Compelling Television: Ratings and Scheduling

I can't decide whether to watch! I think I'll tune in and out - I live in the Patriots' hometown, but I still barely pay attention. But yes, they will make history with a 19-0 season if they win today. Usually I root for the underdog, but they've come so far that they'd better win!

You're right, iamdaffodils! Thanks for the correction. It has always been such a big deal to the football fans I know, I subconsciously equated it to the SB. (Total brain lock, too, since I even put in a link - Duh.) bailey, you are one glint I'm glad your parents had. LOL! Kerry, although Im not a fan, and I feel obliged to root for my home town, I love history making events, so part of me is cheering on the Pats. Besides, the Giants logo is soooo boring - I'd be more enthusiastic for the Jets.

You're right, iamdaffodils! Thanks for the correction. It has always been such a big deal to the football fans I know, I subconsciously equated it to the SB. (Total brain lock, too, since I even put in a link - Duh.) bailey, you are one glint I'm glad your parents had. LOL! Kerry, although Im not a fan, and I feel obliged to root for my home town, I love history making events, so part of me is cheering on the Pats. Besides, the Giants logo is soooo boring - I'd be more enthusiastic for the Jets. No problem :) know what you mean about brain freeze, but yeah it was such a big deal, and calling it "Heidi Bowl", you'd think it was a SB.

Fast affiliate ratings from PI Feedback:The Giants vs. Patriots match-up averaged an approximate 89.10 million viewers and a 34.8 rating/67 share among adults 18-49 from 7-10 p.m. (the 6:20-7 p.m. portion of the game was not available, which means that these results will increase) ... The Super Bowl Post Game at 10 p.m. scored an estimated 68.32 million viewers and a 28.2/57 among adults 18-49, while the first-half of a Sunday edition of House netted 32.78 million viewers and a 14.4/34 in the demo at 10:30 p.m. Those numbers could change a bit as House didn't start right on the half-hour mark, and I don't know whether this includes NY & Boston. eta: it'll be interesting to see if Nielsen is able to figure out DVR viewing for the episode. Assuming people actually managed to record enough of it to watch :P eta 2: Fast national numbers from Futon Critic: prime time portion of House: households: 17.5/30, A18-49: 14.4 for comparison, last year's post-Super Bowl Criminal Minds had households 14.7/25, A18-49: 10.0, which was -23.44% households and -33.33% A18-49 from the previous year's post-Super Bowl Grey's Anatomy. Which I guess puts House at a little less than GA in households and a little more than GA in A18-49. Depending on how the percentages were calculated and how the viewers/rating point compare... another comparison, the best previous fast national ratings for House were 30 Jan 2007 (ep. 312): households 15.9/24, A18-49 11.2, which translated into 27.34M total viewers in the final numbers for the week. The average for eps 401-410 is roughly households 10.7/16, A18-49 7.4/18 (18.07M viewers). I still have no idea how Nielsen accounts for differing amounts of House falling into the prime time hours and 2 big markets not having any PT House...

Did ABC show Greys directly after the SuperBowl or was there a post show too? Was there an explanation why House was delayed or not shown in some areas? I really thought House could beat Greys' 38 million

There's always some kind of post-show following the Superbowl, in terms of analysis, presenting the Vince Lombardi trophy, talking to the MVP, etc. The extended local coverage after the network has gone on to whatever show follows the Superbowl is different - and probably only happens in the markets of the teams that are playing.

Marykir, what does households mean in ratings, please? The average for eps 401-410 is roughly households 10.7/16, A18-49 7.4/18 (18.07M viewers). Are these ratings impressive or barely?

