With two full weeks in for the May Sweep (official ratings for April 26-May 8 and fast national ratings for May 9), here’s an early look at the final major ratings sweep period of the broadcast season, when ratings are measured locally in each of the 214 television markets across the country.
The rank order of the four broadcast networks remains the same: FOX, CBS, ABC and NBC. However, ABC has slipped further behind CBS, while NBC has picked up a little ground thanks to a strong finish from The Voice this week. Next week’s premiere of America’s Got Talent with new judge Howard Stern could have an impact on NBC’s rating but not on its final ranking for the sweep. NBC should remain in fourth place — the only question is if can get within spitting distance of ABC. FOX should hold on to win but it might not get as big a lift in the closing nights of the sweep from the American Idol finale as in years past, keeping CBS a fairly close second place.
MAY SWEEP
Adult 18-49 Rating Live+Same Day
(through 14 of 28 nights)
2012 2011
FOX 2.3 2.8 -19%
CBS 2.2 2.2 – 0%
ABC 2.0 2.3 -14%
NBC 1.6 1.9 -14%
Remember, these averages are based on “Live+Same Day” ratings — the numbers Nielsen releases each morning after a broadcast day. Ratings that include additional DVR viewing several days after broadcast are released much later but are incredibly important to the business of television. See some of the ratings you rarely hear about here.
The May Sweep is an important measurement period because most local TV stations use these ratings for six months to set advertising rates (until the next major sweep in November) — including the rates paid by political candidates in the upcoming election. It is also a very high profile ratings contest because the network performance is scrutinized by advertisers and agencies as the upfront process kicks off in a few weeks to establish advertising rates for next fall’s prime time schedules.
Related Posts
-
THE SKED: CBS
>Thoughts on CBS’s Schedule (and Our Predictions)CBS COMEDIESCBS DRAMASABC ANALYSIS CBS ANALYSIS NBC ANALYSIS FOX ANALYSIS CW ANALYSIS
-
THE SKED: FOX
>THOUGHTS ON THE FOX SCHEDULE (AND OUR PREDICTIONS)FOX COMEDIES FOX DRAMASABC ANALYSIS CBS ANALYSIS NBC ANALYSIS FOX ANALYSIS CW ANALYSIS
-
THE SKED: NBC
>Here’s SHOWBUZZDAILY’S comprehensive guide to the just-announced NBC schedule for 2011/12. Stay tuned for updates as we see the new pilots and give you our take on this Fall’s likely ratings once the competition has weighed in:REACTIONS AND PREDICTIONS FALL COMEDIESFALL DRAMAS MIDSEASON COMEDIESMIDSEASON DRAMASABC ANALYSIS CBS ANALYSIS…
-
THE SKED: ABC
>THOUGHTS ON ABC’S SCHEDULE (AND OUR PREDICTIONS)FALL COMEDIES FALL DRAMASMIDSEASON COMEDIESMIDSEASON DRAMASABC ANALYSIS CBS ANALYSIS NBC ANALYSIS FOX ANALYSIS CW ANALYSIS
-
