News The Big Bang Theory Hits All-Time High Ratings

[Shel_Ra_Ho_Le]

I'm not worried, I mean even Tina's plea didn't work so we didnt really have that MUCH competition last night. I have an inkling that next week's will be EVEN better. :D

[Tensor]

Live ratings were down from last week. 18-49 went from 6.4 to 5.4. Total viewers dropped from 20 million to 17.8 million. There shouldn't be an concern about this. This was the first non repeat to go head to head with American Idol this year. And Idol only scored a 4.5 in demo with 4.5 and 13.8 million viewers. So TBBT beat idol rather handily.

Ok, I've edited the above numbers to show the finals for the Live numbers (and taken out the notice on when the update will be out).

The good news, 30 Rock was up .5 from last week. This suggests, that some viewers did what Tina Fey suggested and DVRd TBBT. It will be interesting to see how the Live + 3 and Live + 7 work out. Also, the 17.8 million was the highest rated TBBT against Idol. TBBT was adjusted up a tenth (the numbers above reflect this) in demo, with total viewers up from 17.5 to 17.8 (rounded). TBBT usually gets about 2.5 million more viewers for +3, and I would expect that number to be higher this week. The show will have no problem passing the current weekly average for the season (18.6 Million) and should hit 20 Million again this week in Live + 3 and possibly be over 22 Million with Live + 7.

Idol was not adjusted at all and Idol's 13.8 million is the LOWEST total viewership for that show since the first season. Since Idol is mostly a "watch now" show (although this week was still the auditions and not subject needing to watch for voting), it will be interesting to see how the DVR numbers change the Live view numbers.

Two other things. Last weeks's repeat finished 9 overall for the week in total viewers and all four repeats (two on Monday, two on Thursday) since the last new episode, finished over a 3.0 in demo and 11 million total viewers.

Edited February 2, 2013 by Tensor

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

thank you so much for the info and the great analysis, Tensor

[Tensor]

Really good news on the ratings front this week. The Final Same Day ratings worked out to a 6.2 in the 18-49 demo, with 18.98 Million total viewers. TBBT is the only scripted series to hit above a 6.0 in that demo and one of only three show to hit it (the other two were Sunday Night Football and the premier of American Idol). The demo was up .8 and total viewers were up 1.2 million. TBBT dominated the night as it beat Idol in the demo 6.2 to 4.1 and in viewers 18.98 to 13.2 million. However, those numbers for Idol are for the entire hour, since Idol is on for an hour,it has more chances to have viewers. In the common half hour (8:00-8:30), TBBT beat Idol in the demo 6.2 to 3.8 and in viewers 18.98 to 12.32 Million. Interestingly, the 13.2 million for the entire hour is another low for Idol, since its first season.

Another side note, TBBT was again the #1 show in national syndication. With Weekend showings coming in at #5 and #6 for the week. Average weekly viewership is over 12 Million viewers, 3 million a day. This does not count local TV station showings.

[SRAM]

Really good news on the ratings front this week. The Final Same Day ratings worked out to a 6.2 in the 18-49 demo, with 18.98 Million total viewers. TBBT is the only scripted series to hit above a 6.0 in that demo and one of only three show to hit it (the other two were Sunday Night Football and the premier of American Idol). The demo was up .8 and total viewers were up 1.2 million. TBBT dominated the night as it beat Idol in the demo 6.2 to 4.1 and in viewers 18.98 to 13.2 million. However, those numbers for Idol are for the entire hour, since Idol is on for an hour,it has more chances to have viewers. In the common half hour (8:00-8:30), TBBT beat Idol in the demo 6.2 to 3.8 and in viewers 18.98 to 12.32 Million. Interestingly, the 13.2 million for the entire hour is another low for Idol, since its first season.Another side note, TBBT was again the #1 show in national syndication. With Weekend showings coming in at #5 and #6 for the week. Average weekly viewership is over 12 Million viewers, 3 million a day. This does not count local TV station showings.

Great. 10 seasons here we come

[Pomita]

Thanks Tensor! Reading the details of our astronomical ratings gives me warm fuzzies, in the best way.

[SodidIwin?]

Great. 10 seasons here we come

Why stop at 10? They keep breaking records, so go for the record of longevity too!

Edited February 9, 2013 by SodidIwin?

[Kaizen]

Why stop at 10? They keep breaking records, so go for the record of longevity too!

I think there's somesort of big finacial and / or contractual implications that kick in after 10 seasons. I'm guessing it may boil down to $...the show's cost goes up and the ROI goes down.

[Tensor]

I think there's somesort of big finacial and / or contractual implications that kick in after 10 seasons. I'm guessing it may boil down to $...the show's cost goes up and the ROI goes down.

 

 

It's not that anything in particular kicks in after 10 years.  Production costs on TBBT will, more than likely, seriously increase starting with the 2014-2015 season.   This is due to all of the core 5 having to have new contracts.   This is not to say that the cost of the show does not increase year over year.    For instance, Jim, Johnny, and Kaley are reported to have their salaries increase another $50,000 per episode next year.   But, new contracts tend to increase significantly over the previous contracts.  As an example, Jim, Johnny, and Kaley reportedly went from $60k to $200k  after they renegotiated (both Kunal and Simon reportedly were getting between $100-125k).   Three more years, taking them to the end of season 10 seems very reasonable. 

