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Struggling NBC Series Shows Signs of Life

Mar 13, 2013  •  Post A Comment

On another low-rated night for NBC — with another fifth-place finish overall among broadcast networks — the Peacock got a sliver of good news as the ratings-challenged series “Smash” made a move in the right direction.

“Smash” improved by one-tenth of a ratings point in the key 18-49 demo, based on Nielsen overnights. TVbytheNumbers.com reports that Tuesday’s installment posted a 0.9 average in the demo, up from last week’s 0.8.

But NBC, which aired mostly repeat programming, was far from competitive. Its only other fresh program, an episode of “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers,” dipped one-tenth to a 1.0 in 18-49 on a night when the network not only finished behind its big four rivals but also lost to Spanish-language Univision.

Fox won the night with a 2.2 average for prime time in the 18-49 demo, followed by CBS (1.8 average), Univision (1.4), ABC (1.3) and NBC (0.9). Even with a lineup of mostly repeats, CBS easily outdistanced the pack in total viewers with 11.2 million, well ahead of ABC (4.9 million), Fox (4.4 million), Univision (3.5 million) and NBC (3.0 million).

The win for Fox came even as its two-hour premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen” lost ground from last year’s premiere, slipping two-tenths to a 2.2 average rating in adults 18-49.

CBS’s only fresh program was “Golden Boy,” which held steady with a 1.6 in the 18-49 demo.

ABC saw the season finale of “Taste” lose one-tenth from last week’s episode to sink to a series-low 1.1 average in 18-49. “Body of Proof” was also down one-tenth with a 1.2, but “Celebrity Wife Swap” rebounded slightly from last week’s series low, climbing one-tenth to a 1.6.

One Comment

  1. Smash is a much better show then the ratings reflect. The characters seem real, the story is good and overall, the music is outstanding.

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