That was due to ratings shrinkage for “Late Show” rather than “Tonight” growth.
NBC’s “Today” had its biggest first-quarter advantage over ABC’s “Good Morning America” since 2004, averaging a 4.4 household rating to the latter’s 3.5. “GMA” has seen its viewership dip this year.
On Sunday mornings, NBC’s “Meet the Press” maintained its dominance despite breaking in a new moderator, David Gregory, who had his first full quarter with the show following last summer’s death of Tim Russert.
“Press” averaged 4.15 million viewers, 25 percent more than second-place “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” despite the latter registering its best first quarter in a decade.
Finally, NBC’s “Nightly News” remained ahead in first quarter thanks to year-to-year viewership gains.
What’s remarkable about NBC’s daypart supremacy is that the network has not lost any ground since its primetime lineup began slipping. Fewer primetime viewers means less chance to promote its other properties, such as a big Matt Lauer interview on “Today” or a special episode of “Tonight Show.”
Yet while the network’s primetime has lost its must-see status, its dayparts supremacy hasn’t been threatened. “Press,” “Today” and “Tonight” have all won at least 46 straight quarters.
The network could be getting a boost from cross-promotion on its cable news networks, which are having strong years. MSNBC just finished ahead of CNN in primetime for the first time last month, and CNBC has seen ratings gains from the economic meltdown.
pah note: Please follow the link listed above for some great ratings info about the current strength of NBC programming.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
LA Times: NBC Thursday Prime
Is NBC's long ratings slump over?
Over the last few years, the network has become nearly as well known for its management miscues and skimpy ratings as for its programming lineup. But in recent days a bit of life has stirred in the old peacock.
The latest evidence comes in the form of its new Amy Poehler sitcom, "Parks & Recreation," and "Southland," the Los Angeles police drama from "ER" producer John Wells. Both series premiered Thursday to surprisingly strong numbers.
Overall, "Parks & Recreation" picked up a relatively modest 6.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. But on the strength of Poehler's popularity from "Saturday Night Live," the premiere proved popular with the all-important younger viewers sought by advertisers, hanging on to a healthy 88% of the young-adult audience from "The Office," which is NBC's No. 2 show overall.
As for "Southland," the premiere beat CBS' heavily promoted (but poorly reviewed) horror/mystery "Harper's Island" among adults 18 to 49, with a 3.2 rating versus a 2.6. And the race was closer than expected in total viewership, with "Southland's" 9.9 million nearly matching the 10.2 million for "Harper's Island."
Both shows would likely have fared worse had ABC not aired a repeat of "Private Practice" in the 10 p.m. hour, but NBC nevertheless enjoyed one of its most encouraging starts for a dramatic series in quite some time.
Does all this mean rivals should start looking over their shoulders? Not exactly.
There's no guarantee that the new series won't suffer the same destiny as, say, the ill-fated fantasy "Heroes" -- a fast start followed by a swift swoon. The network's only top 10 entry is "Sunday Night Football," which doesn't even air during the second half of the season.
Indeed, NBC still has a long way to go before any sort of recovery could be declared. For the season to date, the network ranks No. 4 in total viewers (8 million average per night) and is tied with ABC for No. 3 among viewers 18 to 49.
Still unknown, meanwhile, is the impact of NBC's controversial decision to put a new Leno talk show at 10 p.m. weeknights next season, which eliminates a key showcase time period for dramas like "Southland."
Yet, for the first time in years, long-term trends are beginning to smile on NBC. The ratings hemorrhage seems to have been halted, at least for now; NBC's numbers among young adults are flat compared with last season, while ABC and Fox are down. CBS is up 7%.
NBC's prime-time audience is getting slightly younger -- to a median age of 47.2 this year from last season's 48 -- while all of its rivals' audiences have gotten older. That's an important metric for youth-obsessed marketers.
Perhaps the best news: Fox's "American Idol," which has decimated midweek competition for years, continues to decline, down 9% to 27 million viewers on Tuesdays this season. That creates opportunities for NBC as well as its rivals.
The message? NBC is nowhere near its glory days of the 1980s and 1990s. But Leno might want to use up those jokes about his employer's problems while he still can.
scott.collins@latimes.com
NBC Summer Weekends Change Again
When I was a little kid in the 1950s, my parents would give me a slide puzzle on long road trips to keep me busy. With 24 tiles in a 5 by 5 grid, you had to move the same pieces around to put them in a different order.
50 years later, and NBC gives me programming instead of tiles.
Clients will begin to see changes today.. this will likely take until Thursday to complete. NFL teams will be added a bit more slowly due to this surprise announcement.
Are we there yet?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Upon Further Consideration.. Leno In Boston
NBC Station Backs Down From Resistance to Leno Show
The duel in Boston between NBC and its affiliated station there, WHDH, over the future of Jay Leno’s new prime-time program ended without economic bloodshed Monday, less than two weeks after it started.
Mr. Leno’s show will be on WHDH starting in September, and the station will remain an NBC affiliate. That resolved a conflict that began on April 2 when WHDH’s general manager, Ed Ansin, announced that the station had decided to block the new Leno show, set for 10 p.m. each weeknight, and intended to replace it with an hour-long local newscast.
Mr. Ansin had said in an interview that the station did not think Mr. Leno’s new show would be “effective in prime time” and would be detrimental to the station’s 11 p.m. newscast. NBC reacted swiftly and ferociously, threatening that the network would replace WHDH as a network affiliate — a move likely to seriously undermine the station’s asset value.
On Monday, both sides issued conciliatory statements. Mr. Ansin, sounding a bit like an N.F.L. replay official, said, “Upon further consideration we have decided to telecast Jay Leno at 10 p.m. starting in September.” He added, “Jay is from Andover where I went to school. I enjoy his humor.”
NBC issued a statement attributed to John Eck, the president of the NBC TV network: “We are very pleased that WHDH will carry Jay Leno’s new prime-time comedy show at 10 p.m. this fall on NBC. We look forward to working closely with the station on a successful launch in Boston of this show.”
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday Night Spin
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. April 10, 2009 The series debuts last night of "Southland" and "Parks and Recreation" joined forces with NBC's established Thursday comedy hits "The Office" and "30 Rock" to propel the network to a tie for #1 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49 and an outright win in adults, men and women 18-34, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
Last night from 10-11 p.m. ET, the series debut of "Southland" (3.2 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and nearly every key demographic, topping the series debut of CBS's "Harper's Island" and ABC's "Private Practice" encore. The "Southland" margin of victory was 19 percent in adults 18-49 (3.2 vs. 2.7 for "Harper's Island") and 63 percent in adults 18-34 (2.6 vs. 1.6 for "Harper's"), pending updates.
"Southland" increased from half-hour to half-hour by 6 percent in both 18-49 rating (to a 3.3/10 from a 3.1/9) and in total viewers (to 10.0 million from 9.4 million), while the drama competition on CBS and ABC declined in both categories.
"Southland" is the first launch of a 10 p.m. network drama to build in 18-49 rating from the 10 p.m. half-hour to the 10:30 half-hour in more than four years (since NBC's "Medium" on January 3, 2005).
NBC's primetime kicked off at 8 p.m. ET with a special telecast of "The Office" (3.3/6 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall), which, pending updates, ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos in this highly competitive time period ahead of CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "Bones" and ABC's "In the Motherhood." "The Office" matched last week's "ER Retrospective" in delivering NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period this season.
At 8:30 p.m. ET, the series debut of "Parks and Recreation" (3.0/11 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) won its highly competitive time period in adults, men and women 18-34. In adults 18-49, "Parks and Recreation" retained 91 percent of its lead-in from "The Office" special, and topped NBC's season-to-date average for this time period by 36 percent (3.0 vs. 2.2, "live plus same day").
At 9 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.9/11 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures, topping CBS's "CSI," Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" and a rebroadcast of "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC. "The Office" at 9 p.m. was the #1 telecast of the night on any network in adults 18-49.
At 9:30 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) won its competitive half-hour in adults, men and women 18-34 and finished within 2 shares of the slot lead in adults 18-49.
NBC is currently tied for #1 for the night in adults 18-49, pending updates, and is #1 outright in men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34.
NBC Upfront Includes Comedy for VIPs in NYC
Late night hosts to headline May 19 event for advertisers
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/9/2009 8:00:00 PM MT
NBC will keep an upfront week presence yet again, but don’t book your tickets to Radio City Music Hall just yet.
Instead, this year the network will host the “NBC Comedy Showcase,” a night of stand-up acts and taped pieces for advertisers and VIP guests. The event will take place Tuesday night, May 19, at The Town Hall in New York.
Expected to perform are current (and soon to be former) late night hosts Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon.
Cast members from The Office and 30 Rock will contribute taped comedy pieces, while The Office’s Rainn Wilson and Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers will appear in person. Jimmy Fallon’s house band, The Roots, is also expected to perform.
While the network will continue its presence during upfront week in New York with the comedy showcase that won’t feature clips of new shows in typical upfront fashion, it hopes to have done a good chunk of its upfront business by that point.
NBC flew down talent and met with advertisers at this year’s Super Bowl in Florida, in something it called “SuperFronts.” Then at the end of March, network execs Angela Bromstad and Paul Telegdy travelled to meet with advertisers in New York and Chicago.
Next up is meetings with advertisers for Bromstad, Telegdy, Ben Silverman and other execs in New York (May 4 and 5), Chicago (May 7) and Los Angeles (May 12), during which NBC brass will show clips of pilots and talk specifics for next season.
Last year, NBC dumped the traditional Radio City Music Hall song and dance in favor of an “NBC Experience” interactive presentation and party.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Sunday Mini-Series Pushed Back Into Summer
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. - April 9, 2009 - NBC has re-scheduled the broadcast dates for two original, four-hour summer miniseries as "Meteor" now will be telecast on Sunday, July 12 and Sunday, July 19 (9-11 p.m. ET both nights), while "The Storm" will now air on Sunday, July 26 and Sunday, August 2 (9-11 p.m. ET both nights).
"Meteor" -- which was previously scheduled to be telecast on Sundays, June 7 and 14 (9-11 p.m. ET) - is a new suspenseful four-hour miniseries. In the story, Dr. Lehman (Emmy Award winner Christopher Lloyd, "Back to the Future") and Imogene O'Neil (Marla Sokoloff, "The Practice") are two scientists who discover that the giant meteor Kassandra has been knocked out of its orbit and is now barreling straight for Earth.
"The Storm" - which previously was set for broadcast on Sundays, July 19 and 26 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- is an epic miniseries event where the changeable forces of nature combine -- in the air, on land, in the seas as the world counts down its final, catastrophic hours. Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Treat Williams ("Everwood") and James Van Der Beek ("Dawson's Creek") star in this ultimate tale of man against nature.
NBC's Bromstad To Rebuild Primetime
Troubled NBC calls on exec Angela Bromstad to revive prime time
The network passed over Bromstad two years ago. Now it's counting on her to find hits, starting tonight.
By Meg James
April 9, 2009
Angela Bromstad is NBC's survivor.
Two years ago, Bromstad, then president of NBC's television production studio, made what was seen as a suicidal career move. After losing a power struggle over control of the network's programming, she walked away from her job.
Fast-forward to last November. NBC's fall prime-time schedule had collapsed, Bromstad's nemesis at the network was long gone, another rival was about to be shown the door, and NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker desperately needed to restore order to NBC after two tumultuous seasons with Ben Silverman in charge.
