It has the Olympics, yes. But even without them, the network would be a shoo-in for its sixth straight summer victory among 18-49s. Here’s a preview of what the networks have planned for summer.
Networks are tied for No.1 for the summer among 18-49s, right where they were this time last year. Fox is in third, and CBS trails in fourth. Overall, broadcast is down.
The CW has picked up half-hour comedy series Significant Mother to series, the network announced today. The project, from Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, stars Josh Zuckerman (90210), Krista Allen (What About Brian), Jonathan Silverman (Weekend at Bernie’s), Emma Fitzpatrick (The Social Network) and Jay Ali (The Fosters). Production begins soon.
The Big Five networks plus Univision and Telemundo are off 12% in 18-49s this summer, the result of shorter NBA and NHL finals, lackluster new shows and the usual viewer erosion
The network brings back two shows, Hotel Hell and 24, off the air for some time and tries a reality show that harkens to the outrageous Fox of old, though it’s bombing.
Ratings for Under the Dome vindicate a decision by CBS to stop ceding the season to cable. The opening ratings for Dome last Monday qualified as spectacular: more than 13.5 million viewers for the premiere, the biggest audience for a summer drama in more than 20 years. The show added more than three million more viewers when three days of delayed viewing was counted, CBS announced Saturday.
Exclusives
Let the summer TV games begin. Faced with steep ratings declines and reality-TV burnout, the major broadcast networks are going head-to-head with their cable rivals by launching a bevy of big-scripted shows during the off-season.
The dozens of offerings for the summer television season appear to include a number that promise stylish and smart entertainment.
Thanks to the Olympics on NBC, overall broadcast ratings are up for the second time in the past three summers.The Big Four networks have averaged a 6.8 adults 18-49 rating this summer, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Turner Networks, 13% better than last summer.
