Young Viewers Crazy for FOX - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-02-2005, 10:17 AM

http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Arti...ontentID=11601

Last week marked the official end of the 2004-2004 television season, which proved to be one of the most contentious and volatile races in the history of the medium. For the first time in its 20-year history, FOX emerged as the top-rated network for viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, beating long-standing champ NBC by not one but three spots, leaving the Peacock stranded in last place.

CBS, meanwhile, claimed victory over their key demographic, viewers between the ages of 25 and 54. Leading the pack with shows like CSI, CBS maintained dominance of that audience, but lost younger viewers to FOX, which ran ratings bonanzas like the Super Bowl and Americal Idol to superlative numbers over their competition.

NBC has historically been a victor by reason of their Thursday-night lineup, which has dominated ratings information for more than two decades. Shows like The Cosby Show, Seinfeld and Friends won the night easily since the 1980s and 1990s, but NBC was unable to find a successful successor to fill those monster shoes. Executives noted the fact that the margin between individual rankings, much less first and fourth, was the closest competition ever, but theirs was the only network to make a marked decline from past seasons.

For the season, NBC plunged 19 percent in the 18-to-49 competition, finishing at a 3.5 rating, down from a 4.3 last season. Fox's winning rating was a 4.1, while CBS finished with a 4 rating and ABC had a 3.7. Among total viewers, NBC was also dead last, down 11 percent, to an average nightly audience of 9.8 million. Last year NBC averaged more than 11 million viewers a night. Each rating point in the 18-to-49 category is worth 1.3 million viewers. Fox narrowly beat them out with a total of 9.9 million viewers for the season, while CBS and ABC trounced them both with just under 13 million and over 10 million respectively.

Peter Liguori, newly installed as president of entertainment for FOX, credited their recent success to the decision to keep Fox's powerhouse series, American Idol, with just one contest a season; the strategy of holding off the hit drama 24 until winter so it could run straight through without repeats; the shift of the soap opera cult hit The O.C. to Thursday night, where it established a beachhead for Fox on television's most competitive night; and the return of the animated series Family Guy, which, though once canceled, had become a hit on DVD and was successfully revived by Fox this spring.

Brian Damage · 06-02-2005, 10:18 AM

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr..._id=1000937481

Janice · 06-03-2005, 04:16 PM

It appears that FOX has found the formula that appeals to young viewers. Good for them. Nice to finally see another network give the 'BIG 3' a run for their money.

db108108 · 06-03-2005, 05:15 PM

Yes, the formula is called American Idol + Superbowl + a dash of 24 & House. Fox has ALOT of problems to fix, and although they did fix some this season (namely by establishling 24 on Monday and House becoming a mega-hit), they still have a dearth of hit on Wednesday, Sunday at the end of this season, although being hailed as a huge success, only returned to the levels it was drawing in 2003/2004., and Friday is a completely write off, like Thursdays at 9pm. Fox won't be number 1 next season, I 100% guarantee it.

Janice · 06-03-2005, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db108108

Yes, the formula is called American Idol + Superbowl + a dash of 24 & House. Fox has ALOT of problems to fix, and although they did fix some this season (namely by establishling 24 on Monday and House becoming a mega-hit), they still have a dearth of hit on Wednesday, Sunday at the end of this season, although being hailed as a huge success, only returned to the levels it was drawing in 2003/2004., and Friday is a completely write off, like Thursdays at 9pm. Fox won't be number 1 next season, I 100% guarantee it.

Psychic, are we? FOX came out on top this season. Nobody knows what the future holds. Nobody. I hope they do it again.

Mr. Television · 06-03-2005, 10:12 PM

At least they are cutting down on their reality shows and they have a new President so hopefully they won't kill anymore great shows. I only watch 24 and House on FOX but their are a few new shows over there that I might give a check out.

Brent88 · 06-03-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Psychic, are we? FOX came out on top this season. Nobody knows what the future holds. Nobody. I hope they do it again.

Next season:

ABC has Super Bowl, Oscars(FOX had the Super Bowl this year), plus their big hits
NBC has Olympics
CBS is CBS

FOX will not be #1.

If not for Idol, FOX would be nothing.

