This table shows the early overnight ratings. These ratings are normally adjusted later in the day when all the ratings have been consolidated to take into account any local preemptions and/or overruns. You can find all the final adjusted numbers in our Ratings Database. (See the About section below for details about ratings)
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The analysis below is based on the early household numbers and are NOT the same as the numbers that will be posted in the above table later. (See the About section below)
For more information on the Nielsen Ratings see this Wikipedia Entry.
NOTE: The opinions expressed here are NOT those of SpoilerTV but of the Author of this Article, Marc Berman.
Metered Market Thursday Ratings
Mixed Results for Trio of Series Openers
Thursday 10/02/14
Metered Market Results
Household
Rating/Share
CBS 8.2/14
ABC 7.7/12
Fox 3.6/ 6
NBC 3.3/ 5
CW 1.3/ 2
———-
-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Thursday 10/02/13:
ABC: +17, CBS: + 8, NBC: + 6, Fox: -12, CW: -28
———-
Note: The following labels are based on the household overnights and are subject to change given the availability of other pending data streams. As always, these overnights are your first look at the ratings and a precursor to what could lie ahead. And we take into account additional benchmarks including the expected Live + Same Day demographic ratings, potential DVR usage, the critical acclaim (or lack of) and the social media presence.
———-
-Winners:
“Thursday Night Football” (CBS), “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “Scandal” (ABC), “How To Get Away With Murder” (ABC)
-Respectable Sampling:
“Bad Judge” (NBC)
-On the Downside:
“The Vampire Diaries” (CW)
-Losers:
“A To Z” (NBC), “Gracepoint” (Fox), “Reign” (CW), “Parenthood” (NBC)
———-
Ratings Breakdown:
The Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football” kept CBS in the Thursday overnight winner’s circle, with an approximate 8.5 rating/14 share in households from 8:30-11:30 p.m. ET. Comparably, this was an estimated seven percent below the week-ago match-up between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins (and that…including the NFLN…translated into 16.29 million viewers and a 6.0 rating/19 share among adults 18-49, based on the Live + Same Day data). “Sunday Night Football” on NBC remains a bigger draw.
Earlier in the evening on CBS was the Football Kick-Off Show at a second-place 5.6/10in the 8 p.m. half-hour.
There were three network series premiere late night: NBC sitcoms “Bad Judge” and “A To Z” opposite Fox limited drama “Gracepoint” from 9-10 p.m. While there is much more to the equation than the household overnights, these initial results give “Bad Judge” the advantage.
“Bad Judge,” starring former “Private Practice” lead Kate Walsh opened with a 4.4 rating/7 share in the household overnights (#3) at 9 p.m. On paper, this does not sound necessarily promising. But “Bad Judge” built from the 8:30 p.m. portion of lead-in “The Biggest Loser” (3.3/ 5) by 33 percent. And it bested the year-ago series-premiere of failed “Sean Saves the World” (3.7/ 6 on 10/.03/13) by 19 percent. So, consider this respectable sampling in a very tough time period. Let’s see what happens next week.
Relationship themed chuckler “A To Z,” starring Ben Feldman and Christin Milioti, launched with a 3.3/ 5 at 9:30 p.m., which also finished a distant third in the time period. Comparably, however, this was 13 percent below failed year-ago occupant “The Michael J. Fox Show” (3.8/ 6 on 10/03/13). And the retention out of “Bad Judge” was so-so at 75 percent (translation: a 25 percent drop). So, consider this sampling for “A To Z” disappointing.
Opposite the two NBC sitcoms, Fox’s “Gracepoint” opened at a disappointing 2.9/ 5 from 9-10 p.m., which dipped by 34 percent from the 8:30 p.m. portion of veteran lead-in “Bones” (4.4/ 7). Deteriorating “Glee” on the year-ago evening was slightly higher at a 3.1/ 5. There is much more to the equation for “Gracepoint” than the metered markets, no doubt. But to put this 2.9/ 5 into perspective, “Gotham” on Fox opened with a 5.7/ 9 in the overnights in the Monday 8 p.m. hour on Sept. 22, and “Red Band Society” was equal at a 2.9/ 5 for its launch in the Wednesday 9 p.m. hour on Sept. 17. That 2.9 overnight household rating for “Red Band Society” translated into 4.10 million viewers and a 1.3/ 4 among adults 18-49. That said, keep your expectations low for “Gracepoint” as the other data is released.
Earlier in the evening on NBC was diluted “The Biggest Loser” at a 3.2/ 5 (#4) from 8-9 p.m., which was still 25 percent above year-ago NBC sitcoms “Parks and Recreation” (2.5/ 4) and the series-premiere of short-lived “Welcome to the Family” (2.6/ 4). Competing “Bones” on Fox averaged a 4.3/ 7 (#3), which was eight percent above the 4.0/ 7 one week earlier.
