Network and cable television program ratings were hammered by the travel patterns of people on their ways for the four day holiday weekend. Nothing the networks offered for Thanksgiving Eve did well, nor did anything on air the night before. Even popular staples could not draw many viewers.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, only CBS (NYSE: CBS) had reasonable ratings:
The broadcast networks suffered the obligatory drops that come with the busiest travel day of the year, as viewership dropped significantly the day before the holiday :
CBS boasted wide margins of victory, averaging a 2.2 rating with adults 18-49 and 10.2 million viewers for the night, winning every hour. Survivor (2.2 adults) and Criminal Minds (2.4 adults) saw dips of three- and four-tenths of a point, while CSI (2.0 adults) was within a tenth of a point of last week. NBC prepped for next week’s The Sound of Music Live! with a making of special. It averaged a 1.0 rating with adults 18-49, not quite up to the strong Saturday Night Live clip show (1.6 adults) that followed. The network had a 1.4 adults rating and 4.9 million viewers for the night.
The X Factor (1.2 adults) dropped a half of a point from last week, averaging 4.9 million viewers for the network.
ABC, airing encores, took a 0.8 adults rating and 3.6 million viewers for the night. And the CW, with Planes, Trains and Automobiles, took a 0.5 adults and 1.8 million viewers.
And, the only show which did even modestly well based on overnight ratings for the previous night– November 26–was a holiday special– “Rudolph Red-Nosed Reindeer” which was seen by 11.4 million viewers. Two remarkably popular entertainment reality shows barely held their own compared to normally weighty numbers. “The Voice” drew 10 million viewers, while “Dancing with The Stars” drew 14.6 million. Another reality show was in the top ten for the Thanksgiving Eve prime time. “The Biggest Loser” drew 6.6 million viewers.
One of TV’s longest running and particularly popular franchises also posted a show in the top 10 . “NCIS: Los Angeles” drew 12.2 million viewers.
It has been a hard week for television programmers and broadcasters. Maybe the numbers for pro football and the Macy’s parade will be a little better
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