The Sked: WEDNESDAY RATINGS May 2

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>American Idol kept FOX on top in the first Wednesday of the May Sweep, despite continued declines from last year.  CBS and ABC trail with fairly respectable nights (CBS down a couple of tenths from last year and ABC up three tenths from the same night last year).  NBC remains stuck in a weak fourth place, down even further from the rating on the same night last year.  See how last night’s ratings impacted the May Sweep race here — with a full week of ratings in for the May Sweep, we have a pretty good view on how the month-long contest will shake out.  

Also, have you ever wondered why the networks are generally upbeat about the fast-approaching upfront advertising marketplace (and why CBS was able to report such strong earnings recently) when the ratings seem so depressed night after night?  The answer lies in DVR time-shifting.  Check back later today for an inside look at additional ratings you rarely see.     

             Nightly Adult 18-49 Rating
Wednesday    FOX    CBS    ABC    NBC
05.02.2012   4.6    2.6    2.4    1.4    THIS WEEK
04.25.2012   4.8    2.0    1.9    1.3    LAST WEEK
05.04.2011   5.6    2.8    2.1    1.6    LAST YEAR 

FOX’s American Idol averaged a 4.6 rating with Adults 18-49 in the fast nationals, probably headed for a 4.7 in the official nationals, maybe even a 4.8.  If it hits a 4.8 rating in the officials, Idol would match the rating for the last two weeks and give the show a +1.3 rating point margin over this Monday’s The Voice on NBC, the largest weekly margin between performance episodes to date.  Last year on this night, American Idol aired 90 minutes (6.6) followed by Breaking In (2.4).        

CBS moved back into second place, ahead of ABC, with a 2.6 rating from 8-11 pm (down one tenth from the last all-original episode Wednesday on April 9 — although that difference could be erased by favorable rounding in the official nationals).  Criminal Minds had the best showing for CBS on the night (similar to the last few original episode ratings), although Survivor and CSI are down significantly (more than a tenth of a rating point) from original episodes in early April.  At 10 pm, the 2.3 rating for CSI was enough to win the hour, however.  Last year on this night: Survivor (3.1), Criminal Minds (3.2) and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2.2).  

On ABC, the 8:00-10:00 comedies were a touch lower than original episodes in early April, while Revenge is holding fairly steady compared to recent original episodes since its return in mid-April.  But compared to last year, ABC is showing gains at 8:30, 9:30 and particularly from 10:00-11:00.  Last year on this night: The Middle (2.0), Better with You (1.6), Modern Family (3.9), Cougar Town (2.2), Happy Endings (1.7) and Happy Endings (1.4).   

NBC Wednesday was solidly in fourth place again.  The night was a bit of a mixed bag as Betty White’s Off Their Rockers at 8:00 pm (1.3 rating) under-performed recent original episodes, while a special second episode at 8:30 (1.4 rating) improved upon the sub-1 ratings turned in by the recently departed Best Friends Forever.  At 9:00 pm, a 1.0 rating for Rock Center with Brian Williams is actually at the upper end of ratings for the struggling news magazine (last night included an inside look at the Osama Bin Laden execution one year later), but at a 1.0 rating Rock Center is clearly the lowest-rated network show on the night.  SVU was up a touch from recent weeks, but it remains in last place in the hour.  Last year on this night: Minute to Win It (1.0), Minute to Win It repeat (1.1) and Law & Order: SVU (2.6).
         

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