Network TV Records Worst Ratings Ever

First set of debuts get lukewarm reception

(NEWSER) - The fall TV season isn't wowing audiences so far, Variety reports. Four fresh shows hit the small screen last night, but none made a big splash. Fox's "Back to You" was tops among 18- to 49-year-olds and attracted 9.4 million viewers overall. But it won by a slim margin, and none of the newbies lived up to last fall's hits. More»

26.6 million tuned in for awards show

(AP) - The Grammys hit a high note in the ratings last night, drawing the show's biggest TV audience in a decade. Preliminary Nielsen figures today show the CBS broadcast attracted 26.6 million viewers, improving on last year's robust audience by 680,000 viewers. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards was also up by 3% in households over last year's broadcast, and dominated its network rivals last night. More»

This year's network pilots include four with non-white stars

(NEWSER) - The upcoming crop of pilots for network TV offers hope that the industry taboo against minority leads in dramas can finally be put to rest. Four of the most high-profile projects in the works feature non-white actors, notes the Hollywood Reporter , including Forest Whitaker in a spinoff of Criminal Minds for CBS. More»

Networks retune their lineup to court young viewers

(NEWSER) - Network TV's big hits—Modern Family, The Cleveland Show, NCIS: Los Angeles—join a pack of losers and losing news: NBC viewership is down 10% among young adults, ABC and CBS have slipped, too, and Eastwick, Hank, and Trauma have already been canceled. The LA Times surveys the playing field, mid-season.

• Comedy rules—kinda: Modern Family has reeled in 10.6 million viewers, but networks are still struggling to find the Friends or Seinfeld of the late aughts.

In anticipation of 'upfront week,' CBS reminds advertisers of its worth

(NEWSER) - As a run-up to television’s upfront week—in which broadcasters sell as much advertising as possible for the year—CBS is taking the offensive, launching a massive ad campaign selling CBS itself. The initiative is aimed at curbing the perception that broadcast is declining and cable is the future of TV. Though CBS ad revenue is stagnant, ratings have been improving, Broadcasting & Cable reports. More»