ABC's Oscar audience grows by 14%; biggest number in five years

Maybe it was the expanded best-picture category or, who knows, maybe it was that Neil Patrick Harris opening number. Whatever it was, Oscar ratings were up big time.

About 41.3 million people tuned in to ABC last night for the 82nd Academy Awards to see "The Hurt Locker" take best picture and best director and Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock walk away with the lead acting honors. That's an almost 14% jump from the 2009 awards, which were seen by 36.3 million, according to Nielsen. In the coveted category of adults ages 18 to 49, the Oscars averaged a 13.1 rating, an 8% gain over last year's show. Each rating point in that demographic represents 1.3 million viewers.

Sunday's telecast was the most-watched Oscars since the 2005 show, which saw Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" take best picture. in five years. This is the second year in a row the audience for the Oscars has grown. Of course, the bar has been pretty low lately. The 2008 awards, which saw "No Country for Old Men" take the top prize, were the least-viewed on record with only 32 million people watching.

The Oscar ratings again highlight the strength of big event television. The audiences have been growing for award shows as of late, with the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, Super Bowl and Grammy Awards all seeing their audiences get bigger.

ABC was certainly helped by its parent company, Walt Disney Co., resolving its fight with Cablevision Systems Corp. Disney had pulled the signal of WABC-TV New York from 3.1 million Cablevision homes in the nation's No. 1 television market. A tentative deal was reached between the two companies as the show began, and the signal was restored to those homes about 15 minutes into the Oscar telecast. Numbers in New York for the first half hour of the show's broadcast were down but rose throughout the night as word spread that WABC-TV was back on in Cablevision homes.

The painful Oscar pre-show on ABC, in which co-host Kathy Ireland, whose interview skills with stars was a disservice to Sports Illustrated swimsuit models everywhere, averaged 25.1 million viewers. Barbara Walters' final interview special lured 15 million viewers, a 30% gain over the 2009 special.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Director and best picture winner Kathryn Bigelow does some two-fisted celebrating. Credit: Valerie Macon/ AFP Getty Images. 

NBC's 'Parenthood' makes debut; Jay Leno's numbers slip, but he's still first

NBC's new show, "Parenthood," got pretty solid reviews and won the 10-11 p.m. hour in the key adults 18-49 hour.

But before the folks at NBC start breaking out the champagne, consider how heavily the show was hyped during the network's coverage of the Olympics as well as on billboards all across the country. One might have expected a higher tune-in given the level of promotion the show received.

"Parenthood" averaged about 8.1 million viewers and a 3.1 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic (each rating point in that demographic represents 1.3 million viewers). The show's performance in the 18-49 demographic mirrored the series premieres of "Southland" and "My Own Worst Enemy," neither of which got the marketing that "Parenthood" received. The show held much of its lead-in from "The Biggest Loser," which is a good sign. 

Fox, powered by "American Idol," took the night with 23.4 million viewers and a 8.6 rating among adults 18-49. CBS was second with about 16 million viewers and 3.3 rating with adults 18-49. NBC came in third with 8.2 million viewers and a 3.1 with adults 18-49. ABC was fourth with 6.3 million viewers and a 2.5 in adults 18-49. All numbers are provided by Nielsen.

Jay Leno's second night in his return as host of NBC's "Tonight Show" saw, as expected, declines in viewers from Monday night. However, its performance was good enough for first place. It averaged 5.8 million viewers, off 12% from Monday night. In adults 18-49, the show was flat, with a 1.6 rating.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Cast members of "Parenthood." Credit: Art Streiber / NBC / MCT

Leno's return to late night draws 6.6-million viewers and lands him in first place

Jay Leno returned as host of NBC's "Tonight Show" with jokes about Tiger Woods and Dick Cheney that made it seem like he never left.

There are millions of ways to spin Leno's numbers. Almost three weeks of heavy Olympics promotion, not to mention all the attention around NBC's late-night soap opera, meant there would be a lot of curiosity and sampling. Having Olympic star Lindsey Vonn as a guest probably didn't hurt either. 

At the same time, it's not like people don't know what they're getting when they tune into Leno's shows.

In other words, let's just look at the numbers and not go too far down the road of what does this all mean just yet.

Leno averaged 6.6-million viewers on Monday night, beating CBS' David Letterman, who averaged 3.8 million, and ABC's "Nightline," which drew 4.1-million viewers, per Nielsen. Among adults ages 18 to 49, Leno was first with a 1.6 rating, followed by "Nightline" with a 1.3 and Letterman's 1.1 rating. Each rating point equals 1.3-million viewers in that demographic. For what it's worth, Letterman was up in adults 18 to 49 Monday night.

Having digested those numbers, now we can go a little ways down the road. Leno's 6.6-million viewers were fewer than Conan O'Brien averaged in his premiere and in his final show. However, in between Conan's first and last shows, he averaged 2.7-million viewers and a 1.1 among adults 18 to 49. In other words, Leno can take a big hit in the ratings later this week and still beat O'Brien's average.

