Another broadcast season, another year of declines
The Big Five are down 10 percent this fall in 18-49s, more in 25-54s
December 7, 2016
Every year, broadcast ratings fall a bit further. The networks expect it at this point.
Even the addition of a bigger “Thursday Night Football” package on broadcast hasn’t been able to offset the declines so far.
The Big Five are off by a collective 10 percent this season among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen, from a 10.5 rating to a 9.5. Fox is the only network that isn’t down; it’s actually up a tenth.
The drop is even steeper in other demos. Adults 25-54 are down 11 percent, and 18-34s are off 12 percent.
The pace of declines is slightly faster than in past seasons but certainly nothing alarming. Broadcast has been in a gradual slide for a decade, and nothing is going to change that.
There is a slight hope that the addition of five “TNF” contests this season could take the edge off those declines. They moved over from cable.
NBC has carried two games so far, with the third of five airing Thursday. The network, the season-to-date leader across every demo, is nonetheless down from last year, though it’s recorded smaller declines than CBS or ABC.
Overall, the ratings decreases reflect the new reality of broadcast TV. Expectations for new shows are next to nothing compared to past years.
Shows receive full-season pickups for ratings that, a few years ago, would have earned a quick hook. The networks are reluctant to cancel anything for fear that the show they replace it with will do even worse.
That’s not to say that broadcast is a disaster. It’s still the best place to find a mass audience, and this season has several promising new shows, led by NBC hit “This Is Us.”
It’s simply hard to imagine that ratings will stop falling anytime soon, with all the competition the networks face from cable, digital and even their own programs time-shifted via DVRs. The real question is just how low they’ll go.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Dec. 4:
Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 2.7 rating and a 9 share, followed by Fox at 1.8/6, ABC at 1.2/4, CBS at 1.1/4, CW at 0.7/3, Telemundo at 0.7/2, Univision at 0.6/2, ION at 0.3/1, UniMás at 0.2/1, Estrella TV, Me-TV, Grit, Escape and Bounce TV at 0.1/0, and Azteca and COZI TV at 0.0/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “Thursday Night Football” 6.8; 2. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.1; 3. Fox’s “The OT” 4.2; Tie-4. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” and NBC’s “Football Night in America” 3.1.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 21.76 million; 2. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 17.75 million; 3. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 14.50 million; 4. Fox’s “The OT” 12.18 million; 5. CBS’s “60 Minutes” 11.84 million.
Show on the rise: NBC’s “This Is Us,” Tuesday, 9 p.m. The first-year drama’s strong season continues, jumping 13 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.4 rating to a 2.7.
Show on the decline: Fox’s “Rosewood,” Thursday, 8 p.m. The drama posted a 0.7 rating in 18-49s, down 68 percent from the previous Thursday, a special Thanksgiving episode that aired after NFL football.
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
|
|||||||||
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
||||||
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
|
NBC |
6.4 |
7590 |
11 |
3.5 |
10610 |
10 |
2.7 |
3470 |
9 |
|
CBS |
4.2 |
5010 |
7 |
2.2 |
6740 |
6 |
1.1 |
1410 |
4 |
|
FOX |
3.4 |
4060 |
6 |
1.9 |
5770 |
5 |
1.8 |
2290 |
6 |
|
ABC |
3.1 |
3720 |
5 |
1.7 |
5040 |
5 |
1.2 |
1510 |
4 |
|
CW |
1.3 |
