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WB has the advantage
'Gilmore Girls' gains while UPN's 'Chains' sinks
By Kevin Downey
Going into
sweeps, the WB and UPN were neck and neck in the critical adults 18-49
demographic, and there they remain, but already there are signs that the WB is pulling ahead.
Much of the WB�s strength this year is coming from aging
shows like "7th Heaven," "Buffy," and
"Dawson�s Creek," which are still among its highest rated.
But its new "Popstars"
reality show is also doing well, as is the family-friendly "The
Gilmore Girls."
Last week, "Gilmore Girls" saw its ratings climb 30
percent, albeit from a small base, to a 1.3, against Thursday's next-to-the-last episode of CBS's "Survivor" and a celebrity-strewn
episode of NBC's "Friends."
By contrast, UPN's "Chains of Love" reality
show fell another 27 percent, and its new "All Souls" finished
the week at No. 109 out of 111 shows in primetime.
If shows like
"Gilmore" continue to do well on the WB and UPN continues to
struggle with "Chains" and other shows, it could determine which
network pulls ahead.
Already, momentum is on the side of The WB.
The WB
and UPN are now tied in adults 18-49 for the season with a 1.6 rating. But
the WB�s rating is up over 14 percent compared to last year, while UPN�s
is flat.
In total viewers, the WB
is up just under 2 percent to 3.72 million viewers while UPN is down 4.8
percent to an average 3.74 million for the season.
UPN has been
hampered by poor ratings for the XFL, which finished its season two weeks
ago, and a 19 percent drop in its audience for "WWF Smackdown."
But even if UPN loses to the WB this season, the coming
year will represent a fresh rematch between these two longtime rivals, and
UPN has every chance of recovery.
It will begin the new season with "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer" on its schedule, spirited away from the WB.
It has already scrapped its dismally performing Friday
night lineup in favor of movies.
But perhaps its biggest advantage will come from its
new status as a full-fledged sibling network of CBS, the result of the
Federal Communications Commission's recent decision to lift its ban
prohibiting one parent from owning two TV networks.
Under the Viacom umbrella, UPN is likely to benefit
from a range of cross-promotional opportunities with CBS.
The
two networks ended up tying last week with a 1.5, adult 18-49 rating,
but UPN had 3.7 million viewers to the WB�s 3.4 million.
Meanwhile, NBC won the week
among the big-four networks with a 4.9 rating.
That was due largely to
sweeps stunts like guest stars Winona Ryder on "Friends" and
Woody Harrelson on "Will & Grace."
Ratings, in fact, for
all Thursday shows were up from the previous week�s original episodes.
"Friends"
was up 5.2 percent; "Weber" was up 13.7 percent, but lost 28
percent of its lead-in; "Will & Grace" was up 16.0 percent;
"Just Shoot Me" was up 15.3 percent; and "ER" was up
6.8 percent and was the No. 1 show for the week.
The network�s
"Weakest Link" ranked No. 15 in adults 18-49, although it fell
nearly 2 percent from the previous week. And the slot previously occupied
by the XFL was replaced with the James Bond movie, "Goldeneye,"
which quadrupled the XFL's rating for Saturday night.
Fox had a 4.3, adult
18-49 rating, and ranked No. 2 last week.
CBS�s
"Survivor" was down 4.3 percent and the network came in third
with a 3.8. ABC had a 3.5.
CBS won in households
with an 8.4 rating and 14 share, based on Nielsen data. NBC had an 8.2/14,
ABC had a 7.1/12, and Fox had a 5.7/10.
For the first four days
of the sweeps, NBC is leading in adults 18-49 with a 5.2, which is down 9
percent from last year. CBS has a 4.0, Fox has a 3.9, and ABC has a 3.3.
In households, CBS is up
18 percent for the sweeps to a 9.0/16. NBC has an 8.5/15, ABC has a
7.1/12, and Fox has a 5.2/9.
