Racially divided "Survivor" slips from past debuts - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-16-2006, 12:39 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The controversial new format of the CBS reality show "Survivor" -- dividing teams of contestants by race -- proved the series' least-watched debut episode since its first season, Nielsen Media Research reported on Friday.

Thursday's launch of "Survivor: Cook Islands," featuring four racially based "tribes" of whites, blacks, Asian-Americans and Latinos, averaged 18 million viewers, easily ranking as the night's biggest broadcast in U.S. prime time.

But it also was the least-watched "Survivor" season opener -- and the lowest-rated in terms of advertisers' favorite audience, viewers aged 18 to 49 -- since the very first installment in the summer of 2000 (15.5 million).

The "Survivor" franchise, which helped usher in a wave of unscripted contest shows that swept prime time six years ago, was already showing signs of wear heading into its 13th edition this season.

After several years of debut audiences topping 20 million viewers, "Survivor: Panama-Exile" launched in February with nearly 19.2 million viewers and "Survivor: Guatemala" opened with 18.4 million last fall.

Recently, General Motors Corp. said it was ending its six-year sponsorship of the show, insisting the move had nothing to do with complaints raised by minority groups and others about the show's new race-based format.

The controversy and publicity surrounding the new direction taken by producer Mark Burnett failed to spark the heightened interest CBS might have hoped for in relatively light competition against two new Fox network comedies.

Nevertheless, 18 million viewers is considered a solid number by most standards, especially in the realm of reality TV, a genre where many shows fade quickly in popularity.

An 80s Guy · 09-19-2006, 03:21 PM

U thought it'd be the most watched opener achually.I thought people would find the new way intresting.

Ireneparalegal · 09-27-2006, 03:03 PM

I am a HUGE Survivor fan. I was on vacation when the debut episode aired. I didn't get to see it. But after watching the second episode, it left me kinda "blah"...or is it just my meds making me feel this way? LOL

tdf4077 · 10-01-2006, 01:21 AM

Ok...that merge ceremony thing was WAY too long (IMO)....

What do you guys think?

Brent88 · 10-01-2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdf4077

Ok...that merge ceremony thing was WAY too long (IMO)....

What do you guys think?

Yeah, but I actually liked the way they did it. It was very random and cool.

Ant-Lox · 10-01-2006, 02:22 AM

The merge came out of nowhere, but it was cool, I really like the blue tribe....

09-16-2006, 12:39 PM	#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: 63,107	Racially divided "Survivor" slips from past debuts LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The controversial new format of the CBS reality show "Survivor" -- dividing teams of contestants by race -- proved the series' least-watched debut episode since its first season, Nielsen Media Research reported on Friday. Thursday's launch of "Survivor: Cook Islands," featuring four racially based "tribes" of whites, blacks, Asian-Americans and Latinos, averaged 18 million viewers, easily ranking as the night's biggest broadcast in U.S. prime time. But it also was the least-watched "Survivor" season opener -- and the lowest-rated in terms of advertisers' favorite audience, viewers aged 18 to 49 -- since the very first installment in the summer of 2000 (15.5 million). The "Survivor" franchise, which helped usher in a wave of unscripted contest shows that swept prime time six years ago, was already showing signs of wear heading into its 13th edition this season. After several years of debut audiences topping 20 million viewers, "Survivor: Panama-Exile" launched in February with nearly 19.2 million viewers and "Survivor: Guatemala" opened with 18.4 million last fall. Recently, General Motors Corp. said it was ending its six-year sponsorship of the show, insisting the move had nothing to do with complaints raised by minority groups and others about the show's new race-based format. The controversy and publicity surrounding the new direction taken by producer Mark Burnett failed to spark the heightened interest CBS might have hoped for in relatively light competition against two new Fox network comedies. Nevertheless, 18 million viewers is considered a solid number by most standards, especially in the realm of reality TV, a genre where many shows fade quickly in popularity.
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09-27-2006, 03:03 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I am a HUGE Survivor fan. I was on vacation when the debut episode aired. I didn't get to see it. But after watching the second episode, it left me kinda "blah"...or is it just my meds making me feel this way? LOL
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10-01-2006, 01:21 AM	#4
tdf4077 JaJa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,678	Ok...that merge ceremony thing was WAY too long (IMO).... What do you guys think?
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10-01-2006, 02:22 AM	#6
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	The merge came out of nowhere, but it was cool, I really like the blue tribe....
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09-19-2006, 03:21 PM	#2
An 80s Guy legen-wait for it-dary! Senior Member Join Date: Sep 03, 2005 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 1,870	U thought it'd be the most watched opener achually.I thought people would find the new way intresting.