Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Fox’s American Idol steamrolls the competition, as it paces ahead of last year’s similarly themed episode. Jericho’s return disappoints.

Fox finished in first place for the evening with an 17.3/26 household rating, 30.33 million total viewers and an 12.2/31 rating among adults 18-49.

• Last Week:
  • Households – 11.8/18 rating [#1]
  • Viewers – 20.45 million [#1]
  • Adults 18-49 – 8.1/20 rating [#1]

• 8:00 p.m.: A two hour American Idol (17.3/26 HH rating, 30.33M viewers, 12.2/31 A18-49) titled “Hollywood Week Round 2” drew strong ratings creeping back up over 30M viewers, and ahead of last nights episode, as well as last year’s “Hollywood Week Round 2” episode. The series was up 1.55M viewers, 5% among households and 3% among adults 18-49 year-to-year (check out the numbers below).
  • Week-to-week numbers (vs. 9:00-10:00 p.m.):
    • Households – 15.8/23 to 17.3/26
    • Viewers – 28.54M to 30.33M
    • Adults 18-49 – 12.1/29 to 12.2/31
  • Year-to-year numbers (2/14/2006):
    • Households – 16.5/25 to 17.3/26
    • Viewers – 28.78M to 30.33M
    • Adults 18-49 – 11.9/30 to 12.2/31

CBS followed in second place for the evening with an 8.2/13 household rating, 12.39 million total viewers and a 3.5/9 rating among adults 18-49.

• Last Week:
  • Households –8.0/13 rating [#2]
    
  • Viewers –12.57 million [#2]
  • Adults 18-49 –3.5/9 rating [#2]

• 8:00 p.m.: The return of Jericho (5.7/9 HH rating, 8.65M viewers, 2.4/6 A18-49 rating) drew disappointing numbers, most likely due to the fact its now going up against American Idol. The show was down 1.6M viewers, 10% among households and 23% among adults 18-49 for a series low.
  • Episode-to-episode numbers (11/29/2006):
    • Households – 6.3/10 to 5.7/9
    • Viewers – 10.25M to 8.65M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.1/9 to 2.4/6
• 9:00 p.m.: Criminal Minds (9.5/14 HH rating, 14.44M viewers, 4.0/9 A18-49 rating) stayed relatively flat from the week prior, but it appears the post Super Bowl push is no longer there.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 9.6/14 to 9.5/14
    • Viewers – 15.40M to 14.44M
    • Adults 18-49 – 4.0/10 to 4.0/9
• 10:00 p.m.: CSI: NY (9.3/15 HH rating, 14.08M viewers, 4.1/11 A18-49 rating) held off Lost for another week among households and viewers, though still placed second among the key A18-49 demo.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 9.4/15 to 9.3/15
    • Viewers – 14.63M to 14.08M
    • Adults 18-49 – 4.4/11 to 4.1/11

ABC finished tied in third place for the evening with a 4.8/8 household rating and alone in third among viewers with 7.77 million and adults 18-49 with a 3.3/8 rating in the key demo.

• Last Week:
  • Households – 4.9/8 rating [#3]
  • Viewers – 7.92 million [#3]
  • A18-49 – 3.3/8 rating [#3]