1510 |
2 |
0.7 |
2130 |
2 |
0.7 |
960 |
3 |
|
UNI |
1.0 |
1130 |
2 |
0.6 |
1780 |
2 |
0.6 |
830 |
2 |
|
ION |
0.9 |
1100 |
2 |
0.5 |
1370 |
1 |
0.3 |
380 |
1 |
|
TEL |
0.9 |
1090 |
2 |
0.6 |
1700 |
2 |
0.7 |
870 |
2 |
|
METV |
0.4 |
450 |
1 |
0.2 |
550 |
1 |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
|
UMA |
0.3 |
330 |
0 |
0.2 |
540 |
1 |
0.2 |
270 |
1 |
|
GRIT |
0.3 |
300 |
0 |
0.1 |
390 |
0 |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
|
BOUNCE |
0.2 |
240 |
0 |
0.1 |
350 |
0 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
|
ESCP |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
220 |
0 |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.1 |
250 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
|
COZ |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.0 |
30 |
0 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
100 |
0 |
0.0 |
50 |
0 |
|
MMX |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
|
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or 1.164 million homes Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback. Source: Nielsen |
|||||||||
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
|
|||||||||
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
||||||
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
|
CBS |
6.5 |
7660 |
11 |
3.4 |
10400 |
10 |
2.0 |
2620 |
7 |
|
NBC |
5.8 |
6900 |
10 |
3.2 |
9560 |
9 |
2.7 |
3430 |
9 |
|
ABC |
4.5 |
5390 |
8 |
2.4 |
7210 |
7 |
1.8 |
2360 |
6 |
|
FOX |
4.2 |
5010 |
7 |
2.4 |
7170 |
7 |
2.3 |
2910 |
8 |
|
CW |
1.2 |
1430 |
2 |
0.6 |
1930 |
2 |
0.7 |
900 |
2 |
|
UNI |
1.0 |
1210 |
2 |
0.6 |
1830 |
2 |
0.7 |
830 |
2 |
|
TEL |
1.0 |
1130 |
2 |
0.6 |
1740 |
2 |
0.7 |
880 |
2 |
|
ION |
0.8 |
950 |
1 |
0.4 |
1190 |
1 |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
|
METV |
0.4 |
450 |
1 |
0.2 |
560 |
1 |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
|
UMA |
0.3 |
320 |
0 |
0.2 |
510 |
0 |
0.2 |
250 |
1 |
|
GRIT |
0.2 |
290 |
0 |
0.1 |
370 |
0 |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
|
BOUNCE |
0.2 |
230 |
0 |
0.1 |
310 |
0 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
260 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
|
ESCP |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.1 |
210 |
0 |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
|
COZ |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.0 |
30 |
0 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
110 |
0 |
0.0 |
60 |
0 |
|
MMX |
0.0 |
50 |
0 |
0.0 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
20 |
0 |
|
*Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or 1.164 million homes Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing. |
|||||||||
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
|
||||||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
||||
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|||
|
1 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
12.8 |
22 |
15,211 |
1 |
7.2 |
21,760 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
10.2 |
17 |
12,085 |
2 |
5.9 |
17,752 |
|
3 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
8.8 |
15 |
10,443 |
3 |
4.8 |
14,538 |
|
4 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
7.9 |
13 |
9,364 |
4 |
4.5 |
13,650 |
|
5 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK |
NBC |
7.4 |
13 |
8,799 |
5 |
4.1 |
12,230 |
|
5 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
7.4 |
12 |
8,723 |
7 |
3.9 |
11,847 |
|
7 |
NBC MOVIE SP 11/30 |
NBC |
7.0 |
12 |
8,344 |
8 |
3.8 |
11,575 |
|
8 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
6.9 |
12 |
8,201 |
6 |
4.0 |
12,180 |
|
9 |
THIS IS US |
NBC |
6.6 |
11 |
7,865 |
9 |
3.5 |
10,527 |
|
9 |