“Parenthood” on NBC, meanwhile, closed the night with a quiet (and distant third-place) 2.9/ 5 from 10-11 p.m.
Over at ABC, the overnight news was clearly positive. Relocated “Grey’s Anatomy,” now in season 11, opened with a very competitive 6.6/11 from 8-9 p.m., which was just six percent below its 7.0/12 season-opener last Thursday and 10 percent below its 7.3/12 on the year-ago evening (on 10/03/13). “Scandal,” now at 9 p.m., rose to a 7.7/12 and also finished a comfortable second behind football on CBS. One year earlier, “Scandal” began its season with an almost identical 7.9/14 at 10 p.m. Moving up one hour has not hurt either “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Scandal,” and the stronger 8 p.m. anchor support is only lifting ABC.
While most new shows drop in the vicinity of 10 to 20 percent in week two, ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder” dipped by just nine percent with an 8.7/15 at 10 p.m. (#2). Comparably, this built from the 9:30 p.m. portion of lead-in “Scandal” (7.9/12) by 10 percent. And “HTGAWM” was 10 percent above the aforementioned 7.9/14 in the overnights for year-ago occupant “Scandal.” Note to Shonda Rhimes: consider this a three-tier success!
The CW, which has taken a quiet early approach to the new television season, opened the new seasons of dramas “The Vampire Diaries” and “Reign” last night (which many of its viewers might not have been aware of). “The Vampire Diaries” kicked-off season six with a 1.6/ 3 in the household overnights at 8 p.m., which dropped from its year-ago season-premiere (2.0/ 3 on 10/03/13) by a disappointing 20 percent. Next was the sophomore season-premiere of “Reign” at a abysmal 0.9/ 1 at 9 p.m., which sunk from its year-ago series premiere (1.5/ 2 on 10/17/13) by a significant 40 percent. Lack of overall interest on The CW in recent weeks has hurt the network’s promotional platform, no doubt.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
Mixed Results for Trio of Series Openers
Thursday 10/02/14
Metered Market Results
Household
Rating/Share
CBS 8.2/14
ABC 7.7/12
Fox 3.6/ 6
NBC 3.3/ 5
CW 1.3/ 2
———-
-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Thursday 10/02/13:
ABC: +17, CBS: + 8, NBC: + 6, Fox: -12, CW: -28
———-
Note: The following labels are based on the household overnights and are subject to change given the availability of other pending data streams. As always, these overnights are your first look at the ratings and a precursor to what could lie ahead. And we take into account additional benchmarks including the expected Live + Same Day demographic ratings, potential DVR usage, the critical acclaim (or lack of) and the social media presence.
———-
-Winners:
“Thursday Night Football” (CBS), “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “Scandal” (ABC), “How To Get Away With Murder” (ABC)
-Respectable Sampling:
“Bad Judge” (NBC)
-On the Downside:
“The Vampire Diaries” (CW)
-Losers:
“A To Z” (NBC), “Gracepoint” (Fox), “Reign” (CW), “Parenthood” (NBC)
———-
Ratings Breakdown:
The Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football” kept CBS in the Thursday overnight winner’s circle, with an approximate 8.5 rating/14 share in households from 8:30-11:30 p.m. ET. Comparably, this was an estimated seven percent below the week-ago match-up between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins (and that…including the NFLN…translated into 16.29 million viewers and a 6.0 rating/19 share among adults 18-49, based on the Live + Same Day data). “Sunday Night Football” on NBC remains a bigger draw.
Earlier in the evening on CBS was the Football Kick-Off Show at a second-place 5.6/10in the 8 p.m. half-hour.
There were three network series premiere late night: NBC sitcoms “Bad Judge” and “A To Z” opposite Fox limited drama “Gracepoint” from 9-10 p.m. While there is much more to the equation than the household overnights, these initial results give “Bad Judge” the advantage.
“Bad Judge,” starring former “Private Practice” lead Kate Walsh opened with a 4.4 rating/7 share in the household overnights (#3) at 9 p.m. On paper, this does not sound necessarily promising. But “Bad Judge” built from the 8:30 p.m. portion of lead-in “The Biggest Loser” (3.3/ 5) by 33 percent. And it bested the year-ago series-premiere of failed “Sean Saves the World” (3.7/ 6 on 10/.03/13) by 19 percent. So, consider this respectable sampling in a very tough time period. Let’s see what happens next week.
