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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Nielsen Ratings

Nielsen Ratings stories: 21 news summaries

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DVRs Aren't Killing TV, They're Saving It

Turns out nearly half of viewers don't skip commercials

Nov 2, 09 5:57 AM CST
(Newser) - A year ago, TV networks were terrified of the DVR. The devices allowed viewers to skip commercials on playback, and who, given the choice, would watch TV commercials? Lots of people, it turns out. TV watching is such an inherently lazy activity that many viewers can’t summon the energy... More »

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television • DVR • Nielsen • Nielsen Ratings • TV ratings • women's issues • The Jay Leno Show


 Leno's 
 Ratings 
 Tumble 

Real prime-time shows beat talk show every night

Oct 7, 09 1:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - Here’s one headline Jay Leno won’t want to read. Ever since the fall TV season began in earnest Sept. 21, the former king of late night has been getting his keister kicked in primetime. He’s finished in last place every single night, with his numbers falling steadily... More »

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NBC • Nielsen Ratings • Jay Leno • late night talk show • late night host • TV ratings • primetime TV • The Jay Leno Show

(Newser) - A  group of media companies has joined forces with major advertisers to challenge Nielsen's dominance in TV ratings measurement, the Financial Times reports. The firms involved—including NBC, Time Warner, Disney, and Procter & Gamble—aim to have their rival audience measurement scheme up and running by next month,... More »

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television • Time Warner • NBC • Disney • Nielsen • Nielsen Ratings • digital video • TV ratings • viewing habits • television advertising

Dobbs' Ratings Plummet After Birther Talk

Questioning prez birth certificate scares off 15% of viewers

Jul 31, 09 5:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Even Bill O'Reilly thinks that Lou Dobbs' continuing sympathy with the birther movement questioning President Obama's birth certificate is just a ploy "to get ratings, trying to be provocative." But if Dobbs is pushing conspiracy theories to bump up viewership, it isn't working, reports the New York Observer.... More »

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Nielsen Ratings • TV ratings • Lou Dobbs • birther

(Newser) - The right might complain that television networks are in thrall to Barack Obama, but they have a good reason to be: the president is good for business. As Politico reports, Obama-related programs send ratings spiking—when he appeared on the Tonight Show, it had its best Friday night in 17... More »

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Barack Obama • Nielsen Ratings • TV ratings • Tonight Show • network television • George W. Bush • President Obama

In Push to Sell Ads, CBS Sells Itself in New Campaign

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

May 4, 09 10:01 AM CDT
(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... More »

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entertainment • CBS • advertising • USA Today • Nielsen Ratings • Fox • TV ratings • entertainment industry • rebranding • upfront week

Idol Ratings
Slip, but Still Strong at 30M

Smallest audience
since '04 as Fox
sees 10% dip

Jan 14, 09 5:01 PM CST
(Newser) - American Idol’s eighth-season opener drew 10% fewer viewers than the previous installment’s premiere, Bloomberg reports. But with 30 million viewers, it still tripled the ratings of nearest rival CBS among viewers aged 18-49. Idol, Fox’s highest-rated show, raised $750 million in ad revenue last year. The judges... More »

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reality TV • American Idol • CBS • Nielsen Ratings • Fox • TV ratings • News Corp • advertising sales

Leno Doesn't Know When
You Go to Bed

Sorry Jay, Americans aren't turning in earlier —quite the opposite

Dec 17, 08 12:28 PM CST
(Newser) - Despite what Jay Leno may think, Americans aren't going to bed earlier, the blog TV by the Numbers reports. Nielsen ratings confirm that more people watch TV at 10pm than later on, but that's nothing new. "What the data shows is a decreasing trend of viewership between 10 and... More »

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NBC • Nielsen Ratings • Jay Leno • network television • prime time

ANALYSIS

 NBC's
 Olympic
 Ratings:
 Gold

Phelps' record-breaking swim is highlight of network's bonanza

Aug 20, 08 2:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - NBC’s Olympic coverage smashed the competition last week, in what Variety suggests could be the most decisive rout in television history. Viewership was buoyed by Michael Phelps’ record-breaking gold-medal performance Saturday; in addition, NBC’s various networks reached a staggering 83% of the US. The margins were the biggest... More »

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NBC • Michael Phelps • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Nielsen Ratings • demographics • TV ratings • viewership

Network TV Records Worst Ratings Ever

Fox is tops in dismal strike-plagued season; cable's gain continues

May 21, 08 11:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - With just a few days left in the 2007-'08 TV season, Fox is set to take the ratings belt from five-time winner CBS. But it’ll be something of a hollow victory, because network TV on the whole recorded its worst year ever, Variety reports. Among the top five... More »

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television • CBS • Nielsen Ratings • Fox • TV ratings • network television • Fox network

OPINION

 SNL Finale Promises Fall Yuks 

McCain, Carell boost strong ending; election sure to provide autumn fodder

May 19, 08 2:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - It’s been a long, sometimes-bumpy road for Saturday Night Live, Tom Shales writes in the Washington Post, but the 33rd season finale showed the cast—and guest John McCain—in fine comic form, and was a ratings success to boot. SNL generally thrives in highly political times, and Shales... More »

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Saturday Night Live • television • John McCain • comedy • Nielsen Ratings • TV ratings • McCain 2008

 Last Chance for
 Gossip Girl Network? 

