US TV
With the 2007-08 TV season now a week old, ABC and NBC have emerged as front-runners in the ratings race after both networks rolled out their big guns to capture viewers.
ABC, which relies on female-friendly fare including Grey's Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor, appeared to have edged the more masculine NBC - which features power performers such as Heroes and Bionic Woman in its lineup - in the 18-49 demo race by a tenth of a ratings point in the first week of the season. However, NBC claimed victory based on a technicality; a Nielsen rule change has permitted the network to count two airings of Heroes - one a repeat - together. That rule change is under review after scathing criticism from NBC's competitors.
The standout performances from opening week include CSI on CBS, which pulled a whopping 25.2m viewers on Thursday to take the most-watched crown and a demo win, Grey's Anatomy with 20.9m viewers and a 17% demo share, Heroes, which had a stunning 17m viewers and a 17% demo share, and Bionic Woman, which bowed with an impressive 13.9m viewers and 14% demo share.
ABC was greatly assisted by leveraging the pulling power of Dancing with the Stars to give new shows strong lead-in numbers. The US version of Strictly Come Dancing, now in its fifth season, started with 21.3m viewers on Monday and performed equally well on Tuesday and Wednesday.
ABC, which relies on female-friendly fare including Grey's Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor, appeared to have edged the more masculine NBC - which features power performers such as Heroes and Bionic Woman in its lineup - in the 18-49 demo race by a tenth of a ratings point in the first week of the season. However, NBC claimed victory based on a technicality; a Nielsen rule change has permitted the network to count two airings of Heroes - one a repeat - together. That rule change is under review after scathing criticism from NBC's competitors.
The standout performances from opening week include CSI on CBS, which pulled a whopping 25.2m viewers on Thursday to take the most-watched crown and a demo win, Grey's Anatomy with 20.9m viewers and a 17% demo share, Heroes, which had a stunning 17m viewers and a 17% demo share, and Bionic Woman, which bowed with an impressive 13.9m viewers and 14% demo share.
ABC was greatly assisted by leveraging the pulling power of Dancing with the Stars to give new shows strong lead-in numbers. The US version of Strictly Come Dancing, now in its fifth season, started with 21.3m viewers on Monday and performed equally well on Tuesday and Wednesday.
More: US TV, Nielsen Ratings Roundup
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