 

 

 I'm not sure of the status of Mayim and Melissa.  Although it would have made sense, (with the timing as to when they became main cast members), to take their contracts to the end of season 7, I simply don't know how long their contracts run.  If, the show were to continue after season 10, there would be another likely large increase in the cost of the show.  It's really got nothing to do with the 10 year point per se, just when contracts are due.   This results in a large increase in costs, with a declining number of viewers (this is the norm, there could be less costs or the show could keep viewers).

Why stop at 10? They keep breaking records, so go for the record of longevity too!

It's not likely.   Anything after 10 years is a huge bonus for an American live action sit-com (I specify live action as three of the top four are animated, The Simpsons-24 years, South Park-16 years, King of the Hill-13 years.) The longest running live action American sit-com was "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet", which ran for 14 years, from 1952 to 1966, totaling 435 episodes. Note that they had to have done an average of 31 episodes a year.

The second longest running was "My Three Sons", 1960-1972 with 380 episodes.  What I find remarkable is that the first season ran for 36 episodes.   I know a lot of people complain about the changes that have happened on TBBT. Well, those are nothing compared to what happened with this show. The first five seasons were in Black and White and ran on ABC.   For the 1965 season, it began to be broadcast in color when the show moved to CBS,  where it stayed until it was cancelled in 1972.  

 

As far as show changes go:

 

In the fourth season, their housekeeper, the sons' great uncle leaves due to illness and his brother comes in to take over.  In reality, William Frawley (of I Love Lucy Fame) became ill and was replaced by William Demarest.

The fifth season, the oldest son married and moved away.   The actor playing the oldest son wanted to direct (which the producers wouldn't let him do, except once) and race cars (which was forbidden by his contract) and left the show.  Also that year, to keep the title of the show, a friend of the youngest boy (Chip) was adopted by the family. 

In the seventh season, the family moved from the midwest to Los Angeles.  

In the eighth season, the now oldest son, Robbie, gets married.

In the ninth season, Robbie and his wife find out she's pregnant.  She has triplets, all boys.  

In the tenth season, the father, Steven finally remarries and adopts his new wife's five year old daughter.   Think about this when you complain that there are too many characters (only 7) in TBBT.  This year of the show had the father, his new wife, her daughter, the oldest son, his wife, their three kids, the middle brother, his girlfriend, and the youngest brother, along with their uncle the housekeeper.  That's 12 characters, not counting recurring or guests.

In the eleventh season, Robbie leaves for a bridge job in Peru, his wife and the triplets stay.  Chip marries and moves out.  In reality, the actor playing Robbie and the actor playing Chip wanted off the show.    The show finished as the 19th most popular show that year.  

In the twelfth year, the show was moved from its Saturday 8:30 slot to Monday at 10:00.  The ratings plummeted and it was cancelled in the spring of 1972.   A point of trivia, it was supposed to move to 8:00 PM, but CBS decided to put "All in the Family" in that slot.  

 

So to recap the changes.  The show lost 5 characters at various times.  It introduced 10 new characters at various times.  The family moved from the midwest to Los Angeles, and it even changed networks.  And after all that, the show was still in the top 20.

 

After those two shows, there are seven shows at 11 years M*A*S*H, Cheers, Happy Days, The Jeffersons, Married....With Children, Frasier, and The Danny Thomas Show/Make Room for Daddy.  

 

The Jack Benny Show ran for 15 years, 1950-1965, but it was not a sitcom, as such.  There were situational comedy skits, but there were also songs comments about current news, comedy monologues more in tune with a variety show.  Also, it was not until the 1960 season that the show ran weekly.   In 1953 the show ran every four weeks, in 1954 every three and from 1955 to 1960 it was only on every other week.  Other shows filled the alternate time slot.  I broke this out separately so there weren't complaints about not including it.

 

 

 So you can see getting the longevity record will be tricky as only 9 live action sit-coms have gone past 10 years.

 

 

 

[SRAM]

Great information, thanks Tensor.

[Tensor]

Three quick things for show day. TBBT was the again the highest rated nationally syndicated show last week with over 12 million viewers. TBBT (averaging 11.1 million weekly viewers) leads Wheel of Fortune (10.8 million) for the year. And finally, it's interesting to note that all four TBBT repeats in the Monday 8:30 time slot beat this weeks telecast of "Rules of Engagement" in both the demo and total viewers.

[koops]

Love all your info and analyses Tensor Much appreciated as always. 

[Pomita]

Thanks for the analysis! Some great ratings info to ring in the V-day episode.

[mjc45]

thanks tensor--best info from you

 

if you do not mine were you a actor,

did any tv shows.

[Tensor]

No, no TV shows. I do community theatre. There's more, but look up the hot seat thread on Monday, it's my turn to answer questions and I'll be more than happy to expand on anything then. As you might be able to tell that's a promo.

