> A lot can happen between the creation of a TV pilot in the spring and production of episodes for the regular season:  a writing/producing team is hired, audience focus groups weigh in, networks and studios (which may have had their own turnover in the off-season) give plenty of notes, both helpful and otherwise, and […]

The ratings below are household ratings from the 56 television markets with local Nielsen meters for Saturday January 23 and Sunday January 24, 2016. The 56 markets (out of 210 total) cover about 70% of the US television population. Click here for sports ratings from the same NFL schedule weekend or the same calendar weekend last year. NFL: […]

> With the television season at Upfronts minus about 6 weeks, Mitch Metcalf, veteran programming executive Ted Frank and I are continuing our survey of the issues each network may and should be thinking about while strategizing its Fall schedule.  Yesterday we covered FOX, and today it’s ABC’s turn under the spotlight. NOTE:  to the […]

> GIRLS doesn’t earn an HBO throne. HBO:  GIRLS received largely rhapsodic reviews, and those are critically important at HBO–if the show’s quality stays strong, it could easily be in line for Best Comedy Emmy consideration–which should ensure that it sticks around.  But on a ratings level, the show was meant to be a demographic […]

> Big Bang makes one. CBS:  THE BIG BANG THEORY roared back from last week’s decline, up half a ratings point for its best number since March, and zooming past American Idol as the highest-rated show of the night.  That pushed RULES OF ENGAGEMENT up a couple of ricks as well.  The rest of the […]

Live programming pays off in this world of countless channels, DVRs and online streaming.  ABC averaged a 2.1 rating with Adults 18-49 from 8-11 pm last night in the preliminary fast nationals on a night devoted to a high-wire stunt, but hit the jackpot (for a Friday night in the summer) at 10 pm with […]

Wherever Justin Bieber’s fans are, they’re not watching network television. NBC:  The first part of a 2-night special that’s oh-so-coincidentally airing the same week as its star’s new release, JUSTIN BIEBER:  ALL AROUND THE WORLD could only get to a 0.9 rating in 18-49s.  It didn’t even skew as young as you might think:  under […]

The ratings below are household ratings from the 56 television markets with local Nielsen meters for Saturday March 26 and Sunday March 27, 2016. The 56 markets (out of 210 total) cover about 70% of the US television population. Click here for sports ratings from the same calendar weekend last year. NBA n/a College Basketball NCAA […]