I think there was a post show; there usually is to show the trophy presentation. In New York City and Boston, there was apparently some local news coverage of the football game until 11pm. Then they showed House. (Prime time ends at 11pm.) I thought House would do better too. Until I sat through the seemingly endless post-game show... maybe they had ads that had to be shown? It seemed like toward the end, they did an ad break, went back to the post-show host so he could say they'd be back, showed more ads, then came back for the wrap up and 2 minute countdown to House. FYI, "final" fast national numbers for House were 29M viewers. I don't think the final "final" numbers are out yet. Marykir, what does households mean in ratings, please? The average for eps 401-410 is roughly households 10.7/16, A18-49 7.4/18 (18.07M viewers). Are these ratings impressive or barely? The numbers put House in the top 5 scripted shows and top 10 shows overall (last time I looked). The only scripted shows that regularly top House are CSI, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy. Recently NCIS has been in the same ballpark as House. households 10.7/16 means 10.7% of all US households watch House Tuesday night and 16% of households watching TV at 9pm Tuesday watch House. A18-49 7.4/18 means 7.4% of all adults 18-49 watch House Tuesday night and 18% of adults 18-49 watching TV at 9pm Tuesday watch House.

I think there was a post show; there usually is to show the trophy presentation. In New York City and Boston, there was apparently some local news coverage of the football game until 11pm. Then they showed House. (Prime time ends at 11pm.) It was delayed. I was kind of irritated, that they kept saying House was going to be on next, and then we got nearly a half hour of news. At that point I wanted House on ASAP! House began at 11.

Marykir, thanks for the explanation. Looking at it, I don't think those ratings are that impressive, am I wrong?

Looking at it, I don't think those ratings are that impressive, am I wrong? They don't look too impressive to me unfortunately.

I'm surprised by the numbers too...it's House's most viewers ever obviously but I still would have thought they'd be bigger than 2 million over their previous record. Weird. I guess the timing in certain places did hurt it a little. Also...for what it's worth...I could be totally wrong about this but I feel like Fox plugged Terminator waaaay more than it plugged House last night. Again though...that could just be me being nuts. I didn't think there were crazy amounts of House ads but it seemed like almost every ad break had a Terminator promo. The terminator thing was even beating the crap out of the Fox football robot when they came back from break! Now why couldn't they have a little animated House there beating the crap out of it with his cane instead?! :wink:

Looking at it, I don't think those ratings are that impressive, am I wrong? They don't look too impressive to me unfortunately. Which ratings? The ratings for the post-Super Bowl episode, or the average ratings for the year? The average ratings for the year are excellent. Almost all shows on TV have seen declining same day ratings, but House is at least level with last season. They are by far the top scripted show on Fox. I expected the post-Super Bowl ratings to be better. But... <*>I don't think NY and Boston markets counted anything toward the total. Unless they counted the people who watched from 11p like they would same day DVR viewing? I'd think this cost House at least 1M viewers. <*>The post-game show totally ran out of steam after the trophy presentation - for another 15 minutes. If I didn't already watch House, I wouldn't have stuck around through all the ads (for other shows!). <*>Grey's Anatomy had the huge promotion with the bomb in the patient (right?). IIRC, Grey's was everywhere pre-Super Bowl. House had to go with a "normal" episode and very little promotion outside of ads on Fox. They couldn't even have Hugh go on Leno to promote the show. Maybe they should have showed the blurry naked Mira Sorvino bit in the ads during the game :) <*>House is in it's 4th season, maybe everyone who cared to sample it already has. <*>Even if people don't know there's exactly one episode of House left, they probably have some vague idea there's not going to be a lot of new episodes coming up. So why would they sample if they aren't already watching? Oops, almost forgot... <*>Everyone hates the new team and refuses to watch episodes without Chase or Cameron in the promos... <*>or hates the lack of Cuddy and Wilson... <*>or too much Foreman... <*>or the idea of House flirting with a woman (ick!)... <*>or didn't know there was an episode on Sunday... <*>or couldn't figure out when the episode would be on... <*>or how to program their VCR/DVR to record an extra hour hughsblues, animated House beating the crap out of that stupid robot would have been awesome!

Which ratings? The ratings for the post-Super Bowl episode, or the average ratings for the year? The ratings for the post Superbowl episode.

I don't know, if I was TPTB, I would be mighty pleased with the ratings.

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