LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The networks' spin machines went into overdrive today as the big three - ABC, CBS and NBC - released their take on the results from the first official week of the 2004-05 season (9/20/04-9/26/04).
While CBS, NBC and ABC each finished first, second and third respectively across households, total viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, the bigger story was in the year-to-year comparisons.
When measuring against that gauge, only CBS and the WB were up from a year ago in any major demographic with NBC, FOX, ABC and UPN all facing massive declines. Overall, the WB was the big winner as the Frog was up across the board, including double-digit growth in adults 25-54 (+13%), adults 18-49 (+20%) and adults 18-34 (+12%).
On the flip side, NBC fared the worst during premiere week, fading in all five major categories by at least 15%. Take a look at the biggest gain/loses from the same week a year ago:
BIGGEST GAINS:
CBS in adults 18-34: +22%
The WB in adults 18-49: +20%
CBS in adults 18-49: +15%
The WB in adults 25-54: +13%
The WB in adults 18-34: +12
BIGGEST LOSES:
NBC in adults 18-49: -20%
NBC in adults 25-54: -19%
FOX in adults 18-34: - 18%
NBC in adults 18-34: -18%
NBC in total viewers: -16%
OVERALL RESULTS:
| 2004-05 | 2003-04 | |
------------- |
HOUSEHOLDS | Rtg/Sh | Rtg/Sh | Chg |
CBS | 8.9/15 | 9.3/15 | -4% |
NBC | 7.1/12 | 8.4/14 | -15% |
ABC | 6.6/11 | 7.0/12 | -6% |
FOX | 3.6/6 | 3.9/6 | -8% |
WB | 2.8/4 | 2.6/4 | +8% |
UPN | 2.2/4 | 2.3/4 | -4% |
------------- |
VIEWERS | (000) | (000) | Chg |
CBS | 13,575 | 14,000 | -3% |
NBC | 10,611 | 12,572 | -16% |
ABC | 9,997 | 10,596 | -6% |
FOX | 5,363 | 5,974 | -10% |
WB | 4,242 | 4,008 | +6% |
UPN | 3,108 | 3,448 | -10% |
------------- |
A25-54 | Rtg/Sh | Rtg/Sh | Chg |
CBS | 5.4/14 | 5.1/13 | +6% |
NBC | 4.7/12 | 5.8/14 | -19% |
ABC | 4.3/11 | 4.7/12 | -9% |
FOX | 2.4/6 | 2.5/6 | -4% |
WB | 1.7/4 | 1.5/4 | +13% |
UPN | 1.3/3 | 1.5/4 | -13% |
------------- |
A18-49 | Rtg/Sh | Rtg/Sh | Chg |
CBS | 4.5/13 | 3.9/11 | +15% |
NBC | 4.1/12 | 5.1/14 | -20% |
ABC | 3.9/11 | 4.1/12 | -5% |
FOX | 2.3/7 | 2.6/7 | -12% |
WB | 1.8/5 | 1.5/4 | +20% |
UPN | 1.3/4 | 1.5/4 | -13% |
------------- |
A18-34 | Rtg/Sh | Rtg/Sh | Chg |
NBC | 3.6/11 | 4.4/14 | -18% |
CBS | 3.3/10 | 2.7/9 | +22% |
ABC | 3.1/10 | 3.4/11 | -9% |
FOX | 2.3/8 | 2.8/9 | -18% |
WB | 1.9/6 | 1.7/5 | +12% |
UPN | 1.4/4 | 1.6/5 | -13% |
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