For the really curious, Leno's last telecast in May, when he ended his first run as "Tonight Show" host, averaged 11.9 million, and his average last season was 5.14 million and a 1.4 rating in the 18-49 category.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Lindsey Vonn with Jay Leno. Credit: Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press

'Marriage Ref' opens big thanks to Olympic lead-in

With the last night of the Winter Olympics as a lead-in, Jerry Seinfeld's new reality show, "The Marriage Ref," got off to a strong start for NBC on Sunday night.

The program, which Seinfeld executive produces and on which he will make occasional appearances, seeks to resolve trivial and not-so-trivial spats between couples. Last night's guest judges were Alec Baldwin, who certainly knows what does not make for a good marriage, and Kelly Ripa.

Premiering at 10:30 p.m., "The Marriage Ref" averaged 14.6-million viewers and a 4.8 rating among adults ages 18 to 49. Each rating point in that category equals 1.3-million people. It certainly did not hurt Seinfeld that the last half-hour of the Winter Games averaged almost 19.5-million viewers and a 5.3 rating among adults 18 to 49. "The Marriage Ref" will make its regular time-period debut Thursday, from 10 to 11 p.m.

Needless to say, NBC dominated the night with 19.8-million viewers and a 5.3 among adults 18 to 49. CBS was a distant second with 11.5-million viewers and a 3.1 in the 18-49 demographic.

Final numbers for NBC's Winter Olympics and an analysis will come later today.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Jerry Seinfeld on "The Marriage Ref." Credit: Heidi Gutman / NBC

NBC, Fox each claim victory in Olympics vs. 'American Idol' ratings battle

NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics grabbed the most viewers but Fox's "American Idol" did better in the key demographics in Thursday night's battle of singers vs. skaters and skiers.

Going head-to-head in the 8-9 p.m. hour, the Olympics averaged 19.2 million viewers while "American Idol" averaged 17.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen. But in the 18-49 demographic, "American Idol" averaged a 6.4 rating to NBC's 4.4 rating. Each rating point in that demographic equals 1.3 million viewers. This is the second time that the Olympics beat "American Idol" in total viewers. It has beaten it once in the 18-49 battlefield.

Both sides claimed victory in their ratings releases Friday morning. Fox trumpeted that it "dominated" the Olympics. NBC Universal Sports czar Dick Ebersol said, “I never thought we would have the good fortune to beat the incredibly well-produced and enduring phenomenon of 'American Idol' even once. But twice?" Ebersol added that NBC was "happy to rent Idol’s space for a few nights." 

For the night, NBC averaged 22.5 million viewers and a 5.8 rating in adults 18-49. Fox was second with 12.8 million viewers and a 4.9 rating. CBS and was third with 9.6 million viewers and a 2.5 rating. ABC averaged just 4 million viewers and only a 1.2 rating in the demo. The CW attracted 1.6 million viewers and a 0.7 rating in adults 18-49.

-- Joe Flint

Fox's 'American Idol' back on top over NBC's Olympic coverage

All is normal in the world again as Fox's "American Idol" beat NBC's Olympic coverage Tuesday night in the ratings race.

After losing last Wednesday to the Olympics, the first time in six years that "American Idol" lost, the talent show made a strong comeback. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fox averaged almost 24 million viewers and a 8.9 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic (each rating point in that demographic equals 1.3 million viewers). NBC averaged 20.8 million viewers and a 5.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic going head-to-head against "American Idol," and overall had 21.2 million viewers and a 5.4 rating in the demographic.

While the Olympics were back in second place last night, NBC points out that it has closed the gap with "American Idol" from the 2006 Winter Games. On Thursday, NBC will have women's free skate against "American Idol."

"'American Idol' deserves applause. It's an absolute juggernaut that went undefeated for six years and is now 223-1; we are just happy to be the 1," said NBC Sports Senior Vice President Mike McCarley.

-- Joe Flint

Lindsey Vonn and Co. knock off 'American Idol'

Looks like the death star is no match for Lindsey Vonn.

For several years, rival network television executives have described Fox's "American Idol" as a death star that obliterates everything in its path. While "American Idol" is still the major force of broadcast television, Wednesday night NBC knocked it off its perch in both viewers and the coveted adults 18-49 demographic with its coverage of the Olympics. Maybe this will make the $250 million or so NBC parent General Electric Co. said it would eat on its Olympics coverage just a little easier to swallow.

This marks the first time in almost six years that "American Idol" didn't finish first in viewers and adults 18-49 since May 2004 when it lost to, yes, an episode of "Fear Factor."

It was bound to happen. America had a huge night in the Games Wednesday, winning six gold medals, including one for Vonn's gutsy downhill run and snowboarder Shaun White's daredevil maneuvers. Going head-to-head against "American Idol" in the 9-10 p.m. slot, NBC averaged 30.1 million viewers to Fox's 12.4 million. In the 18-49 race, NBC averaged a 9.0 rating to Fox's 6.9. Each rating point in that demographic represents 1.3 million viewers.