In a twist worthy of a TV movie, Zucker, who had sent Bromstad to London in 2007 to ramp up international production operations, called his loyal lieutenant back to Los Angeles and handed her the job she had wanted two years earlier. In January, she became NBC's chief programmer of dramas and comedies -- the fourth executive to hold the post in 19 months.
Bromstad parachuted in during television's busiest time of the year -- pilot season -- when network executives pick new comedies and dramas for the coming fall schedule. Days after arriving, she ordered 11 pilots. "I didn't have a lot of time to sit around and ponder things," she said.
Only a few weeks earlier NBC had laid off dozens of veteran program executives in a restructuring that combined the network and production studio program development teams into one unit, which Bromstad, 47, now manages.
The pressure is on to revive the fourth-place network as it heads into the all-important advertising selling season. Bromstad's first big test comes tonight, when NBC premieres two new programs: "Parks and Recreation," a sitcom that borrows a page from "The Office" and stars "Saturday Night Live" alum Amy Poehler; and "Southland," a gritty police drama about L.A.
One of Bromstad's early calls was to put "Southland" in the marquee 10 p.m. Thursday slot, and shuffle to Sunday night the lavish drama "Kings," starring Ian McShane. "Kings," which costs about $3 million an episode to produce, had been championed by Bromstad's predecessors. But Bromstad had doubts that a drama about a modern-day king who struggles with moral dilemmas and family conflicts would work on network television.
"The objective now is to broaden the network out, to give it a wider appeal," she said.
NBC hasn't fielded a breakout hit since "Heroes" in 2006, and that once-hot drama is cooling. The network's two quirky sitcoms, "The Office" and "30 Rock," have won critical acclaim but not enough viewers to satisfy advertisers.
And in its biggest gamble, NBC is transplanting late-night talk show king Jay Leno to 10 p.m. Bromstad said she initially was unsure about the Leno move because NBC had long used that time slot to showcase its best dramas.
Bromstad said she was now comfortable with Leno in prime time because the show would provide an alternative to the typical dramas and local newscasts that dominate the hour on other channels. It also reduces her burden of developing new shows because the network has five fewer hours per week of prime time to fill.
There is no shortage of problems for Bromstad and her peers in the television industry.
"She inherited a tough situation," said producer Dick Wolf, creator of the "Law & Order" franchise, which has helped NBC weather the hard times. "The TV business is going through enormous upheaval, and NBC obviously hasn't been immune from those problems." He said Bromstad was "not a screamer" but a "professional . . . who leaves people alone so they can do their jobs."
Since returning to Los Angeles, Bromstad has kept a low profile. Her style is more reserved than that of her attention-grabbing predecessors, including Silverman, who remains co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, or even Zucker, who ran NBC Entertainment several years ago.
"I have always tried to fly a bit below the radar," she said. "I am a bit superstitious about it. The higher your profile the more of a target you sometimes become."
That might be a lesson that NBC and Silverman learned the hard way. The network, and Silverman, refuse to say whether Silverman is staying on beyond mid-June when his two-year contract expires. People close to the situation say they believe Silverman has negotiated a one-year extension.
NBC executives privately concede that the last couple of years have been a programming disaster. The writers strike interrupted one development season, and Silverman, despite being a successful TV producer, did not demonstrate the skills needed to manage a network. Nor did any of the shows he developed score with audiences. This season's "My Own Worst Enemy," "Crusoe" and "Knight Rider" were prime-time car wrecks.
For his part, Silverman said he welcomed the changes.
Bromstad "is a creative development executive and I'm a creative business executive. It's a much different skill set," Silverman said. "Her job is running scripted programming and my job is a thousand different things. She's awesome."
It will be up to Bromstad to inject stability into NBC's programming department, which in recent years has produced a more compelling drama in its management suites than for the TV screen.
Two executives lost their jobs in part to clear the path for Bromstad's return: Katherine Pope, a rival to Bromstad who had been running NBC's television studio, and Teri Weinberg, Silverman's No. 2. Weinberg, who had been in charge of program development, received a lucrative two-year producing deal at NBC.
Also on Bromstad's to-do list is the task of regaining the trust of Hollywood agents and producers who have been alienated by NBC's puzzling proclamations, such as when Silverman said he was "managing for margins," not chasing shows that would generate big ratings.
Jason Katims, executive producer of "Friday Night Lights," said he bonded with Bromstad several years ago when she expressed confidence in his vision for the show. Then last fall Katims was drafted to spearhead an adaptation of the 1989 movie "Parenthood" as a family-oriented dramedy for NBC.
Some network executives would flyspeck a script with notes about plot, character and dialogue to exert control. But Bromstad demonstrated her tendency to stay out of a producer's way. According to Katims, she sent back just one note on his outline: "When can you have a draft of the script?"
Since then, Bromstad has worked closely with Katims to develop the characters for "Parenthood." He said she took a special interest in the stay-at-home dad character, making sure the story lines dealt with his inner conflict.
"She has a way of distilling these characters in a way that makes them feel real," he said.
Katims said he appreciated Bromstad's collaborative style. "She doesn't go out of her way to take on that persona, that she's the big head of the network. She seems comfortable in her own skin."
Bromstad said she was feeling at ease too.
"It feels great to be home," she said. "It helped to get away from Hollywood politics. It's good to be realistic about the issues that we are facing, but I'm not worn out."
meg.james@latimes.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Meet ODI Research @ NAB in Las Vegas
Just email me at paul at onedomain dot com.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
NBC Shaves Ice.. Hockey
Kings Dethroned; Moved to Saturdays Mid-April
Remaining eight episodes to air Saturdays starting April 18
"Kings"
NBC is pulling "Kings" from Sunday nights, yanking the struggling allegorical drama effective this week.
