ABC got only a small ratings boost by airing “Pushing Daisies” while its three major rivals all carried a 30-minute political infomercial by Barack Obama on Wednesday. Fox, with what proved to be the finale of the World Series following the political ad, won the night handily with an overnight 8.8 rating and 13 share. CBS was at 7.7/12, NBC 4.8/4 and ABC 4.5/7, although ABC did claim 3rd place in the 18-49 demo as “Pushing Daisies” saw its audience increase by 16% from last week in the young demo.
The Nielsen Company provided this tally of how each network scored with each carrying the very same programming.
Obama for President – Paid Program – October 29, 2008 – 8-8:30 PM ET
|
Network |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
African American 2+ |
Hispanic 2+ |
White P2+ |
|||||
|
|
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
|
CBS |
5.5 |
6,350 |
3.0 |
8,600 |
4.4 |
1,640 |
1.1 |
480 |
3.0 |
6,330 |
|
FOX |
4.6 |
5,220 |
2.5 |
7,140 |
3.5 |
1,280 |
1.1 |
490 |
2.5 |
5,280 |
|
NBC |
6.0 |
6,870 |
3.4 |
9,780 |
3.5 |
1,290 |
1.1 |
490 |
3.6 |
7,710 |
|
Univision |
1.8 |
2,110 |
1.2 |
3,470 |
0.2 |
90 |
7.2 |
3,120 |
0.8 |
1,740 |
|
BET |
0.5 |
523 |
0.2 |
714 |
1.1 |
398 |
0.1 |
58 |
0.1 |
276 |
|
MSNBC |
2.1 |
2,461 |
1.2 |
3,542 |
2.1 |
792 |
0.3 |
143 |
1.2 |
2,642 |
|
TV One |
0.1 |
167 |
0.1 |
307 |
0.4 |
160 |
0.3 |
128 |
<< |
21 |
|
Sum of Sources |
20.6 |
23,701 |
11.6 |
15.2 |
5,650 |
11.2 |
4,909 |
11.2 |
23,969 |
|
<<Below minimum reporting standards
Independent Party candidate Ross Perot bought television time on three broadcast networks on the night before Election Day in 1996. As with the 2008 Obama program, this show aired within the same hour, however it was different duration on different networks and had a staggered start time.
Ross Perot – Paid Political Prime Time Program
November 4, 1996
|
Network |
Time |
Household Rating |
Households |
Persons 2+ Rating |
Persons 2+ |
|
ABC |
8-9:00PM |
5 |
4,802 |
2.7 |
6,579 |
|
CBS |
8:30-9PM |
6.9 |
6,657 |
3.9 |
9,613 |
|
NBC |
8-8:30PM |
4.9 |
4,724 |
2.6 |
6,486 |
|
Sum of Sources |
|
16.8 |
16,183 |
9.2 |
22,678 |
In 1992 candidate Ross Perot aired 15 paid programs that aired at various times on three broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC. For more information about those telecasts, visit the Nielsen Newswire through this link: http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/category/politics/
