The broadcast television season is about to come to an end with Fox on top, and the experts are already picking the pecking order of the big four networks. The news is that NBC is about to bring a close to an ignominious seven-year streak. But some find the network’s score to be a bit hollow.
Fox is expected to win the 18-49 wars, and CBS will take home the trophy for most total viewers – both said to be repeat victories in a Crain’s New York Business article about Nielsen ratings for the season.
In the key 18-49 derby, NBC is expected to edge past ABC 2.5 to 2.4.
However, it is being pointed out that basically two program properties are fueling the exit from the basement: NFL Football and The Voice. The NFL season also included the Super Bowl, which of course will not be on NBC’s schedule next year.
NBC’s football coverage is headlined by its popular Sunday night NFL game – and according to Crain’s, an anonymous ABC employee said that if sports programming was eliminated from NBC’s rating, it would be closer to 2.0.
ABC is said to be holding out hope that late-tallied DVR viewing will rescue it from a season in last place.