> On virtually any network in America, the discovery that a hugely expensive new series–stocked with the highest-caliber talent, preceded by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign–had been watched in its debut by little more than a million people, and that fewer than half a million of those were younger than 50 years old, would be […]

> Not all shows premiere like Smash. ABC:  In recent years, viewers have flocked to horror series from True Blood to The Walking Dead to The Vampire Diaries, and at the multiplex, “found footage” thrillers like Paranormal Activity, The Devil Inside and Chronicle sell tickets like crazy, so… So this is why the entertainment business […]

        NETWORK FINALS:  The ABC and NBC coverage of the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION adjusted up to 0.4 in final numbers (CBS stayed as its preliminary 0.2).          Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart     CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  The arrival of the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION brought the unusual sight of […]

>Not a lot of change in the numbers as early Saturday results are factored in.  Deadline reports THE LION KING at #1 with $22M, MONEYBALL 2d with $21M, and DOLPHIN TALE 3rd with $20M, so any or all of those could shift as fuller counts are completed.  ABDUCTION is reported to have edged up to […]

Weekend #15 of 2016 forecasts for films opening wide and major returning films: NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND April 8-10, 2016 Critics Positive ($ millions) Opening Weekend Forecast Domestic Total Projection Overseas Total Projection Worldwide Total Projection The Boss Uni R 10% 19.5 58 67 125 Hardcore Henry STX R 74% 10.0 36 16 52 Note: […]

  EMPIRE went back to rising. DEMOGRAPHIC DETAIL: For each broadcast program (or hour segment), the chart below displays preliminary key advertiser demographics (adult 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 ratings), audience skews (women 18-49, men 18-49 and adults 50+ shares) and total viewership (thousands of people over the age of 2). Ratings analysis and comparisons follow the […]

  OPENINGS:  THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (Universal) had a strong Saturday bump for a movie aimed at the African-American audience, up 16% from Friday (in comparison, Think Like A Man increased 9% and Tyler Perry’s last 2 movies dropped 16% and 8%). That suggests very positive word of mouth, which may give Best Man unexpected […]

  OPENINGS:  For a year lean on powerhouse franchises and expected to be tough at the box office, Hollywood’s 2020 is off to a heartening start.  Following last week’s strong performance by 1917, this week’s BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (Columbia/Sony) blasted through expectations with a $59.2M 3-day weekend ($68M with the Monday holiday), and with […]