USA viewing figures - why so low? (or are they low?)

[*Matt*]

I have been googling the viewing figures in the US - and am amazed that considering it is on a popular tv network; it is only watched by c.15 million people; out of a possible 300 million - approx 5 percent of the country!

I know in our day and age we have many channels etc, but this seems very low for a show that is considered so successful and on a top network.

In the UK we get it on a channel called 'E4' which is a kind of sub channel of a more mainstream channel called 'Channel 4', so the figures are around the c.1 million mark (obviously give or take a good few thousand). Again though; too low for such a great show!

Matt

[Lenny]

Well, the short answer is that in the US, the Primetime TV audience has been in decline since its heyday in the 80's with people watching more ad-supported cable channels instead. More choice spreads the audience more thinly.

In the UK, that has happened too (45% of the UK share is by channels outside BBC1 & 2, ITV, CH4 & Ch5) but the most popular peak time (what we call Primetime over here) programmes (big dramas, evening soaps etc.) have held on to their audiences.

More details here:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/04/12/where-did-the-primetime-broadcast-tv-audience-go/47976/

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weekly-viewing

http://www.barb.co.uk/graph/viewing-share?data_series%5B%5D=1&data_series%5B%5D=2&data_series%5B%5D=4&data_series%5B%5D=5&data_series%5B%5D=56&data_series%5B%5D=181&data_series%5B%5D=54&period_start=22-01-1992&period_end=22-01-2012&submit=View+Graph

(Beware! Contains lots of lines & numbers!)

[netmouse]

hmmm... this Lenny guy speaks great wisdom :D lolz

Very interesting factoids and figures, tnx for posting.

[*Matt*]

Cheers Lenny

hmmm... this Lenny guy speaks great wisdom :D lolz

(as Yoda) hmmm grateful I am