CBS - VIEWERS FLEEING BROADCAST NETWORKS

VIEWERS FLEEING BROADCAST NETWORKS

If the broadcast networks are experiencing a distressing drop in ad sales, they cannot blame the problem entirely on the recession, the latest Nielsen ratings indicate. While three of the four -- CBS was the exception -- experienced some erosion in audience numbers during the regular season, the summer season has seen a wholesale exodus for all of them. Last week, Fox's audience was down a whopping 25 percent from the comparable week a year ago. ABC's was down nearly as much -- 22 percent. NBC's was off 13 percent. And even CBS, which won the week, was down 6 percent. The one bright spot in the ratings data remained the evening news -- but even all three network newscasts saw their numbers fall without the Michael Jackson story to sustain them. NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams led the field with 7.8 million viewers widening its lead over ABC World News With Charles Gibson , which attracted 7.0 million viewers. CBS Evening News With Katie Couric remained far behind with 5.3 million.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research 1. America's Got Talent (Wednesday), NBC, 7.2/12; 1. (Tie) NCIS , CBS, 7.2/13; 3. America's Got Talent (Tuesday) NBC, 6.2/10; 3. The Mentalist (Tuesday), CBS, 6.2/10; 5. Primetime Family Secrets , ABC, 6.0/10; 5. Two and a Half Men , CBS, 6.0/10; 7. 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.9/12; 8. CSI Miami, CBS, 5.7/10; 9. The Mentalist (Thursday), CBS, 5.5/10; 10. The Bachelorette, ABC, 5.3/9; 10. (Tie) The Big Bang Theory , CBS, 5.3/9.

15/07/2009