|
MAY SWEEPS |
||||||||
|
ABC |
CBS |
NBC |
FOX |
|||||
|
Adults 18-49 |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
|
4/27-4/30/00 |
4.5 |
13.3 |
2.8 |
8.3 |
5.7 |
17.0 |
4.0 |
12.3 |
|
4/26-4/29/01 |
3.3 |
9.8 |
4.0 |
12.0 |
5.2 |
15.4 |
3.9 |
11.9 |
|
% Change |
-27 |
-26 |
+43 |
+45 |
-9 |
-9 |
-3 |
-3 |
|
ABC |
CBS |
NBC |
FOX |
|||||
|
Viewers |
Rating % |
(000) |
Rating % |
(000) |
Rating % |
(000) |
Rating % |
(000) |
|
4/27-4/30/00 |
5.0 |
12,870 |
4.2 |
10,880 |
4.9 |
12,800 |
3.3 |
8,650 |
|
4/26-4/29/01 |
4.0 |
10,460 |
5.0 |
13,210 |
4.7 |
12,310 |
3.1 |
8,240 |
|
% Change |
-20 |
-19 |
+19 |
+21 |
-4 |
-4 |
-6 |
-5 |
|
ABC |
CBS |
NBC |
FOX |
|||||
|
Households |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
Rating % |
Share |
|
4/27-4/30/00 |
8.5 |
14.9 |
7.6 |
13.2 |
9.2 |
16.1 |
5.5 |
9.7 |
|
4/26-4/29/01 |
7.1 |
12.4 |
9.0 |
15.8 |
8.5 |
14.7 |
5.2 |
9.1 |
|
% Change |
-16 |
-17 |
+18 |
+20 |
-8 |
-9 |
-5 |
-6 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||||||
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK |
|||||||||
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
ADULTS 18-49 |
||||||
|
Net |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
|
CBS |
8.4 |
8580 |
14 |
4.6 |
11990 |
13 |
3.8 |
4690 |
11 |
|
NBC |
8.2 |
8390 |
14 |
4.5 |
11750 |
12 |
4.9 |
6060 |
14 |
|
ABC |
7.1 |
7240 |
12 |
3.9 |
10260 |
11 |
3.5 |
4370 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.7 |
5820 |
10 |
3.4 |
8850 |
9 |
4.3 |
5370 |
13 |
|
UPN |
2.4 |
2470 |
4 |
1.4 |
3700 |
4 |
1.5 |
1900 |
4 |
|
WB |
2.3 |
2380 |
4 |
1.3 |
3390 |
3 |
1.5 |
1830 |
4 |
|
PAX |
0.9 |
950 |
2 |
0.5 |
1360 |
1 |
0.3 |
430 |
1 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|||||||||
|
SEASON-TO-DATE |
|||||||||
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
ADULTS 18-49 |
||||||
|
Net |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
|
CBS |
8.6 |
8750 |
14 |
4.8 |
12520 |
12 |
4.0 |
5020 |
11 |
|
ABC |
8.5 |
8660 |
14 |
4.8 |
12680 |
13 |
4.5 |
5580 |
12 |
|
NBC |
7.9 |
8090 |
13 |
4.4 |
11530 |
11 |
4.7 |
5880 |
13 |
|
FOX |
6.2 |
6300 |
10 |
3.7 |
9680 |
9 |
4.5 |
5570 |
12 |
|
WB |
2.5 |
2560 |
4 |
1.4 |
3720 |
3 |
1.6 |
1980 |
4 |
|
UPN |
2.4 |
2490 |
4 |
1.4 |
3740 |
4 |
1.6 |
1960 |
4 |
|
PAX |
1.0 |
970 |
2 |
0.5 |
1370 |
1 |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|||||||||
|
NETWORK TV |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
E.R. |
NBC |
17.5 |
29 |
17836 |
2 |
9.7 |
25414 |
|
2 |
SURVIVOR 2 |
CBS |
16.6 |
27 |
16980 |
1 |
10.3 |
26891 |
|
3 |
CSI |
CBS |
14.4 |
22 |
14741 |
3 |
8.5 |
22330 |
|
4 |
MILLIONAIRE- SUN |
ABC |
12.0 |
18 |
12284 |
4 |
7.1 |
18664 |
|
5 |
WEST WING |
NBC |
11.9 |
19 |
12164 |
7 |
6.4 |
16777 |
|
6 |
MILLIONAIRE- TUE |
ABC |
11.7 |
20 |
12008 |
8 |
6.2 |
16192 |
|
7 |
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
11.4 |
17 |
11605 |
5 |
6.6 |
17188 |
|
8 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
11.3 |
19 |
11552 |
11 |
6.0 |
15768 |
|
9 |
PRACTICE, THE |
ABC |
11.2 |
18 |
11484 |
6 |
6.5 |
16891 |
|
10 |
FRIENDS |
NBC |
10.9 |
19 |
11163 |
8 |
6.2 |
16303 |
|
11 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
10.5 |
16 |
10781 |
10 |
6.1 |
15900 |
|
12 |
BECKER |
CBS |
10.2 |
15 |
10379 |
12 |
5.9 |
15339 |
|
12 |
JUST SHOOT ME |
NBC |
10.2 |
15 |
10427 |
13 |
5.7 |
14921 |
|
14 |
MILLIONAIRE- THU |
ABC |
9.9 |
15 |
10072 |
18 |
5.3 |
13963 |
|
15 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
9.7 |
18 |
9951 |
20 |
5.1 |
13413 |
|
16 |
NYPD BLUE |
ABC |
9.6 |
16 |
