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Even Some Perennial Ratings Juggernauts Are Falling to Historic Lows

Mar 15, 2013  •  Post A Comment

The casualty list for Thursday’s broadcast prime time, based on Nielsen overnights for the key 18-49 demo, includes at least a couple of typically strong shows: Fox’s “American Idol,” which sank to an all-time low for a regularly scheduled edition with a 3.0 average rating, and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” with a series-low 2.6, TVbytheNumbers.com reports.

NBC got in on the act too, with a series-low 1.0 average rating for “Community” in the 18-49 demo. Meanwhile, CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” equaled its season low with a 4.5 that still easily led the night.

The report notes that CBS programming was pre-empted in parts of the country by college basketball tournaments, meaning the numbers for CBS are likely to be subject to more than the usual adjustments.

CBS won the night with a 3.1 average rating in viewers 18-49 for prime time, topping Fox (2.5 average), ABC (1.7), Univision (1.5) and NBC (1.2). CBS also finished well ahead in total viewers with 13.4 million, followed by Fox (8.5 million), ABC (5.6 million), Univision (3.5 million) and NBC (3.2 million).

CBS got decent numbers out of “Person of Interest” — up one-tenth from a week ago to a 2.9 in adults 18-49 — and “Elementary” — even with its previous original with a 2.4. “Two and a Half Men” slid six-tenths from its prior original to a 3.3.

Fox’s “Glee” fell four-tenths to a 2.0 in 18-49.

NBC saw “Parks and Recreation” uptick two-tenths from its previous fresh installment to a 1.6, while “1600 Penn” rose one-tenth from a week ago to a 1.0 and “The Office” dipped one-tenth from its previous original to a 1.9.

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