With the launch of several new pilots and some great returning ratings-smashers, many expected this fall to be a breakout season for broadcast.
Unfortunately, the viewers have decided. Ratings are down, and the tv industry is decidedly concerned. Observers on Wall Street are already predicting a failure for this fall season due to misdirected advertising of the new season. Viewers “forgot to tune into the start of the new broadcast season,” reported Bank of America in a recent report.
Even heavy-hitters like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives” showed a decline in viewership from the 2006 opening season.
The only two shows that have signs of life are NBC’s “Bionic Woman and ABC’s “Private Practice.” The “Bionic Woman” received the highest premiere series rating with a 5.7/14. While, “Private Practice” came in at number two earning a 5.2/13.
One question remains is where are the DVR viewers. Ratings reports have become muddled over the last few years due to the advent of DVR and Tivo. With over a 100% increase in home DVR systems, the public will have to wait for Nielson to release their live-plus-7-day data report.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, John Rash of Campbell Mithun said, “It seems irrefutable that there’s not an overly strong societal buzz for the new season… The programs are not qualitatively as strong as previous seasons. What we need to watch the most is if the shelf life on existing dramas have shortened because so many have begun their decline earlier than the normal five-season (cycle).”
Many will remember the slow death of NBC’s “Black Donnellys” series. Despite opening up after the hit show “Heroes” viewership slowly declined during the first half hour of the premiere episode. After lackluster ratings, the series was eventually moved to the web before disappearing from viewers memories.
The two top hits so far — “Bionic” and “Practice” — battle each other at 9 p.m. Wednesday. “Bionic’s” 5.7/14 is the highest new-series premiere so far this season; “Practice” (5.2/13) is right behind it.
Ironically, a show titled “Pushing Daisies” from ABC is expected to be a possible breakout hit for October.