• 8:00 & 8:30 p.m.: George Lopez (3.9/6 HH rating, 5.92M viewers, 2.2/6 A18-49 rating) and Knights of Prosperity (2.8/4 HH rating, 4.17M viewers, 1.6/4 A18-49 rating) each took dips downward. At this point in time, its highly unlikely Knights of Prosperity will be around for another year, so enjoy it while it lasts.
  • Week-to-week numbers (George Lopez)
    • Households – 4.8/8 to 3.9/6
    • Viewers – 7.15M to 5.92M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.6/7 to 2.2/6
  • Week-to-week numbers (Knights of Prosperity):
    • Households – 3.5/5 to 2.8/4
    • Viewers – 4.87M to 4.17M
    • Adults 18-49 – 1.9/5 to 1.6/4
• 9:00 p.m.: An encore of last week’s Lost (3.4/5 HH rating, 5.38M viewers, 2.2/5 A18-49 rating) grew some from its lead-in.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 3.2/5 to 3.4/5
    • Viewers – 4.99M to 5.38M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.1/5 to 2.2/5
• 10:00 p.m.: Lost (7.6/13 HH rating, 12.89M viewers, 5.7/15 A18-49 rating) stayed even week-to-week, perhaps bottoming out (or at least I’m sure ABC hopes that is the case). It grew slightly among all main categories.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 8.5/14 to 7.6/12 to 7.6/13
    • Viewers – 14.68M to 12.77M to 12.89M
    • Adults 18-49 – 6.5/16 to 5.6/14 to 5.7/15

NBC followed tied in third place for the evening with a 4.8/8 household rating and alone in fourth among total viewers with 7.12 million and among adults 18-49 with a 2.1/5 rating in the key demo.

• Last Week:
  • Households – 5.6/9 rating [#4]
  • Viewers – 8.55 million [#4]
  • A18-49 – 2.7/7 rating [#4]

• 8:00 p.m.: Friday Night Lights (3.7/6 HH rating, 5.37M viewers, 1.8/5 A18-49 rating) took a huge dip week-to-week shedding 2.06M viewers, 23% among households and 28% among adults 18-49. The only logical answer to the major losses was the increased competition due to Fox’s American Idol.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 4.8/8 to 3.7/6
    • Viewers – 7.43M to 5.37M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.5/7 to 1.8/5
• 9:00 p.m.: Deal or No Deal (5.7/9 HH rating, 8.14M viewers, 2.2/5 A18-49 rating) was also down some, but managed to grow from its lead-in.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 6.3/9 to 5.7/9
    • Viewers – 9.60M to 8.14M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.6/6 to 2.2/5
• 10:00 p.m.: Medium (5.4/9 HH rating, 7.85M viewers, 2.5/6 A18-49 rating) ended the evening for NBC in its now usual position of a third place time slot finish. It was once again the networks highest rated show among adults 18-49, despite losing nearly 17% of that audience week-to-week.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 5.7/9 to 5.4/9
    • Viewers – 8.63M to 7.85M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.0/8 to 2.5/6

The CW finished in fifth place with a 1.9/3 household rating, 3.12 million total viewers and a 1.4/4 rating among adults 18-49.

• Last Week:
  • Households – 2.1/3 rating [#5]
  • Viewers – 3.23 million [#5]
  • Adults 18-49 – 1.5/4 rating [#5]

• 8:00 p.m.: A reunion special for Beauty and the Geek (1.9/3 HH rating, 3.09M viewers, 1.3/3 A18-49 rating) was down some from last week, but that’s to be expected considering it wasn’t really a new episode, per say.
  • Week-to-week numbers (vs. the season finale):
    • Households – 2.6/4 to 1.9/3
    • Viewers – 4.21M to 3.09M
    • Adults 18-49 – 1.9/5 to 1.3/3
• 9:00 p.m.: One Tree Hill (1.7/3 HH rating, 3.15M viewers, 1.5/4 A18-49 rating) grew nearly a million viewers (900,000), 12% among households and a very respectable 36% among adults 18-49.  This marks the first time this season that the show grew from its lead-in. Considering the recent declines its experienced, this is a solid performance and to me at least, pretty surprising.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 1.7/3 to 1.9/3
    • Viewers – 2.25M to 3.15M
    • Adults 18-49 – 1.1/3 to 1.5/4

Note: Fast National are used when comparing week-to-week numbers, while Final Nationals are used when comparing year-to-year/episode-to-episode numbers, unless otherwise noted.

Source: Fast/Final National Ratings Data from Nielsen Media Research and PIFeedback