CBS’ ‘Survivor’ still has life; Fox’s ‘Past Life’ needs one
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CBS’ latest version of ‘Survivor’ showed that one of broadcast television’s first big reality hits still has life after almost 10 years on the air. Last night’s two-hour premiere averaged 14.2 million viewers and a 4.5 rating in adults 18-49. Each rating point in that demographic equals 1.3 million viewers. The show was up 5% in that category compared to a year ago.
The big numbers for ‘Survivor’ were enough to drive CBS to a Thursday night win in viewers and demographics. ‘Survivor’ even beat ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in 18-49, no small feat. At 10 p.m., CBS’ ‘The Mentalist’ averaged 15.7 million viewers and a 3.6 rating in 18-49.
Also bitten by the the return of ‘Survivor’ was the CW’s ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ which saw its audience fall to 3.5 million from 4 million last week and a drop among women 18-34 as well.
Fox’s ‘Past Life’ made its time period premiere, but the numbers won’t exactly boost confidence in the show. Though it probably didn’t help that a rerun of ‘Bones’ -- which got 8 million viewers and a 2.3 rating in adults 18-49, was its lead-in -- ‘Past Life’ averaged just 5.3 million viewers and finished fourth in 18-49 with a 1.4 rating. ‘Past Life’ will get a chance at attracting a bigger audience in two weeks when Fox adds a third night of ‘American Idol’ to Thursday for elimination shows.
Overall, CBS won the night with 14.7 million viewers and a 4.2 in 18-49. ABC followed with 9.1 million viewers and a 3.0 in 18-49. Fox averaged 6.7 million viewers and a 1.8 in 18-49 while NBC averaged 5 million viewers and a 2.4 in 18-49.
An observation: There is something a tad depressing that only one network was able to crack the 10 million viewer mark on what is traditionally one of the most-watched nights of television and we’re in the middle of February sweeps. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a different world.
-- Joe Flint