VOICE-TUE |
NBC |
6.6 |
11 |
7,774 |
9 |
3.5 |
10,639 |
|
11 |
CHRISTMAS-ROCKEFELLER CEN |
NBC |
6.4 |
11 |
7,615 |
9 |
3.5 |
10,502 |
|
12 |
VOICE |
NBC |
6.1 |
10 |
7,190 |
12 |
3.3 |
9,805 |
|
13 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
5.7 |
10 |
6,772 |
12 |
3.3 |
9,883 |
|
14 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-GM2 |
NBC |
5.6 |
10 |
6,662 |
16 |
3.0 |
9,102 |
|
14 |
NCIS 9P-SPECIAL |
CBS |
5.6 |
9 |
6,669 |
14 |
3.1 |
9,266 |
|
16 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE:SP |
CBS |
5.3 |
9 |
6,275 |
19 |
2.8 |
8,528 |
|
16 |
SURVIVOR |
CBS |
5.3 |
9 |
6,243 |
18 |
2.9 |
8,857 |
|
16 |
BIG TEN FOOTBALL CH GAME |
FOX |
5.3 |
10 |
6,216 |
16 |
3.0 |
9,189 |
|
19 |
CHICAGO FIRE |
NBC |
5.1 |
9 |
5,985 |
20 |
2.6 |
7,940 |
|
20 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER |
CBS |
5.0 |
8 |
5,945 |
14 |
3.1 |
9,394 |
|
21 |
EMPIRE |
FOX |
4.9 |
8 |
5,793 |
20 |
2.6 |
7,840 |
|
22 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
4.7 |
8 |
5,546 |
22 |
2.5 |
7,441 |
|
23 |
MOM |
CBS |
4.6 |
8 |
5,396 |
23 |
2.3 |
7,011 |
|
24 |
BULL 10PM-SPECIAL |
CBS |
4.4 |
8 |
5,185 |
23 |
2.3 |
6,843 |
|
24 |
BULL 8PM SPECIAL |
CBS |
4.4 |
7 |
5,244 |
23 |
2.3 |
6,973 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||||||
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
|
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
6.8 |
8,731 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
6.1 |
7,779 |
|
3 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
4.4 |
5,589 |
|
4 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
4.2 |
5,331 |
|
5 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK |
NBC |
3.4 |
4,378 |
|
6 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
3.1 |
4,035 |
|
6 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
3.1 |
4,003 |
|
8 |
EMPIRE |
FOX |
2.9 |
3,701 |
|
9 |
THIS IS US |
NBC |
2.7 |
3,473 |
|
9 |
BIG TEN FOOTBALL CH GAME |
FOX |
2.7 |
3,401 |
|
11 |
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-GM2 |
NBC |
2.4 |
3,109 |
|
11 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
2.4 |
3,017 |
|
13 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER |
CBS |
2.3 |
2,948 |
|
14 |
MODERN FAMILY |
ABC |
2.2 |
2,886 |
|
15 |
VOICE |
NBC |
2.1 |
2,646 |
|
16 |
SURVIVOR |
CBS |
1.9 |
2,463 |
|
16 |
VOICE-TUE |
NBC |
1.9 |
2,493 |
|
18 |
BIG 10 FTBL CHAMP GM-KICK |
FOX |
1.8 |
2,301 |
|
19 |
BLACK-ISH |
ABC |
1.7 |
2,220 |
|
19 |
GOLDBERGS, THE |
ABC |
1.7 |
2,214 |
|
19 |
CHICAGO FIRE |
NBC |
1.7 |
2,201 |
|
19 |
CHRISTMAS-ROCKEFELLER CEN |
NBC |
1.7 |
2,207 |
|
19 |
NBC MOVIE SP 11/30 |
NBC |
1.7 |
2,223 |
|
19 |
PAC-12 FOOTBALL CHAMP GM |
FOX |
1.7 |
2,202 |
|
25 |
MIDDLE, THE |
ABC |
1.6 |
2,075 |
|
25 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
1.6 |
2,027 |
|
25 |
LETHAL WEAPON |
FOX |
1.6 |
2,067 |
|
25 |
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
1.6 |
1,991 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC NFL TH SPECIAL |
NBC |
13.1 |
3504 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
13.0 |
2849 |
|
3 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
9.2 |
2049 |
|
4 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
8.6 |
1797 |
|
5 |
ROSEWOOD-SP TKG DAY |
FOX |
8.1 |
2153 |
|
6 |
EMPIRE-SP TKG EVE |
FOX |
8.1 |
1658 |
|
7 |
NBC NFL TH PRE-KICK |
NBC |
7.9 |
2222 |
|
8 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
7.1 |
1559 |
|
9 |
NBC NFL TH PRE-GAME |
NBC |
6.3 |
1716 |
|
10 |
NCIS |
CBS |
6.1 |
1267 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. |
||||
Tags: abc, broadcast, broadcast ratings, broadcast recap, cbs, fox, nbc
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