Kings will be replaced with a second hour of "Dateline," which will now run for two hours starting at 7 p.m.
Sunday's "Kings" received a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49, while "Dateline" had a 1.5 in its half-hour leading into the drama. The thinking is that "Dateline" will provide a better lead-in for 9 p.m.'s "Celebrity Apprentice," which has seen some audience erosion in recent weeks that might be attributed to "Kings."
The remaining eight episodes of "Kings" will air on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. starting April 18.
RDRx Note:
Changes have been made to client inventories for Law & Order:CI, Dateline and Kings through June 2009.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Great News About Local TV News from Magid
April 5, 2009
-By Katy Bachman of MediaWeek.com
When times are tough, people turn more often to local TV for news. According to a new study by Frank N. Magid Associates for Hearst-Argyle Television, 99 percent of respondents said they are turning to local TV news at least as much as or more frequently than in the past due to the troubled economy.
Conducted over two weeks in February, the study surveyed 2,500 TV news viewers in Hearst-Argyle's 24 TV markets including Boston, Baltimore, Orlando, Cincinnati, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.
Sixteen percent said they are following local TV news "more." The only medium surpassing local TV was the Internet, cited by 17 percent of respondents. Newspapers, radio and print magazines trailed at 10 percent, 9 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
Commercials airing on local TV news engage consumers more than other traditional media. When asked which types of ads respondents pay more attention to, 57 percent cited local TV versus 43 percent for magazines; 64 percent versus 36 percent for newspapers, 72 percent versus 28 percent for radio, 81 percent versus 19 percent for yellow pages, and 55 percent versus 45 percent for direct mail. Respondents also found local TV ads more engaging than all forms of online ads, on average 85 percent for local TV versus 15 percent for online ads.
Local news also got the highest scores compared to other media for creating "buzz," having memorable ads, and the medium was on par with print magazines for trustworthiness and recall. Local news was also on par with print newspapers as the most important source of community information.
Although the audience to early morning news is growing, 62 percent said that late news is the daypart during which they typically watch local news; 58 percent cited early news (between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.) as the favored daypart; and 49 percent cited the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Only 11 percent named midday news (between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.).
Friday, April 3, 2009
ER Goes Out With A Bang
Released by NBC
'ER' TAKES ITS FINAL BOW WITH THE BIGGEST VIEWERSHIP FOR ANY TV DRAMA SERIES FINALE IN NEARLY 13 YEARS
LAST NIGHT'S 'ER' FINALE, WITH AN AVERAGE 16.2 MILLION VIEWERS, ATTRACTS THE LARGEST VIEWERSHIP FOR THE FINAL EPIOSDE OF ANY DRAMA SERIES SINCE 'MURDER, SHE WROTE' IN 1996
AMONG ADULTS 18-49, THE 'ER' FINALE SCORES THE TOP RATING FOR ANY DRAMA SERIES FINALE SINCE 'THE X-FILES' IN 2002
'ER' DOMINATES ITS TWO-HOUR TIME PERIOD, WINNING IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY CATEGORIES, PACING NBC TO ITS BIGGEST NON-SPORTS THURSDAY SINCE MAY 2006
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. April 3, 2009 Last night, the series finale of "ER" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for a drama series finale on the broadcast networks in nearly seven years and the biggest overall audience for any drama series finale in 13 years, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the series finale of "ER" (6.0 rating, 16 share in adults 18-49, 16.2 million viewers overall) scored the highest 18-49 rating for a drama series finale since "The X-Files" wrapped with a 6.3 on May 19, 2002. In total viewers, "ER," with an average 16.2 million viewers, assembled the biggest overall audience for a drama series finale since "Murder, She Wrote" concluded with 16.5 million on May 19, 1996.
"ER," which made its original series dbut on NBC on Thursday, Sept. 22, 1994, following a two-hour movie on Monday, Sept., 19, 1994, concluded its 15th and final season with last night's telecast.
"ER" sewed up NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in this time period with entertainment programming since May 18, 2006, the night of the "Will & Grace" finale. This is the highest-rated episode of "ER" among adults 18-49 since October 12, 2006 and in total viewers since May 18, 2006. Versus "ER's" season-to-date average for original episodes, last night's telecast was up 88 percent in both adults 18-49 and total viewers (6.0 vs. 3.2 and 16.2 million vs. 8.6 million, "live plus same day').
"ER" took charge of the two-hour time period, dominating in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key ratings categories. In adults 18-49, "ER" generated a 94 percent margin of victory (6.0 vs. 3.1 for CBS's dramas in second place, pending updates). In the 10-11 p.m. hour, "ER" beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined in all key ratings categories adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers.
Last night from 8-9 p.m. ET, the special "ER Retrospective" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's best non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since January 3, 2008 and biggest non-sports total viewership in the slot since March 27, 2008. The retrospective ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34, women 18-34, women 18-49 and women 25-54.
NBC's average 14.3 million viewers from 8-11 p.m. last night marks the network's best Thursday primetime performance in total viewers, excluding sports, since May 18, 2006 (the night of the "Will & Grace" finale). The network's 5.2 average among adults 18-49 from 8-11 p.m. matches the network's best non-sports primetime performance since that same date.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NBC Announces NFL PreSeason & KickOff Dates/Teams
Released by NBC
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.] Wow, FutonCritic is really paranoid!
Bears at Broncos on Aug 30 in Other "NBC Sunday Night Football" Preseason Matchup
NEW YORK March 30, 2009 "NBC Sunday Night Football" kicks off the 2009 NFL preseason with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, Aug. 9 as Terrell Owens makes his debut with the Buffalo Bills as they take on the Tennessee Titans who had an NFL-best 13-3 record last season. The preseason national television schedule was announced by the NFL today.