Pavan · 06-03-2005, 11:19 PM

Please, FOX only won adults 18-49 because of the Super Bowl. And they only won that title by .1 of a point. Even with the Super Bowl and Idol they were still 3rd place in total viewers -- without the Super Bowl they would have been 4th place. Here are the ratings for the season:

-Households:
CBS: 8.4/14 (no change), ABC: 6.5/11 (+10), NBC: 6.5/11 (-11), Fox: 6.1/10 (no change), UPN: 2.3/ 4 (no change), WB: 2.2/ 4 (- 8)

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 12.92 million (- 1), ABC: 10.05 (+11), Fox: 10.04 (+ 3), NBC: 9.78 (-12), UPN: 3.35 (- 1), WB: 3.35 (- 8)

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 4.1/11 (no change), CBS: 4.0/11 (+ 3), ABC: 3.7/10 (+16), NBC: 3.5/ 9 (-17), UPN: 1.4/ 4 (no change), WB: 1.4/ 4 (- 7)

-Adults 18-34:
Fox: 3.8/12 (- 5), ABC: 3.0/ 9 (+15), CBS: 2.9/ 9 (+ 7), NBC: 2.9/ 9 (-19), WB: 1.5/ 4 (- 6), UPN: 1.4/ 4 (no change)

-Adults 25-54:
CBS: 4.9/12 (no change), ABC: 4.3/10 (+13), Fox: 4.3/10 (+ 2), NBC: 4.2/10 (-12), UPN: 1.4/ 3 (no change), WB: 1.4/ 3 (- 7)

Brian Damage · 06-03-2005, 11:27 PM

I think Fox has some building blocks for their future. Young viewers is what every network wants and Fox is starting to capitalize on that. Good for them.

Dean Winchester · 06-04-2005, 12:03 AM

everyone wants "young viewers", but I think networks forget the key is actually shows that attract adults.

I've seen several reports that attribute the success of Desperate Housewives to the fact that the heroines (except for Eva Longoria) are over 40, and that it gets younger viewers who watch for Eva and Jesse Metcalfe, as well as adults who watch for the other girls and James Denton... and this way to appeal to both younger and older audiences has made the show a blockbuster.

Lost also owes a lot of it's popularity to this, younger audiences might tune in to see Dominick Monaghan, but older audiences also find things appealing to watch in it for too.

Pavan · 06-04-2005, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I think Fox has some building blocks for their future. Young viewers is what every network wants and Fox is starting to capitalize on that. Good for them.

How so? FOX did the same as they did last year in "young viewers," and this year they had the Super Bowl. The only non-American Idol shows that deliver for them are House and 24. And House only caught on because of Idol. FOX is flat in every category, slightly up in total viewers (Super Bowl factor again), and down in adults 18-34.

But of course NBC is in more trouble right now.

Mr. Television · 06-04-2005, 12:26 AM

I think we have to see if House still gets great ratings without AI in the fall. FOX always seems to have a great second half of the season and a lousy first half.

db108108 · 06-04-2005, 10:13 AM

House is so far drawing stronger in repeats this summer than it did for original episodes last fall, which is a very good sign. It won't reach the highs of post "Idol," but it will be very strong in its timeslot.

Dean Winchester · 06-04-2005, 02:44 PM

outside of Arrested Development and the animated programs, I don't see what the fuss about Fox is.

American Idol represents everything wrong with the music industry.
The OC was better when it was called Beverly Hills, 90210, and this season the WB's One Tree Hill (which is nothing more than a remake of Dawson's Creek, even using many of the same sets) has replaced it as the "hot" show.
Stacked is just terrible.
That 70's Show used to be good but really should've ended with Ashton and Topher leaving.

IMO, the glory days of Fox ended around the time X-Files and Ally McBeal said goodbye and American Idol made it's debut.

06-03-2005, 10:12 PM	#6
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	At least they are cutting down on their reality shows and they have a new President so hopefully they won't kill anymore great shows. I only watch 24 and House on FOX but their are a few new shows over there that I might give a check out.
	__________________ Sonny

