>With ABC and CBS in repeats in the first night after the February sweep concluded, American Idol rebounded a bit, while NBC had a very quiet opening for the new drama Awake.
Nightly Adult 18-49 Rating
Thursday FOX NBC CBS ABC
03.01.2012 5.3 1.8 2.1 1.1 THIS WEEK
02.23.2012 3.3 1.6 3.3 2.2 LAST WEEK
03.03.2011 9.1 1.4 2.2 1.2 LAST YEAR
NBC premiered Awake at 10 pm with a disappointing 1.9 Adult 18-49 rating. It beat its broadcast competition, but considering ABC and CBS both had repeats, this is a pretty anemic start for the heavily-promoted and well-reviewed series and below the ShowBuzzDaily forecast of a 2.4 rating for the premiere. Awake started with a 2.1 rating from 10:00-10:30 and declined to a 1.8 from 10:30-11:00 pm. Not a horrible drop, but not entirely encouraging. In the 10:00 half hour, Awake beat the Mentalist repeat by four tenths of a rating point (2.1 to 1.7), but in the 10:30 half hour the margin narrowed to one tenth (1.8 to 1.7). The comedies from 8-10 pm did not take advantage of the repeat competition on ABC and CBS, turning in numbers only slightly better than the season lows of recent weeks. Last year on this night NBC averaged a 1.4 rating from 8-11 pm with a marathon of Office repeat episodes: 8:00 (1.2), 8:30 (1.4), 9:00 (1.6), 9:30 (1.7), 10:00 (1.6) and 10:30 (1.3).
Season Past Six WeeksNBC Thu High Low 1.26 2.02 2.09 2.16 2.23 3.01Community 1.8 1.4 30 Rock 1.8 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4* Parks & Rec 2.1 1.7 1.7 1.7 — 1.7 1.7 1.7* The Office 3.9 2.3 — 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.5* Whitney 3.3 1.9 Up All Night 2.0 1.5 1.4R 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.6* Awake 1.9 1.9 1.9* Prime Suspect 1.8 0.8 The Firm 1.0 0.8 1.0 0.8 — — —
American Idol rebounded to a preliminary 5.3 Adult 18-49 rating (probably going up to a 5.4 in the official nationals). Idol started with a 4.5 rating at 8:00 and moved up to a 5.6 at 8:30, slipped to a 5.4 at 9:00 and then peaked at a 5.7 at 9:30 pm. However, Idol continues to run over 40% behind last year’s pace. This night last year: American Idol (9.1) from 8-10 pm; by half hour: 8:00 (7.9), 8:30 (9.2), 9:00 (9.4) and 9:30 (9.8).
Season Past Six Weeks
FOX Thu High Low 1.26 2.02 2.09 2.16 2.23 3.01
X Factor 4.3 2.8
American Idol 5.7 4.5 5.5 5.5 5.8 5.1 4.5 5.3*
Bones 3.3 2.4
The Finder 2.8 1.7 2.8 2.4 2.2 — 2.0
Every CBS show except Rob was a repeat last night, bringing the network’s night to a 2.1 rating from 8-11 pm, down from a 3.3 last week. On the same night last year: Big Bang Theory (2.7), Rules of Engagement (2.8), CSI (1.9) and The Mentalist (1.9).
Season Past Six Weeks
CBS Thu High Low 1.26 2.02 2.09 2.16 2.23 3.01
Big Bang Theory 5.5 4.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.1 5.3 3.2R
Rules Engagment 3.7 2.7
Rob 4.1 2.9 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 2.9 2.6*
Person Interest 3.3 2.6 2.1R 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.1 1.8R
Mentalist 3.0 2.5 1.9R 2.9 3.0 2.7 2.6 1.7R
ABC took NBC’s usual last-place spot, with a 1.1 rating from 8-11 pm. In the program listings for New York, WABC had the Jimmy Kimmel Live repeat at 9 pm and Grey’s Anatomy at 10 pm. In Los Angeles, however, KABC aired Grey’s at 9 pm and Kimmel at 10 pm. The Nielsen fast nationals report lists the air pattern in line with the New York line-up — so ABC either tested Kimmel at 10 pm in LA only or all along the west coast. Nationally, the 9 pm hour received a 1.1 rating and 10 pm earned a 1.0 rating. Not much difference at all. If ABC was conducting a test, they will receive ratings for the different parts of the country that received the two different program feeds. In any case, it probably doesn’t matter which 1-rated repeat aired first. On this night last year: Wipeout (1.5), Grey’s Anatomy (1.2) and Private Practice (0.9).
Season Past Six Weeks
ABC Thu High Low 1.26 2.02 2.09 2.16 2.23 3.01
Charlie’s Ang 2.1 1.1
Wipeout 2.7 1.5 1.5R 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.1R
Grey’s Anatomy 4.5 3.1 1.3R 3.6 4.0 3.2 3.1 1.1R
Private Prac 2.8 2.1 0.8R 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.1 —
###