The other "NBC Sunday Night Football" preseason tilt announced today has the Denver Broncos hosting the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Aug. 30. Coverage for both games begins at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
The NFL announced last week that that the Pittsburgh Steelers will open defense of their Super Bowl championship, Thursday, September 10 on NBC, hosting the AFC South champion Titans. In the first "NBC Sunday Night Football" contest of the season, the Green Bay Packers will host their longtime rival the Chicago Bears (on Sept 13th).
In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. The first Sunday night primetime game on NBC will feature a division matchup between teams that have won seven of the past eight NFC North titles. The rest of the 2009 regular-season schedule will be completed and announced in April.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Law & Order Franchise Saves Wednesday This Summer
All of my clients were updated over the weekend, with the exception of one client whose server has been unreachable, but the guys in Bham are working on that now.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Chopping Chopped: L&O To The Rescue
Monday, March 23, 2009
Newscasts In Jeopardy from Leno Lead-In?
Concerns remain about 10 p.m. talk show as late news lead-in
By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/23/2009
Hoping for unprecedented input into Jay Leno's fall primetime program, the NBC affiliates board has launched an exhaustive research study designed to keep local newscasts from suffering due to the network's decision to move Leno to 10 p.m. A committee that includes Scripps TV Senior VP Brian Lawlor and Post-Newsweek Stations President/CEO Alan Frank is awaiting results of the survey.
“NBC has promised the affiliates' input into the structure of the show, and we believe this research will help us represent the key drivers that will best flow a Jay Leno viewer into affiliates' local late news,” Lawlor says.
Of course, how much Leno and NBC will listen is up in the air. An NBC network spokesperson declined to comment.
Affiliates were split on the idea of Leno taking over the 10 p.m. slot when it was announced in December, many fearing it will never be a ratings smash in a time slot vital for serving up viewers to local late news.
So the study was put forth, including one question asking viewers how 13 elements of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno figure in their decision to tune in. The parts include Leno's monologue, celebrity guests and “Jaywalking.” Another one asks viewers if watching local news plays a part in their decision to tune in to The Tonight Show.
The survey will conclude in the coming weeks. “Once we get our arms around the research, we'll sit down with NBC and figure out what we both want to see and what decisions will be made,” Lawlor says.
The affiliates board is adamant about addressing The Tonight Show's tendency to lose viewers toward the end, which will be partially mitigated with Leno on 95 minutes earlier in the fall. One survey question zeroes in on how long viewers watch Tonight, offering 11 different points for tuning out. Respondents are asked if they stick around through the first or second guest, whether they watch through Jay's “Headlines,” whether they watch until the end, or even stay on for Late Night With Conan O'Brien after Jay.
Affiliates board chairman Michael Fiorile says the study will help reveal what the ideal length of Leno's monologue would be, what time the monologue should air and how the program's breaks should be structured.
The affiliates board meets April 21 in Las Vegas, and the NBC affiliates themselves meet May 19 in New York. The affiliates have frequently clashed with the network in the past, primarily about NBC's inability to jump-start its primetime offerings.
But they were pleased to hear that their board would have a say in the Leno show's architecture. Board members say NBC is in the loop on the research project, and that network-affiliate relations have been constructive.
“NBC has been very receptive,” Fiorile says. “They're giving us a say, and they've been very open to our participation.”
Friday, March 20, 2009
AOL's TV Squad Says Zucker Must Go
http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/03/20/nbcs-jeff-zucker-has-given-up/
Did you hear this one, folks? NBC is throwing in the towel. The boss of bosses, NBC Universal CEO, the head honcho himself, Jeff Zucker, was at an industry event recently and declared, "I don't think we'll ever be able to say, 'NBC is number one in prime time.'"
Okay, there it is. The man has given up. He's basically admitting that his product is inferior and he doesn't think he'll ever catch up with his competitors. So, as a TV viewer, I have to wonder why I should invest in anything Zucker churns out at NBC if he doesn't believe that he's ever going to be number one again?
Think about it, would you want to eat dinner at a restaurant where the chef thinks he's never going to be the best in the business? If you were looking for fill the top spot at a network, is this the executive you would want in charge?
I've been down on Zucker before. I think the Jay Leno in prime time, five nights a week, is a mistake and I don't like the idea of NBC abdicating the 10 o'clock hour to the other networks. I don't care that this was an idea floated in the 1980's with Johnny Carson. It was a dumb idea then and it's a dumb idea now. If it turns out to be a success, I'll eat my mouse, okay?
But here's the thing about Zucker; he's a defeatist. Why isn't he fighting to make NBC the number one network again? I get all the new media/new business model malarky that he extols. The days of big ratings might be in the past, but how does he explain Fox's American Idol or CBS's success with all the CSIs? These shows are not apparitions. NBC could bounce back to the top. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but not when you have a CEO who is running up a white flag of surrender.
Here's my suggestion for NBC Universal: offer Jeff Zucker early retirement. Send him away. Get someone who has the fire and desire to get NBC back to number one, someone who has the vision to develop the TV shows and program them with an eye to long-term success. Zucker's had more than enough chances and while there was a time when NBC could at least claim victory in demographics and the bottom line, these days the network is just looking sad.
I want NBC back. I want the next Seinfeld or Cosby or ER or Heroes (like it was in season one), but it's not going to happen with Jeff -- "we'll never be number one again" -- Zucker at the helm!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
President moves Biggest Loser on 3/24
L&O:SVU is placed on hiatus, and for Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, Dateline is added in the first hour of prime.
Monday, March 16, 2009
NBC Fall Season To Be Announced May 4th
But advertiser presentations won't be as early as last year
By Nellie Andreeva
NBC is still staying "infront" of the broadcast networks with its upfront presentation, just not as much as last year.