06-03-2005, 11:19 PM	#8
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,815	Please, FOX only won adults 18-49 because of the Super Bowl. And they only won that title by .1 of a point. Even with the Super Bowl and Idol they were still 3rd place in total viewers -- without the Super Bowl they would have been 4th place. Here are the ratings for the season: -Households: CBS: 8.4/14 (no change), ABC: 6.5/11 (+10), NBC: 6.5/11 (-11), Fox: 6.1/10 (no change), UPN: 2.3/ 4 (no change), WB: 2.2/ 4 (- 8) -Total Viewers: CBS: 12.92 million (- 1), ABC: 10.05 (+11), Fox: 10.04 (+ 3), NBC: 9.78 (-12), UPN: 3.35 (- 1), WB: 3.35 (- 8) -Adults 18-49: Fox: 4.1/11 (no change), CBS: 4.0/11 (+ 3), ABC: 3.7/10 (+16), NBC: 3.5/ 9 (-17), UPN: 1.4/ 4 (no change), WB: 1.4/ 4 (- 7) -Adults 18-34: Fox: 3.8/12 (- 5), ABC: 3.0/ 9 (+15), CBS: 2.9/ 9 (+ 7), NBC: 2.9/ 9 (-19), WB: 1.5/ 4 (- 6), UPN: 1.4/ 4 (no change) -Adults 25-54: CBS: 4.9/12 (no change), ABC: 4.3/10 (+13), Fox: 4.3/10 (+ 2), NBC: 4.2/10 (-12), UPN: 1.4/ 3 (no change), WB: 1.4/ 3 (- 7)
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06-02-2005, 10:17 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Young Viewers Crazy for FOX http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Arti...ontentID=11601 Last week marked the official end of the 2004-2004 television season, which proved to be one of the most contentious and volatile races in the history of the medium. For the first time in its 20-year history, FOX emerged as the top-rated network for viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, beating long-standing champ NBC by not one but three spots, leaving the Peacock stranded in last place. CBS, meanwhile, claimed victory over their key demographic, viewers between the ages of 25 and 54. Leading the pack with shows like CSI, CBS maintained dominance of that audience, but lost younger viewers to FOX, which ran ratings bonanzas like the Super Bowl and Americal Idol to superlative numbers over their competition. NBC has historically been a victor by reason of their Thursday-night lineup, which has dominated ratings information for more than two decades. Shows like The Cosby Show, Seinfeld and Friends won the night easily since the 1980s and 1990s, but NBC was unable to find a successful successor to fill those monster shoes. Executives noted the fact that the margin between individual rankings, much less first and fourth, was the closest competition ever, but theirs was the only network to make a marked decline from past seasons. For the season, NBC plunged 19 percent in the 18-to-49 competition, finishing at a 3.5 rating, down from a 4.3 last season. Fox's winning rating was a 4.1, while CBS finished with a 4 rating and ABC had a 3.7. Among total viewers, NBC was also dead last, down 11 percent, to an average nightly audience of 9.8 million. Last year NBC averaged more than 11 million viewers a night. Each rating point in the 18-to-49 category is worth 1.3 million viewers. Fox narrowly beat them out with a total of 9.9 million viewers for the season, while CBS and ABC trounced them both with just under 13 million and over 10 million respectively. Peter Liguori, newly installed as president of entertainment for FOX, credited their recent success to the decision to keep Fox's powerhouse series, American Idol, with just one contest a season; the strategy of holding off the hit drama 24 until winter so it could run straight through without repeats; the shift of the soap opera cult hit The O.C. to Thursday night, where it established a beachhead for Fox on television's most competitive night; and the return of the animated series Family Guy, which, though once canceled, had become a hit on DVD and was successfully revived by Fox this spring.

06-02-2005, 10:18 AM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr..._id=1000937481

06-03-2005, 04:16 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	It appears that FOX has found the formula that appeals to young viewers. Good for them. Nice to finally see another network give the 'BIG 3' a run for their money.

06-03-2005, 05:15 PM	#4
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	Yes, the formula is called American Idol + Superbowl + a dash of 24 & House. Fox has ALOT of problems to fix, and although they did fix some this season (namely by establishling 24 on Monday and House becoming a mega-hit), they still have a dearth of hit on Wednesday, Sunday at the end of this season, although being hailed as a huge success, only returned to the levels it was drawing in 2003/2004., and Friday is a completely write off, like Thursdays at 9pm. Fox won't be number 1 next season, I 100% guarantee it.

06-03-2005, 11:27 PM	#9
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	I think Fox has some building blocks for their future. Young viewers is what every network wants and Fox is starting to capitalize on that. Good for them.

06-04-2005, 12:03 AM	#10
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	everyone wants "young viewers", but I think networks forget the key is actually shows that attract adults. I've seen several reports that attribute the success of Desperate Housewives to the fact that the heroines (except for Eva Longoria) are over 40, and that it gets younger viewers who watch for Eva and Jesse Metcalfe, as well as adults who watch for the other girls and James Denton... and this way to appeal to both younger and older audiences has made the show a blockbuster. Lost also owes a lot of it's popularity to this, younger audiences might tune in to see Dominick Monaghan, but older audiences also find things appealing to watch in it for too.

06-04-2005, 12:26 AM	#12
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	I think we have to see if House still gets great ratings without AI in the fall. FOX always seems to have a great second half of the season and a lousy first half.

06-04-2005, 10:13 AM	#13
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	House is so far drawing stronger in repeats this summer than it did for original episodes last fall, which is a very good sign. It won't reach the highs of post "Idol," but it will be very strong in its timeslot.

06-04-2005, 02:44 PM	#14
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	outside of Arrested Development and the animated programs, I don't see what the fuss about Fox is. American Idol represents everything wrong with the music industry. The OC was better when it was called Beverly Hills, 90210, and this season the WB's One Tree Hill (which is nothing more than a remake of Dawson's Creek, even using many of the same sets) has replaced it as the "hot" show. Stacked is just terrible. That 70's Show used to be good but really should've ended with Ashton and Topher leaving. IMO, the glory days of Fox ended around the time X-Files and Ally McBeal said goodbye and American Idol made it's debut.