Post by Forever Xena on Nov 4, 2005 1:46:59 GMT -6
'Grey's Anatomy' passes ratings test
By DAVID BAUDER
NEW YORK (AP) - ABC's sudsy Grey's Anatomy passed a big test in the ratings and is earning a big reward.
The Sunday night drama about young doctors with very active social lives was among the 10 most popular shows last week, even though it was not preceded by an original episode of Desperate Housewives.
Grey's Anatomy is relentlessly promoted each week during Desperate Housewives and until it proved itself, there was always doubt it could thrive on its own. But it drew 2.6 million more viewers than the Desperate rerun Sunday, indicating it has an audience that will seek it out.
ABC announced that Grey's Anatomy will get the plum time slot after the Super Bowl, which ABC is telecasting Feb. 5.
"Grey's Anatomy is a huge asset for this network and is fast becoming one of America's favourite Sunday night events," said ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson. "The producers are preparing a great episode that will appeal to new viewers as well as devoted fans."
During World Series week, just before the start of November ratings sweeps, networks offered a lineup clogged with reruns. It was a missed opportunity for everyone but Fox: the series lasted the minimum four games and was the lowest-rated fall classic ever.
Highlights include CBS's NCIS, which has slowly built into a major hit and Tuesday night's favourite show. Viewers have also responded to the ongoing cold war between Rory and Lorelai on Gilmore Girls, making last week's episode (with guest Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state) the week's most popular show on either the WB or UPN.
Meanwhile, not every new drama strikes gold on ABC. Night Stalker last Thursday was seen by just under five million viewers, or about one-fifth the audience of the competing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation rerun.
CBS won the week again, averaging 12.6 million viewers (8.2 rating, 13 share), and winning among viewers aged 18 to 49. Fox had 10.3 million viewers (6.7, 11), ABC 9.5 million (6.2, 10), NBC 8.7 million (5.9, 9), the WB 3.7 million (2.5, 4) and UPN 3.6 million (2.4, 4).
A ratings point represents 1,102,000 households, or one per cent of the estimated 110.2 million TV homes in the U.S. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
For the week of Oct. 24-30, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 24.2 million; Without a Trace, CBS, 21.8 million; World Series Game 4: Chicago vs. Houston, Fox, 20 million; CSI: Miami, CBS, 19.9 million; NCIS, CBS, 18 million; Survivor: Guatemala, CBS, 17.4 million; Two and a Half Men, CBS, 16.8 million; Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 16.7 million; World Series Game 3: Chicago vs. Houston, Fox, 16.7 million; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC, 16.5 million.
By DAVID BAUDER
NEW YORK (AP) - ABC's sudsy Grey's Anatomy passed a big test in the ratings and is earning a big reward.
The Sunday night drama about young doctors with very active social lives was among the 10 most popular shows last week, even though it was not preceded by an original episode of Desperate Housewives.
Grey's Anatomy is relentlessly promoted each week during Desperate Housewives and until it proved itself, there was always doubt it could thrive on its own. But it drew 2.6 million more viewers than the Desperate rerun Sunday, indicating it has an audience that will seek it out.
ABC announced that Grey's Anatomy will get the plum time slot after the Super Bowl, which ABC is telecasting Feb. 5.
"Grey's Anatomy is a huge asset for this network and is fast becoming one of America's favourite Sunday night events," said ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson. "The producers are preparing a great episode that will appeal to new viewers as well as devoted fans."
During World Series week, just before the start of November ratings sweeps, networks offered a lineup clogged with reruns. It was a missed opportunity for everyone but Fox: the series lasted the minimum four games and was the lowest-rated fall classic ever.
Highlights include CBS's NCIS, which has slowly built into a major hit and Tuesday night's favourite show. Viewers have also responded to the ongoing cold war between Rory and Lorelai on Gilmore Girls, making last week's episode (with guest Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state) the week's most popular show on either the WB or UPN.
Meanwhile, not every new drama strikes gold on ABC. Night Stalker last Thursday was seen by just under five million viewers, or about one-fifth the audience of the competing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation rerun.
CBS won the week again, averaging 12.6 million viewers (8.2 rating, 13 share), and winning among viewers aged 18 to 49. Fox had 10.3 million viewers (6.7, 11), ABC 9.5 million (6.2, 10), NBC 8.7 million (5.9, 9), the WB 3.7 million (2.5, 4) and UPN 3.6 million (2.4, 4).
A ratings point represents 1,102,000 households, or one per cent of the estimated 110.2 million TV homes in the U.S. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
For the week of Oct. 24-30, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 24.2 million; Without a Trace, CBS, 21.8 million; World Series Game 4: Chicago vs. Houston, Fox, 20 million; CSI: Miami, CBS, 19.9 million; NCIS, CBS, 18 million; Survivor: Guatemala, CBS, 17.4 million; Two and a Half Men, CBS, 16.8 million; Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 16.7 million; World Series Game 3: Chicago vs. Houston, Fox, 16.7 million; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC, 16.5 million.