The Peacock is set to present its fall plans to advertisers May 4-5 in New York, followed by presentations May 7 in Chicago and May 12 in Los Angeles.
The first meeting will be two weeks before the official May 18-21 broadcast upfront week but more than a month later than NBC's first "infront" presentations last year, held April 2.
The pushback was a result of requests from advertisers who wanted to see more footage from NBC's new series.
Like last year, NBC's "infront" will be a no-frills presentation held at the network's 30 Rock headquarters, in which scripted and unscripted heads Angela Bromstad and Paul Telegdy, respectively, will lay out the network's plans for next season.
NBC kicked off its pre-upfront meetings with advertisers with "superfront," an event held during the Super Bowl weekend in Orlando, where clients invited for the NBC-carried game were given first glimpse of the net's development. The superfront was followed by one-on-one sitdowns with advertisers by Bromstad and Telegdy. Once again, advertisers were involved in the development of new series, even more than last year.
By going first, NBC hopes to get dibs on what is expected to be a contracted upfront market this year as a result of the sluggish economy. The network hasn't decided yet if it will have a presence during the traditional upfront week.
Fox will kick off upfront week May 18, followed by ABC (May 19), CBS (May 20) and the CW (May 21). Also presenting during the broadcast week are cablers ESPN and Turner Broadcasting.
What NBC Isn't Running This Summer
NBC WIPES ITS REALITY SLATE CLEAN
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- While NBC will offer up six original series this summer, just as many won't be back.
On the heels of its schedule announcement yesterday, Peacock insiders have confirmed "Last Comic Standing" and "Nashville Star" - two veteran franchises absent from said lineup - indeed won't be back.
Also officially getting the boot: "Celebrity Circus," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Fear Itself," "The Baby Borrowers" and "American Gladiators." And while repeats of "Most Outrageous Moments" will turn up a few times in the coming months (May 19, July 21, July 28, August 26 and August 28), original episodes will no longer be produced.
2008-09 season entries "America's Toughest Jobs" and "Momma's Boys" likewise won't be getting second seasons.
And it's even worse news for "Jobs" executive producers Thom Beers, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun: the two other series ordered as part of their much-ballyhooed 30-episode deal with the network won't be turning up on the Peacock at all.
The projects in development for said slots - "Salvage," "Shark Taggers," "Swords: Lives on the Line" and late entry "Tornado Road" - however are expected to turn up on cable, where Beers has found success with such series as History's "Ice Road Truckers" and Discovery's "Deadliest Catch."
The only reality efforts surviving the aforementioned bloodbath: "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," both of which are likely due sometime next season.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
NBC Prime & Specials Totally Updated Everywhere
Take a look at schedules you've previously booked for clients this summer... it's time to rebook using these new programs and the selling book estimates I've provided you.
It's been a long weekend.. this has been the single largest NBC Prime and Specials update I've seen in 10 years.
Happy Selling!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
More than 58 different Prime/Specials changes coming
NBC Announces Summer Programming
[03.12.09 - 12:10 PM]
NBC'S SUMMER SCHEDULE PACKED WITH ORIGINAL SCRIPTED SERIES ('THE PHILANTHROPIST,''THE LISTENER' AND 'MERLIN') AND ALTERNATIVE SHOWS PACED BY DEBUTS OF NEW 'I'M A CELEBRITY...GET ME OUT OF HERE!' AND 'GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP' -- PLUS RETURN OF TOP-RATED 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT'
"I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" to Be Stripped Over Four Weeks Beginning June 1
Season Finales of "Medium," "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" - Along with Debut of "The Listener" -- Provide Momentum at 10 p.m. in Inaugural Week for "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" Beginning on June 1
Network Also Offers Eventful New Miniseries "Meteor" (June 7 and 14) and "The Storm" (July 19 and 26); "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" Episodes from USA Network Join NBC Lineup June 8
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. - March 12, 2009 - NBC will serve up a sizzling menu of new and returning summer series -- accented by all-new original scripted programming with the series premieres of "The Philanthropist," "Merlin" and "The Listener" - and paced by the new alternative series "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" and "Great American Road Trip" plus the return of summer's top-rated "America's Got Talent."
In a bold scheduling move, "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!," based on the international hit from Granada America, will debut as a two-hour television event on Monday, June 1 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will be stripped over four weeks in June.
NBC's season finales of "Medium," Law & Order: SVU" and "Law & Order" and the premiere of "The Listener" will provide additional primetime momentum at 10 p.m. for the inaugural week of Conan O'Brien beginning Monday, June 1 (11:35 p.m. - 12:35 a.m. ET).
NBC's eventful summer will also include the action-packed original miniseries "Meteor" and "The Storm." In addition, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" episodes from USA Network will join the NBC lineup.
The announcements were made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
"This summer will feature more original scripted programming than ever before, along with our #1 hit 'America's Got Talent' and two new buzz-worthy reality shows," said Silverman. "In addition, we'll give Conan the best launch possible during his premiere week by slotting the season finales of some of our best dramas at 10 p.m."
"I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" will air Monday through Thursdays for the first three weeks beginning June 1 (8-9 p.m. ET) and during the fourth week of June, the series will be telecast Monday through Wednesday (8-9 p.m. ET) with the finale on Wednesday, June 24 (8-9 p.m. ET).
"Great American Road Trip" - newly announced today - will debut on Wednesday, July 1 (8-9 p.m. ET) and will continue for eight weeks.
