The big story in the weekly ratings crunch by the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) combining Nielsen data for both broadcast and cable/satellite networks is not how well a cable show did, but rather the strong performance by a broadcast network show outside of prime time. "Saturday Night Live" on NBC, with the much publicized appearance of GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, was the week’s #10 show in the big money 18-49 demo. ABC’s "Grey’s Anatomy" was #1 over all and ESPN’s "Monday Night Football," at #6, was the top cable/satellite show.
Correction: It turns out that the “Saturday Night Live” broadcast which was #10 in the key 18-49 demo for the week ending October 19th was not NBC’s usual Saturday night time slot for SNL, but the prime time special on Thursday. The weekly number crunch from TVB is limited to prime time shows on broadcast and cable/satellite networks. However, TVB checked the data for us and found that had the Saturday night broadcast with GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin been included in the rankings, it would have done even better, coming in at #3. The 10/18/08 episode of SNL with Palin delivered a 9.5 HH Rating, 6.5 A25-54 Rating and 5.5 A18-49 Rating (all Live+SD, from Nielsen’s Galaxy Lightning). The SNL broadcast was #2 in Adults 25-54 and #7 in Households.
Top 100 Programs on Broadcast and Subscription TV
Based on Primetime Adult 18-49 Ratings
Week ending October 19th, 2008
Week 4 of the 2008-2009 Broadcast Season
| RANK | PROGRAMS | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
# TLCST |
P18-49 Live+SD US AA% |
| 1 | GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 5.9 |
| 2 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 5.7 |
| 3 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 5.3 |
| 4 | HOUSE | FOX | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 5.3 |
| 5 | CSI | CBS | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 5.2 |
| 6 | NFL REGULAR SEASON L | ESPN | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 7 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 8 | HEROES | NBC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 4.3 |
| 9 | OFFICE | NBC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 4.3 |
| 10 | SNL:WKND UPDT 10/16(S)-10/16/2008 | NBC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 11 | SURVIVOR: GABON | CBS | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 12 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 13 | FRINGE | FOX | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 14 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 15 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 16 | SIMPSONS | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 17 | NCIS | CBS | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 17 | NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 19 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 20 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P | ABC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 21 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 22 | E.R. | NBC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 23 | KING OF THE HILL | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 24 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 25 | BROTHERS & SISTERS | ABC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 26 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 27 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 28 | AMERICAN DAD | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 29 | WORST WEEK | CBS | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 30 | ELEVENTH HOUR | CBS | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 31 | DECISION ’08:PRES ANALYS3(S)-10/15/2008 | NBC | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 32 | BIGGEST LOSER 6 | NBC | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 33 | AMAZING RACE 13 | CBS | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 34 | SR/PRES DEBATE 3 2008(S)-10/15/2008 | CNN | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 35 | MLB ALCS | TBSC | 10/14/2008 | 4 | 3.0 |
| 36 | SAMANTHA WHO? | ABC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 37 | MY OWN WORST ENEMY | NBC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 38 | COLD CASE | CBS | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 39 | UGLY BETTY | ABC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 40 | MY NAME IS EARL | NBC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 41 | FOX MLB NLCS GAME 5(S)-10/15/2008 | FOX | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 42 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 43 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 44 | LIFE ON MARS | ABC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 45 | KATH & KIM | NBC | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 46 | FOX MLB NLCS GAME 4(S)-10/13/2008 | FOX | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 47 | VOTE2008:ANALYSIS-WED(S)-10/15/2008 | ABC | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 48 | CHUCK | NBC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 49 | SIMPSONS-SUN 7:30P | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 50 | GARY UNMARRIED | CBS | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 51 | KNIGHT RIDER | NBC | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 52 | UNIT, THE | CBS | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 53 | CAMPAIGN ’08-DEBATE ANL-3(S)-10/15/2008 | CBS | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 54 | ELI STONE | ABC | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 55 | OLD CHRISTINE | CBS | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 56 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 57 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE MON | UNI | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 58 | BOSTON LEGAL | ABC | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 59 | AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS | ABC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 60 | COPS SP-10/18 9:30P(S)-10/18/2008 | FOX | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 61 | 20/20-FRI | ABC | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 62 | EX LIST, THE | CBS | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 63 | COPS SP-10/18 9P(S)-10/18/2008 | FOX | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 64 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE TUE | UNI | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 65 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL THU | UNI | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 66 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE THU | UNI | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 67 | PUSHING DAISIES | ABC | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 68 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | 10/13/2008 | 2 | 1.9 |
| 69 | PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE(S)-10/15/2008 | FOXNC | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 70 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL FRI | UNI | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 71 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE FRI | UNI | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 72 | SUPERNANNY | ABC | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 73 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL TUE | UNI | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 74 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL MON | UNI | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 75 | COPS 2 | FOX | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 76 | WIFE SWAP | ABC | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 77 | SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 78 | ONE TREE HILL-MON | CW | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 79 | SMALLVILLE | CW | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 80 | GOSSIP GIRL-MON | CW | 10/13/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 81 | CRUSOE | NBC | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 82 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 83 | 48 HOURS MYSTERY | CBS | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 84 | HOLE IN WALL THU-8:30P | FOX | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 85 | COPS | FOX | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 86 | SMARTER THAN 5TH 10/17-9P(S)-10/17/2008 | FOX | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 87 | AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-5 | CW | 10/15/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 88 | LIFE | NBC | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 89 | UFC 89: BISPING VS LEBEN | SPIKE | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 90 | SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 91 | HOLE IN WALL THU-8P | FOX | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 92 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU | UNI | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 93 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE FRI | UNI | 10/17/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 94 | KITCHEN NIGHTMARES | FOX | 10/16/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 95 | SIMPSONS SP-10/19 7P(S)-10/19/2008 | FOX | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 96 | SHOW SUENOS SANGRE MI SUN | UNI | 10/19/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 97 | AQUI Y AHORA TUE | UNI | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 98 | OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS | ABC | 10/14/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 99 | LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT | NBC | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 100 | CRIMETIME SATURDAY | CBS | 10/18/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| Source: 10/13 – 10/19/08 Nielsen Galaxy Explorer estimates. Ranked by average audience % (ratings); in the event of a tie, impressions (000’s) are used as a tiebreaker. Ad-Supported Subscription television only. Programming under 25 minutes excluded. |
|||||