CW hemorrhaging viewers

May 16, 08 3:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - A ratings dip is threatening the CW network, sparking chatter that the newbie operation might not make it past year three, the Wall Street Journal reports. Despite the buzz about its racy teen drama Gossip Girl, CW has lost 28% of its young adult target audience. A critical problem is... More »

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television • CBS • Nielsen Ratings • Gossip Girl • CW

 'Idol' Ratings Hitting Sour Note 

Viewership declines suggest beginning of end for juggernaut

Apr 21, 08 8:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - Ratings monster “American Idol” is showing viewership cracks in its seventh season, and rival networks are circling, hoping to steal some of the more than 20 million viewers who tune into the Fox hit each week, reports the Los Angles Times. “Idol” viewership among women 18 to 34... More »

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television • reality TV • American Idol • Nielsen Ratings • Ryan Seacrest • Mariah Carey

 CBS May Dump Couric Early 

'Evening News' anchor has brought all-time low ratings

Apr 9, 08 7:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - CBS may part ways with "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric as soon as the January 2009 inauguration, and long before her contract expires in 2011, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources from both camps. Network executives are tired of all-time low ratings that began with the switch... More »

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television • media • Katie Couric • CBS • Dan Rather • Larry King • Nielsen Ratings • TV ratings • contract • news anchor • television news • CBS Evening News

Super Bowl Hits Ratings Record

Match-up pulls a record 97.5 million viewers

Feb 4, 08 7:40 PM CST
(Newser) - Super Bowl advertisers scored big last night as the Giants-Patriots match-up pulled a record 97.5 million viewers, besting the 1996 high of 94.1 million. "You could argue this might have been a perfect game from an advertising perspective,'' said a marketing analyst—who noted that the... More »

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advertising • New England Patriots • marketing • Nielsen Ratings • New York Giants • Super Bowl XLII • Super Bowl ads

Strike Takes Toll on TV Ratings

Reality programming cushions blow for Fox, NBC

Jan 30, 08 2:54 PM CST
(Newser) - The major television networks got a good look yesterday at the toll the 3-month-old writers strike has taken on ratings, Variety reports. Comparing last week to the same period in 2007, the top five networks lost an average 21% of viewers in the 18-49 age group. Fox topped ratings on... More »

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television • American Idol • NBC • Nielsen Ratings • Fox • network television

NBC Looks to TiVo to Help Sell Clients

Network is hoping to corral ad zappers by tapping DVR data

Nov 27, 07 12:22 PM CST
(Newser) - NBC Universal will begin using viewership data gleaned from TiVo digital video recorders beginning in January, making it the first of the major networks to have access to second-by-second ratings of programming and commercials from TiVo, reports the Wall Street Journal. The network hopes TiVo will help it develop effective... More »

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television • NBC • NBC Universal • commercials • Telemundo • DVR • Nielsen Ratings • TiVo • Nielsen Media Research • Bravo

Doubts Arise About Web Traffic Tracking

Huge gaps in audience estimates are stunting advertising growth

Oct 22, 07 12:42 PM CDT
(Newser) - If you think the internet makes tracking audience numbers any easier, think again. Media companies sometimes report millions more online visitors to their sites than tracking companies like Nielsen—because they use different measurements—and the gap makes online advertisers queasy. It's preventing the industry from growing as quickly as... More »

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Internet • online advertising • Nielsen Ratings • website • web traffic

How TiVo Can Save Your Show

Replay numbers will give huge boost to many scripted shows

Oct 1, 07 11:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - If video killed the radio star, then TiVo might be the salvation of your favorite bad show. Nielson will include DVR playback numbers in this season's ratings, the LA Times reports, which will mean big boosts for some—like CBS’ “Big Bang Theory,” up 13% on playback—and... More »

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television • DVR • Nielsen • Nielsen Ratings • TiVo

New TV Season Disappoints

First set of debuts get lukewarm reception

Sep 20, 07 4:56 PM CDT
(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... More »

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television • CBS • ABC • Jericho • audiences • Nielsen Ratings • Fox • Kid Nation • network television • CW network

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