The popular "America's Got Talent" will kick off its fourth season over two nights on Tuesday, June 23 (9-10 p.m. ET) and Wednesday, June 24 (9-10 p.m. ET). "The Philanthropist" premieres on Wednesday, June 24 (10-11 p.m. ET) while "Merlin" begins on Sunday, June 21 with a two-hour premiere (8-10 p.m. ET). The new drama series will also air from 8-10 p.m. on June 28 before resuming in its normal day and time on Sunday, July 5 (8-9 p.m. ET).
"Medium" will broadcast its season finale Monday, June 1 (10-11 p.m. ET), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will have its season finale on Tuesday, June 2 (10-11 p.m. ET) and "Law & Order" will unveil its season finale on Wednesday, June 3 (10-11 p.m. ET). The new drama "The Listener" will also debut that week on Thursday, June 4 (10-11 p.m. ET).
NBC illuminates the sky this summer with two major miniseries in "The Meteor" on Sunday, June 7 (9-11 p.m. ET) and Sunday, June 14 (9-11 p.m. ET) as well as "The Storm" for broadcast on Sunday, July 19 (9-11 p.m. ET) and Sunday, July 26 (9-11 p.m. ET).
In addition, episodes from the eighth season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (now telecast on USA) will begin on NBC on Monday, June 8 (9-10 p.m. ET)
"Dateline NBC" will begin broadcasts on Mondays (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning June 8.
The annual "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" will take place on July 4 (9-10 p.m. ET).
A summary of NBC's new summer lineup follows (new series capitalized; all times ET):
MONDAY, JUNE 1
"I'M A CELEBRITY...GET ME OUT OF HERE!" -- premiere (8-9 p.m.)
"Medium" season finale (10-11 p.m.)
TUESDAY, JUNE 2
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" -- season finale (10-11 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
"Law & Order" -- season finale (10-11 p.m.)
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
"THE LISTENER" -- premiere (10-11 p.m.)
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 and JUNE 14
"METEOR" -- miniseries (9-11 p.m.)
MONDAY, JUNE 8
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC season premiere; 9-10 p.m.)
"Dateline NBC" (10-11 p.m.)
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
"MERLIN" (premiere 8-10 p.m.; June 28 airs 8-10 p.m.; July 5 resumes regular time 8-9 p.m.)
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 and WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
"AMERICA'S GOT TALENT" (9-10 p.m. both nights)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
"THE PHILANTHROPIST" - premieres (10-11 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
"GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP" -- premieres (8-9 p.m.)
SATURDAY, JULY 4
"MACY'S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR" (9-10 p.m.)
SUNDAY, JULY 19 and SUNDAY, JULY 26
"THE STORM" - miniseries (9-11 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
NBC Sells More Eyeballs Away From Local TV
PlayStation(R)Network's Video Delivery Service Partners With NBC Universal to Offer Lineup of Hit Movies and Television Shows
FOSTER CITY, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., March 10 -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and NBC Universal today announced that movies from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and television programs from NBC Universal will be available for purchase on PlayStation(R)Network, which is accessible for download via PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) systems in the United States. Today's announcement makes PlayStation Network a premiere platform to access content from every major motion picture studio.
New movie download releases, such as the irreverent hit comedy Role Models and the Academy(R) Award-winning movie Milk, will be available beginning today for download to own. Other recently released and library titles from Universal Pictures and Focus Features, such as Wanted, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Death Race, The Incredible Hulk, Burn After Reading, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and The Big Lebowski, will also be offered for download to own in SD (Standard Definition) or to rent in both HD (High Definition) and SD.
An initial lineup of NBC Universal television programs will include popular and hit shows such as NBC's The Office, Heroes and 30 Rock, as well as SCI FI's Battlestar Galactica and Eureka. Episodes will be available for purchase the day after they air in both SD and HD. Previous seasons and additional programs will be added in addition to content from the extensive NBC Universal television library. NBC Universal and PlayStation Network will also be heavily promoting the availability of HD content by launching a joint campaign to create awareness of these hit shows in the highest quality experience.
NBC Universal will provide PlayStation Network users with a variety of attractive ways to purchase and view movies and TV shows, including varying price points depending on the content and format (HD or SD).
"In just over seven months our video delivery service has grown by leaps and bounds, making PlayStation the premier purveyor of online movie and television content for nearly 9 million PlayStation Network registered accounts in the US," said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. "The addition of NBC Universal television content adds to our Network's diversity while Universal Studios Home Entertainment's movies establishes PlayStation Network as a premiere platform to access content from every major motion picture studio. Whether consumers choose to be entertained at home through PS3 or on-the-go with their PSP, PlayStation delivers an unparalleled combination of versatile and rich entertainment hardware, software and online services."
With the addition of NBC Universal, the video delivery service is now home to over 1,300 movies and more than 4,500 TV episodes, many available in both SD and HD, making the PS3 system the ultimate entertainment platform, and the PSP system a leader in portable entertainment. Additionally, PlayStation Network now offers movies in HD from all major motion picture studios and gives PS3 users the largest selection of movies on any gaming platform.
-------------------------------
Important points: PlayStation Network access is free; competitor Xbox Live Gold is at least $30 per year, and it's required to access Netflix on the Xbox360, where NBC also offers HD content.
Personally, I've been watching back episodes of Heroes (there's a surprise) on Netflix Streaming through my Xbox 360 onto my 1080p LCD in my office on weekends, as well as through MyNetflix (when it works) on the Windows 7 Beta MediaCenter I have running in my bedroom.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Rants About Ratings Blog Now Available
Rants About Ratings
Opinions expressed there are entirely my own. Enter at your own risk.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday Nights In May Change
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Third Quarter NBC Sports Specials
I'm more than half way through a complete re-estimation of all NBC sports, so I suggest you take a look at your inventory if you've not peeked recently. If you see my Sports Master Planner saved on your system within the last week or so, your station's update is complete.