NBC was pretty stoked about the news. The headline on its release wasn't about Vonn or White or the other Americans who took home gold medals. Instead, it screamed, "Olympics beat Idol."

While this is a big accomplishment for NBC, it also points to the strength of "American Idol" in that it took what will likely be the biggest night of the 2010 Winter Olympics to knock the talent show out of first place for the first time in over half a decade. 

For the entire evening, NBC averaged 29.3 million viewers and an 8.9 rating in 18-49. Fox with 12.8 million viewers and a 4.5 rating. ABC and CBS laid down with reruns, and it showed. CBS had 6.9 million viewers and a 1.8 in 18-49 while ABC had 3.9 million viewers and a 1.5 in the demo. They are betting, probably wisely, that it is silly to waste new episodes against both "American Idol' and the Olympics.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Lindsey Vonn. Credit: Jerry Lai-US Presswire.

'American Idol' tops NBC's Olympics for ratings gold

Fox's "American Idol" took home the gold Tuesday night, easily beating NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics in viewers and key demographics.

According to Nielsen, "American Idol" averaged 23.6-million viewers and a 9.1 rating in adults ages 18 to 49 (each ratings point in that demographic translates to 1.3 million people). NBC's Olympic coverage going head to head against "American Idol" from 8 to10 p.m. averaged 19.7-million viewers and a 5.0 in adults 18 to 49. Compared with a year ago, "American Idol" was off 8.3% in viewers and down in the demographic.

For history buffs, on the same night four years ago when "American Idol" squared off with the Winter Games in Turin, "American Idol" averaged 27-million viewers versus 18.4-million viewers for NBC.

Fox's strong two hours were enough to beat the three hours that NBC, CBS and ABC were broadcasting. NBC's Olympic audience rose once "American Idol" went off the air, and for the night, the peacock averaged 20.4-million viewers and a 5.4 rating among adults 18 to 49.

ABC managed to find a bright spot as the network was up in viewers and demographics from a year ago, primarily because of a new episode of "Lost" at 9 p.m., which averaged almost 10 million viewers and a 4.5 with adults ages 18 to 49.

CBS pretty much mailed it in last night, going with reruns, and still managed 9.5-million viewers.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Fox's "American Idol." Credit: Fox

Olympics, Hooters make for big ratings

NBC's coverage of the Olympics drew 26.3 million fans of the Winter Games, while CBS' "Undercover Boss" drew 15.3 million fans of Hooter girls.

For NBC, the Sunday numbers were up 13% in viewers from same period during the 2006 Turin Games.

Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 7.0 rating. Each rating in that demographic translates to 1.3 million viewers. Though a 7.0 is nothing to sneeze at in today's fragmented media landscape (I just love throwing that phrase out there, makes everything sound so important), it is 7% off from Turin.

While the overall ratings for the Games are up from 2006, the numbers are off in double digits from the 2002 Games, which were held in Salt Lake City. The first Sunday of those Games averaged 30.2 million viewers.

CBS's "Undercover Boss," which got sampled by 38.6 million people when it premiered after the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, made its time period premiere Sunday and had solid numbers. Besides the 15.3 million viewers, it also averaged a 5.1 rating in adults 18-49. CBS said it was up 77% in viewers and a walloping 168% in that demo from the network's Sunday 9 p.m. time period average this season. 

The episode featured Hooters chief Coby Brooks going undercover at his restaurant chain where he was shocked to discover that some people think Hooters presents women in a bad light. He's even more stunned when one of his managers, who might be more suited to being a manager of the Bada Bing, makes a couple of Hooter girls eat out of a bowl like they are dogs. Next week, the show will follow the head of 7-Eleven as he goes to work making slurpees. We're waiting for the show to follow John Gotti Jr. around.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Hooters Chief Executive Coby Brooks with some of his staff. Credit: Bill Matlock/CBS

NBC scores Olympic-sized ratings with opening ceremony

NBC's broadcast of the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday scored big ratings with an average of 32.6 million people watching the festivities.

It was the second largest audience for a Winter Olympics kickoff since 1994. The Salt Lake City Games in 2002 appear to have been the ratings peak when an average of 45.6 million people watched. Interest among viewers is typically higher when the Olympics are held in the U.S. 

NBC Sports executives have been optimistic that the 2010 Games also would perform well because Vancouver is just a few miles north of the U.S. border and within the Pacific time zone.  That means that more than half of the country will be able to see events live on TV. (NBC is delaying the prime-time telecast for the Pacific and Mountain time zones so the events fall in the traditional prime-time window, when advertising rates are higher). 

The start of the Olympics was marred by tragedy when a 21-year-old luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili from the Republic of Georgia was killed during a practice run.

Four years ago, an average of 22.2 million viewers -- 10 million fewer than Friday night --watched the opening ceremony when the events were held in Turin, Italy.  NBC said a total of 67.5 million people in the U.S. watched all or some of its prime-time telecast from Vancouver on Friday.

-- Meg James