Fox has officially claimed its fifth consecutive win among adults 18-49 for the 2008-09 TV season, while CBS wrapped up the season as the most-watched broadcast network for the sixth time out of the last seven years.
With “America Idol” to bolster the second half of the season, Fox finished with a 3.6/8 among adults 18-49. The network edged out No. 2 CBS (3.1/8) by 14% even though Fox posted a 16% decline year-over-year. While CBS ranked second among the networks, it was the only one of the major four to post increases in the demo (+3%). Both ABC (2.9/8) and CBS (2.8/7) trailed closely behind, posting 3% and no losses, respectively.
Among total viewers, CBS finished first with 11.76 million for the season, up 11% over last. Again, CBS was the only one to post any yearly gains. Fox finished second with 9.80 million viewers, down 13% from last year, which ABC (8.95 million) and NBC (7.84) rounded off the rest, both posting a 3% decrease over last year.
Fox’s “Idol” finished the season as the top two shows. Wednesday night editions ranked at the top in both the demo and total viewers (9.8/24, 26.69 million), while Tuesday episodes tied for first in the demo and placed second in total viewers (9.8/25, 26.12 million).
ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” (5.7/13, 15.66 million) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (5.6/13, 14.52 million) gave the network a strong boost, coming in as the top two scripted shows among adults 18-49, placing 4th and 5th, respectively, among all programs.
CBS led the pack of scripted shows in total viewers, with “CSI” (5.2/12, 19.03 million), “NCIS” (3.8/10, 17.84 million) and freshman series “The Mentalist” (3.9/9, 17.45 million), each placing 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. The network also had the top performing comedy, “Two and a Half Men” (5.1/12, 14.98 million), which placed 8th in the demo and 10th among total viewers.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage (6.2/15, 16.27 million) broke the top ten in both categories as well, ranking 3rd in the demo and 8th among total viewers.
The top 10 regular shows for the 2008-09 series played out as follows:
Top Ten Programs Based on Average A18-49 Rating (2008-09)
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Rank
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Program
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Network
|
Rating
|
Share
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1
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American Idol (Wednesday)
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Fox
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9.8
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24
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1
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American Idol (Tuesday)
|
Fox
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9.8
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25
|
3
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NBC Sunday Night Football
|
NBC
|
6.2
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15
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4
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Desperate Housewives
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ABC
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5.7
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13
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5
|
Grey’s Anatomy
|
ABC
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5.6
|
13
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6
|
House
|
Fox
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5.4
|
14
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7
|
CSI
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CBS
|
5.2
|
12
|
8
|
Two and a Half Men
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CBS
|
5.1
|
12
|
9
|
Lost
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ABC
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5.0
|
12
|
10
|
Dancing With the Stars
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ABC
|
4.9
|
12
|
Top Ten Programs Based on Total Viewers P2+ (2008-09)
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Rank
|
Program
|
Network
|
Total Viewers (millions)
|
1
|
American Idol (Wednesday)
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Fox
|
26.69
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2
|
Ameircan Idol (Tuesday)
|
Fox
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26.12
|
3
|
Dancing With the Stars
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ABC
|
20.32
|
4
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
19.03
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5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
17.84
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6
|
The Mentalist
|
CBS
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17.45
|
7
|
Dancing with the Stars (Results)
|
ABC
|
16.76
|
8
|
NBC Sunday Night Football
|
NBC
|
16.27
|
9
|
Desperate Housewives
|
ABC
|
15.66
|
10
|
Two and a Half Men
|
CBS
|
14.98
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research.
Do you mean NBC trailed? Otherwise, CBS trailed behind CBS with a 2.8/7…
Paragraph 2:
“While CBS ranked second among the networks, it was the only one of the major four to post increases in the demo (+3%). Both ABC (2.9/8) and CBS (2.8/7) trailed closely behind, posting 3% and no losses, respectively.”
*Is it time to re-hire the person that used to proof online articles?