Don't know how to look for other users' work? A quick call to 800 246-5757 will solve that.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Whoops! Tiger's out of Accenture
He's likely to return to the Doral in 2 weeks.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tiger Woods Wins Opening Round
SNL Changes THIS Sunday...
So, when you and your traffic department are cursing NBC yet again, think about those DVD royalties NBCU hopes to make.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Tiger Returns to NBC Sports
Now, how do I estimate the return audience for Tiger? Simple. I did my research, and found there was a single PAV from years ago which best duplicated this story. It's not even from NBC.. but my clients can find out what it is by looking at the Logic Flow or Rationale of the two inventory lines.
Some of my clients have noted I've "capped" select, discrete demographics in some heavily anticipated specials and sports; the building blocks Nielsen uses to generate "money" demos. This happens when weighting and indexing takes demographic shares to unreasonable levels (over 100.) If you see one or two demo segments indexed down individually, this is the reason.
The Devil Is In The Details
Biggest Loser finale has been extended to THREE hours.
Second Hour of Wednesday Prime from 4/15 on has been changed from TBA to....
well, if you're a RDRx client, all you have to do is look in Prime. :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Goof-proof Avails?
RDRx inventories have been customized to reflect these sporadic hiatus dates. Within Package, you'll find non-airing weeks have been greyed-out, so you can't place spots by mistake. In the event *I've*made a mistake and you're certain the program will air, simply right-click the greyed-out box and select "UnHiatus Program For This Week."
Friday, February 6, 2009
All set for Monday and Tuesday?
There are now more than 50 different Primetime Specials airing on NBC before June. If you're an RDRx client, you have a list of them all, plus carefully documented audience estimates for all demos within your formerly-ClearView and now MediaOffice system.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
When Do You Think?
When Do You Think Who Do You Think You Are Will Air? Heck.. it's anyone's guess.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Lots of Primetime & Finale Changes Announced by NBC
Then, on Tuesday Feb 24th, Obama will speak to Congress live at 9E, 8C, 7M and 6P, and NBC will shorten Biggest Loser to 1 hour in all time zones.
More than 20 other NBC Prime and Specials changes have also been announced including changes to premiere dates of Chuck, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live. And it wouldn't be spring without "Most Outrageous" and more "Deal or No Deal" filling TBA slots in May.
RDRx clients will see changes reflected in ClearView/MediaOffice inventory on Thursday. You do close and re-open daily, don't you? If you don't, you won't see any of these changes, so make it a daily habit.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Whoops! TBA back in place
While it would be easy to wait for second or third sources to confirm programming changes, my clients have always preferred to get word at first hint; before being caught off-guard with clients or co-workers. And mistakes are quickly corrected.. unless you re-opened ClearView after 5pm EST, you never would have known about the initial change or the reversal.
All is right with the world.. if TBA is "right."
Heroes Winter Premiere Encore... whew!
All RDRx Clients will find this change already made within their inventory and estimates.
Wish your station was a client? Drop me a note at paul (at) onedomain.com and we can make it happen.
Super Bowl Delivers 42.1 HH Rating
SUPER BOWL XLIII ON NBC DRAWS 42.1 OVERNIGHT RATING
"These numbers confirm the power and consistency of the Super Bowl as the top property in all of television." - NBC's Ebersol
TAMPA - Feb. 2, 2009 - Super Bowl XLIII, in which the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 and described by John Madden as a "super Super Bowl" and Al Michaels as "a classic," earned a 42.1 overnight rating and a 65 share on NBC to put it on pace with past Super Bowls. In 18 of the last 20 years, the Super Bowl has delivered an overnight rating of 40.0 or higher.
"Every year, America stands still on Super Sunday and these numbers confirm the power and consistency of the Super Bowl as the top property in all of television," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics. "Many people doubted this match-up, but it's the Super Bowl not the match-up, that draws an enormous audience.
"We are in a great place to be in relation to last year's historic and unimaginable game when an undefeated powerhouse was upset by an underdog from the country's largest media market."
Last year's game in which the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in the game's final seconds, to end the Patriots historic undefeated season earned a 44.7/66, only six percent higher than last night's game.
Over the last 20 years, the average overnight rating for the Super Bowl is 42.5 with the high being 44.7 for Super Bowl XLII and the low a 39.4 for Super Bowl XXIV.
The rating peaked in the 10 p.m. ET half hour when nearly half of America's television homes watched (48.0/70). During the exciting fourth quarter viewers saw the Cardinals go ahead with just over 2 minutes left on a Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald 64-yard touchdown pass followed by QB Ben Roethlisberger driving the Steelers to the game-winning touchdown to Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds to play.
LAST FOUR SUPER BOWL OVERNIGHT RATINGS:
Super Bowl XLIII 42.1/65
Super Bowl XLII 44.7/66
Super Bowl XLI 42.1/62
Super Bowl XL 42.2/62
TOP 25 MARKETS FOR SUPER BOWL XLIII:
1. Pittsburgh 53.6/79
2. Norfolk 52.6/72
3. Jacksonville 50.6/71
4. Buffalo 50.4/68
5. Richmond 49.3/67
6. Tampa 49.2/70
7. Ft. Myers 48.1/68
8. Cleveland 47.7/69
9. Phoenix 47.5/80
10. Indianapolis 47.4/65
11. Nashville 47.2/66
12. Washington D.C. 46.7/70
13. Columbus 46.5/67
14. Orlando 46.4/66
15. Memphis 46.3/63
16. Philadelphia 46.2/65
17. New Orleans 45.7/63
18. Knoxville 45.2/58
19. Baltimore 45.0/63
T20. Denver 44.7/76
T20. Las Vegas 44.7/68
T20. Greensboro 44.7/63
T23. Charlotte 44.6/63
T23. Greenville 44.6/60
25. St. Louis 44.5/69