9798 |
16 |
5.4 |
14166 |
|
17 |
MILLIONAIRE- FRI |
ABC |
9.5 |
17 |
9700 |
18 |
5.3 |
13759 |
|
18 |
JUDGING AMY |
CBS |
9.4 |
16 |
9598 |
27 |
4.7 |
12391 |
|
18 |
WEAKEST LINK |
NBC |
9.4 |
15 |
9594 |
16 |
5.4 |
14133 |
|
20 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
9.1 |
18 |
9349 |
25 |
4.8 |
12459 |
|
21 |
CSI-FRI(S) |
CBS |
8.9 |
16 |
9113 |
22 |
5.0 |
12964 |
|
21 |
DHARMA & GREG |
ABC |
8.9 |
14 |
9115 |
22 |
5.0 |
13109 |
|
21 |
DISTRICT, THE |
CBS |
8.9 |
17 |
9100 |
20 |
5.1 |
13242 |
|
24 |
20/20-FRI |
ABC |
8.8 |
16 |
9033 |
27 |
4.7 |
12206 |
|
24 |
JAG |
CBS |
8.8 |
15 |
9001 |
31 |
4.6 |
12076 |
|
24 |
THIRD WATCH |
NBC |
8.8 |
15 |
8959 |
25 |
4.8 |
12580 |
|
24 |
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL |
CBS |
8.8 |
15 |
8969 |
27 |
4.7 |
12182 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
||||||||
|
CABLE TV |
|||||
| BASIC CABLE | |||||
|
House- |
House- holds |
Persons 2+ |
|||
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Net |
(000) |
US Rating % |
(000) |
|
1 |
WWF ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
4269 |
4.2 |
6673 |
|
2 |
WWF ENTERTAINMENT |
TNN |
3903 |
3.8 |
6441 |
|
3 |
S KIDS CHOICE 01 |
Nick |
2614 |
2.6 |
4233 |
|
4 |
MOVIE MOVIE MOVIE 3(S)-04/22/2001 (AU PAIR II, PR) |
Fam |
2583 |
2.5 |
3945 |
|
5 |
SUNDAY MOVIE II (MT: WHY MY DAUGHTER) |
Life |
2524 |
2.5 |
3186 |
|
6 |
SUNDAY MOVIE I (MT:EYE OF THE STALKER) |
Life |
2452 |
2.4 |
2954 |
|
7 |
SUNDAY MOVIE III (MT: INTO THE ARMS OF DANGER) |
Life |
2386 |
2.3 |
3093 |
|
8 |
RUGRATS |
Nick |
2266 |
2.2 |
2829 |
|
9 |
JACKASS |
MTV |
2180 |
2.1 |
3208 |
|
10 |
NFL DRAFT |
ESPN |
2168 |
2.1 |
2812 |
|
11 |
PRIME MOVIE (IN THE DEEP WOODS) |
Life |
2146 |
2.1 |
2594 |
|
12 |
SPONGEBOB |
Nick |
2142 |
2.1 |
2946 |
|
13 |
SPONGEBOB |
Nick |
2113 |
2.1 |
3035 |
|
14 |
RUGRATS |
Nick |
2075 |
2.0 |
3244 |
|
15 |
JACKASS |
MTV |
2069 |
2.0 |
2752 |
|
PAY CABLE |
|||||
| House- holds |
House- holds |
Persons 2+ |
|||
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
(000) |
US Rating % |
(000) |
|
|
1 |
SOPRANOS, THE |
5501 |
5.4 |
8640 |
|
|
2 |
WCB:DOUBLEHEADER 4/21/01 (LEWIS VS RAHMAN) |
3218 |
3.1 |
5060 |
|
|
3 |
WCB:DOUBLEHEADER 4/21/01 (POST-FIGHT 2) |
3025 |
3.0 |
4784 |
|
|
4 |
WCB:DOUBLEHEADER 4/21/01 (PRE-FIGHT2) |
2431 |
2.4 |
3837 |
|
|
5 |
JUST MELVIN (AU) |
2397 |
2.3 |
3538 |
|
| *Coverage area ratings are
within each cable network's universe. *Total U.S. ratings and household projections are based on 102.2 million TV homes. *For inclusion in the rankings, telecasts must be promoted as distinct programs and must be of 5 minutes minimum duration. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|||||
|
SYNDICATION |
|||
|
|
|
Households |
Households |
|
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
US Rating % |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
9.5 |
9686 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
7.8 |
7962 |
|
3 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT |
5.7 |
5827 |
|
4 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
5.6 |
5773 |
|
5 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
5.5 |
5628 |
|
6 |
FRIENDS-SYN (AT) |
5.2 |
5284 |
|
7 |
SEINFELD-WKND |
4.9 |
5029 |
|
7 |
FRASIER-SYN (AT) |
4.9 |
4985 |
|
9 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
4.0 |
4114 |
|
9 |
SEINFELD |
4.0 |
4049 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|||
May 2, 2001 � 2001 Media Life
-Kevin Downey is a staff writer for Media Life
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