[mjc45]

No, no TV shows. I do community theatre. There's more, but look up the hot seat thread on Monday, it's my turn to answer questions and I'll be more than happy to expand on anything then. As you might be able to tell that's a promo.

thanks

[Tensor]

OK, final numbers are in and are showing a drop down to 5.5 in the 18-49 demo and 17.89 million total viewers. This is a drop of .7 in the demo and 1.1 million in total viewers. This was part of a general trend as total television viewing was down 6% from the week before(TBBT drop was larger than the total average at 11%). A 6% week to week drop in total television viewing, on Valentine's Day, has been the average the last five years (2010 is not counted as the Superbowl was held on the 7th and the drop off was very large). Interestingly, Two and a Half Men beat American Idol on it's own in the demo (3.8-3.7)and in total viewers (13.7-12.6 million). Person of Interest also beat Idol in total viewers (14.9 million)

[Tensor]

The Live + 7 were released today for the January 31 episode (The Cooper/Kripke Inversion).   The 18-49 demo increased by 2, going from a 5.4 to a 7.4 and total viewers increased by 4.1 million to 21.8 million.   This appears to be the high in the demo for the week and #2 in total viewers to NCIS (25.5 Million total viewers but only a 4.8 in the demo).    American Idol had a 5.5 in the demo in the Live + 7, only beating the Live + same day of TBBT by 0.1.   This is the eight straight week that TBBT has reached 21 Million total viewers and the tenth straight week the show has been over 7 in the demo for the Live + 7 data.    The Live + 7 data is  normally released on Monday but was delayed due to the American President's Day holiday.  

[Chaliceinnana]

The Live + 7 were released today for the January 31 episode (The Cooper/Kripke Inversion).   The 18-49 demo increased by 2, going from a 5.4 to a 7.4 and total viewers increased by 4.1 million to 21.8 million.   This appears to be the high in the demo for the week and #2 in total viewers to NCIS (25.5 Million total viewers but only a 4.8 in the demo).    American Idol had a 5.5 in the demo in the Live + 7, only beating the Live + same day of TBBT by 0.1.   This is the eight straight week that TBBT has reached 21 Million total viewers and the tenth straight week the show has been over 7 in the demo for the Live + 7 data.    The Live + 7 data is  normally released on Monday but was delayed due to the American President's Day holiday.  

Not surprising. The show has been amazing this year.

[Pomita]

So we're actually getting used to 21+ million viewers and 7+ demo ratings with Live+7 now? Cool.

 

Thanks for the details!

[The God Particle]

Not only that but the Quality of Show has only a increased as the Ratings continue as well. (Or at the very least Held Steady!) Wonderful Confirmation that the Direction of the Show is most pleasing. Most of us can feel it -- that POSITIVE Influx and have the chance to be Proud of our little Geek Series!

[Tensor]

Let me make a clarification to my last post on the Live + 7 day numbers.  The part where I talk about eight and ten straight weeks are for first run episodes.  There are some repeats in between those first run weeks where the demo was below 7 and total viewers were below 21 million.  I apologize if I misled anyone.  However, this does not affect how those numbers are viewed, as repeats are not expected to pull in the numbers that first run episodes get.

 

 In a somewhat related note, a first run of Rules of Engagement on Monday did not beat any of the four repeats of TBBT that ran in January on Monday in the 8:30 slot Rules now occupies.  All of TBBT repeats where higher than 3.0 in the demo (Rules 2. and had more than 10 million viewers (rules 8.1 million).  

[phantagrae]

TBBT rules! :D

[Tensor]

Heheheheheheh, I was busy today and although I read the fast national ratings for last night earlier today, I didn't get  chance to post on them.  Turns out that was a good thing.  The preliminaries indicated a dip in ratings for the show last night but, the finals added to the preliminaries and TBBT finished up 0.1, in the 18-49 demo, on last week, 5.6 to 5.5 although the share was down one, 17 from 18.   In terms of total viewers, this weeks show was down by about 200.000 viewers 17.6 million to 17.8 million.    Idol was up two tenths in demo and 1 million in total viewers scoring 3.9 in the demo with 13.6 million viewers.  Idol was closest to TBBT in terms of rating in the demo.  Person of Interest, at 9:00 PM, was closest in terms of total viewers  with 14.2 million.    TBBT is the only show so far this week to be over a 5 in the 18-49 demo (and the closest to TBBT 5.6 was Wednesday's Idol with only a 4.1) and only NCIS has had more viewers with 21.0 million on Tuesday night.   Friday shows do not, generally, get over 2 in the demo or over 7 million (exception, Blue Bloods is usually between 10-11 million viewers, but under a 2.0 in the demo) viewers, so TBBT should finish first in demo and second in total viewers this week.  

 

Another note.  The syndication ratings for the week of 10 February have TBBT in first, beating out Wheel of Fortune 12.8 million viewers compared to 12.1 million viewers.  TBBT also led households with an 8.0 share to 7.7 for Wheel of Fortune.  TBBT was the only show with a household share of 8.0 or higher.  

[saweco]

Thanks for the info, Tensor!