“Dance” leads Fox to weeklong ratings win

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – Fox took the top three
programs among adults 18-49 — including both editions of “So
You Think You Can Dance” — as well as six of the top 10 on its
way to a weeklong win in the coveted demographic, according to
Nielsen Media Research data for the period ended July 16.

With a 2.5 rating/8 share, Fox won the week, well ahead of
NBC’s 2.1/7, CBS’ 2.0/6 and ABC’s 1.7/5. But CBS won the week
in total viewership with 7 million to Fox’s 6.6 million, NBC’s
6.5 million and ABC’s 5.1 million.

Wednesday’s “Dance” (9.6 million, 3.8/11) and Thursday’s
“Dance” (9.3 million, 3.7/11) outshone Wednesday’s two-hour
installment of NBC reality rookie “America’s Got Talent” (11.1
million, 3.5/11). Yet head-to-head at 9 p.m. Wednesday,
“Talent” edged out “Dance” (3.9 vs. 3.8).

The week’s top primetime program was last Tuesday’s Major
League Baseball All-Star Game, which averaged 14.4 million
viewers and a 4.6/14.

Rounding out the top 10 in the demo were NBC’s “Last Comic
Standing” (7.6 million, 3.3/9); Fox’s All-Star Game Preview
Show (10.2 million, 3.2/12); Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” (6.4
million, 3.1/9); Fox’s “Family Guy” (5.8 million, 2.9/8); CBS’
“CSI: Miami” (10.6 million, 2.9/8) and CBS’ “Two and Half Men”
(9.1 million, 2.8/8). Tied with “Men” were “CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation” (10.3 million, 2.8/9), CBS’ “Big Brother” (7.4
million, 2.8/9) and NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” (8 million,
2.8/9).

CBS’ edited presentation of Showtime’s “Brotherhood” failed
to make waves, coming in third in its 10 p.m. Saturday period.
“Brotherhood” delivered 3.4 million viewers and a 0.8/3 in the
demo, losing significant audience from a repeat “48 Hours
Mystery” (4.7 million, 1.1/4) and behind a repeat of NBC’s “Law
& Order: Criminal Intent” (4.8 million, 1.4/5).

“Brotherhood’s” exposure to the broadcast crowd did little
to kindle any initial interest back on Showtime; the second
week’s premiere episode Sunday at 10 p.m. grabbed only 158,000
viewers, a 65% drop from last week’s debut.

On the evening newscast front, ABC and NBC were tied with a
2.1 rating in the news demographic of adults 25-54 though ABC
was slightly ahead in demo viewership (2.55 million to 2.53
million) allowing ABC to win or tie for five consecutive weeks.
CBS, by contrast, had a 1.7 rating.

In total viewership, NBC was again on top with 8 million
vs. ABC’s 7.4 million and CBS’ 6.7 million. For the second
consecutive week, “World News Tonight” was anchored not by
Charles Gibson but two substitutes: Kate Snow and Terry Moran.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter