http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/50ae592c1c33ae2b#

Looking at Tuesday's ratings, it continues to astound me how many
viewers a 10-year-old series like NCIS is pulling in, along with its
spin-off NCIS: LA and even Vegas, all on CBS. It's embarrassing to
the other networks and what they can barely muster - and then night
was all new, not a repeat in sight.

8:00 NCIS 21.5 million / 13.1 rating
That's about 5 million more viewes than what ABC, NBC, FOX and CW got
collectively and 2.5 rating points better over the other nets'
collective TOTAL. Not just embarrassing, but utterly humiliating. It
even won the hour in demos with a 3.7.

9:00 NCIS: LA 16.6 million / 10.2 rating
Even the spin-off easily topped the 8.4 collective total of ABC and
NBC and came in about just 1.5 under the opposing 4-net total. Still
an easy win and still snaring the 1st place demo title with a 3.1.
10:00 Vega 10.2 million / 6.6 rating

The weakest of the trio, but again it beat ABC's 7.9/5.3 for The
Bachelor and NBC's 4.1/2.8 for Smash's return. The demo win, however,
went to Bachelor with a 2.6. While the viewer count for Vegas did
better than any other show on the night by at least a couple of
million viewers, if not more, except for the NCIS twins, it's likely
still not good enough for CBS to think about renewing it for next
season.

So what's CBS doing that the other networks aren't that sees The Eye
far outdistancing the others and losing them in the ratings dust?
They're being what they're supposed to be - a "Broadcast" network, as
opposed to a niche or demo-friendly one. The others are also supposed
to be "Broad"casting and not nichecasting. Sure, their shows are
crap, but clearly they'll be the last network standing when the
downfall of broadcast TV really hits the fan.

I wish network shows were a little more creative. I know cable shows don't get the ratings that broadcast shows typically do, but look at how channels like FX, AMC, and USA are doing with their original series considering the medium which is delivering them. Their shows seem so much more interesting/cutting edge than a lot of network stuff these days. Look at the ratings for shows like "The Walking Dead" on AMC. TWD was actually beating a lot of broadcast shows Heck, a lot of USA's stuff is still pretty safe but it's interesting. I think there is an audience for "different" shows, but a lot of them being turned out on broadcast just aren't that good. NBC has a ton of hits on USA, yet NBC is struggling - why is that? IMO, USA puts out better dramas.

I, personally, find most of CBS's stuff to be boring and "safe." The crime dramas all seem the same. I can't believe they do so well. At least NBC is trying to be different. I wish more of the networks would put out more DECENT cutting edge/different stuff....I think it would do well.

There have been creative shows out there. Last Resort was one great example.

CBS is my favorite network and I love NCIS. I wish they would have more of a variety of shows though. There is going to come a time when their crime shows will fall. Everyone loves cable shows but aside from The Walking Dead, most of those shows would be cancelled on a network if they got those ratings.

There have been creative shows out there. Last Resort was one great example.
I think Last Resort would have been more successful if it was on cable. I liked the show but I dropped it after 3 episodes after I saw the ratings. I have no faith in the networks letting a serialized show have a proper ending.

CBS is my favorite network and I love NCIS. I wish they would have more of a variety of shows though. There is going to come a time when their crime shows will fall. Everyone loves cable shows but aside from The Walking Dead, most of those shows would be cancelled on a network if they got those ratings.
I wonder how The Walking Dead would do on broadcast. I don't know where it'd fit - FOX? Sons Of Anarchy gets great numbers for FX and is one of the top cable dramas with like 4.7 million viewers for the season finale last month - I think it might could get by on broadcast (FOX?). There have been some long-running, "different" series on broadcast like 24 or LOST.

Chuck on NBC was a good example of a show that muddled through several seasons on broadcast but probably would have been better off on a cable network like USA alongside Royal Pains, Psych, etc.

Last Resort is a good example and it was canceled. I guess I don't understand why good creative programming can't do better on the broadcast networks. Are the CSI, Criminal Minds, Hawaii Five-O reboot, and NCIS-type shows all people want to see on broadcast? The CW is probably the most prominent example of a "niche" network, and have a similar target as ABC Family who has shows that are doing better. I think the idea of a younger-skewing network is good, but why limit it just to females?