Relationship themed chuckler “A To Z,” starring Ben Feldman and Christin Milioti, launched with a 3.3/ 5 at 9:30 p.m., which also finished a distant third in the time period. Comparably, however, this was 13 percent below failed year-ago occupant “The Michael J. Fox Show” (3.8/ 6 on 10/03/13). And the retention out of “Bad Judge” was so-so at 75 percent (translation: a 25 percent drop). So, consider this sampling for “A To Z” disappointing.
Opposite the two NBC sitcoms, Fox’s “Gracepoint” opened at a disappointing 2.9/ 5 from 9-10 p.m., which dipped by 34 percent from the 8:30 p.m. portion of veteran lead-in “Bones” (4.4/ 7). Deteriorating “Glee” on the year-ago evening was slightly higher at a 3.1/ 5. There is much more to the equation for “Gracepoint” than the metered markets, no doubt. But to put this 2.9/ 5 into perspective, “Gotham” on Fox opened with a 5.7/ 9 in the overnights in the Monday 8 p.m. hour on Sept. 22, and “Red Band Society” was equal at a 2.9/ 5 for its launch in the Wednesday 9 p.m. hour on Sept. 17. That 2.9 overnight household rating for “Red Band Society” translated into 4.10 million viewers and a 1.3/ 4 among adults 18-49. That said, keep your expectations low for “Gracepoint” as the other data is released.
Earlier in the evening on NBC was diluted “The Biggest Loser” at a 3.2/ 5 (#4) from 8-9 p.m., which was still 25 percent above year-ago NBC sitcoms “Parks and Recreation” (2.5/ 4) and the series-premiere of short-lived “Welcome to the Family” (2.6/ 4). Competing “Bones” on Fox averaged a 4.3/ 7 (#3), which was eight percent above the 4.0/ 7 one week earlier.
“Parenthood” on NBC, meanwhile, closed the night with a quiet (and distant third-place) 2.9/ 5 from 10-11 p.m.
Over at ABC, the overnight news was clearly positive. Relocated “Grey’s Anatomy,” now in season 11, opened with a very competitive 6.6/11 from 8-9 p.m., which was just six percent below its 7.0/12 season-opener last Thursday and 10 percent below its 7.3/12 on the year-ago evening (on 10/03/13). “Scandal,” now at 9 p.m., rose to a 7.7/12 and also finished a comfortable second behind football on CBS. One year earlier, “Scandal” began its season with an almost identical 7.9/14 at 10 p.m. Moving up one hour has not hurt either “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Scandal,” and the stronger 8 p.m. anchor support is only lifting ABC.
While most new shows drop in the vicinity of 10 to 20 percent in week two, ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder” dipped by just nine percent with an 8.7/15 at 10 p.m. (#2). Comparably, this built from the 9:30 p.m. portion of lead-in “Scandal” (7.9/12) by 10 percent. And “HTGAWM” was 10 percent above the aforementioned 7.9/14 in the overnights for year-ago occupant “Scandal.” Note to Shonda Rhimes: consider this a three-tier success!
The CW, which has taken a quiet early approach to the new television season, opened the new seasons of dramas “The Vampire Diaries” and “Reign” last night (which many of its viewers might not have been aware of). “The Vampire Diaries” kicked-off season six with a 1.6/ 3 in the household overnights at 8 p.m., which dropped from its year-ago season-premiere (2.0/ 3 on 10/03/13) by a disappointing 20 percent. Next was the sophomore season-premiere of “Reign” at a abysmal 0.9/ 1 at 9 p.m., which sunk from its year-ago series premiere (1.5/ 2 on 10/17/13) by a significant 40 percent. Lack of overall interest on The CW in recent weeks has hurt the network’s promotional platform, no doubt.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
Source:
Each day (except Sunday) during the main TV Season we post the TV Ratings for the previous nights primetime shows for the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC). Cable Network ratings will be added to the Ratings Database.
The first item that gets posted (normally around 2pm GMT) is the early overnight analysis based on the early household numbers (these are not the same as the Total Viewers and 18-49 Demo numbers that are posted later).
Next, if available, we will post the Top 25 Market 18-49 Ratings to give you a rough idea of the ratings to following.
Later on (normally between 4pm-5pm GMT) we post the official early overnight Total Viewers and 18-49 Demo numbers in the table above.
Finally, later in the evening (10pm-11pm GMT) or the following day, the final adjusted ratings numbers are released, these are then posted in the Ratings Database. The Final Adjusted numbers are what we use for all our Renew/Cancellation Tables, Full Season Tables, Ratings Scorecards etc (see below). Friday's Final Adjusted Ratings are normally available on the following Monday.
If you’re interested in Ratings/Renewals/Cancellations then we have a number of resources here at SpoilerTV that we recommend you check out.
