Written by: Michael Hickerson (SoSF Staff Journalist)
NBC’s “Sci-Fi Monday” got out of the gate to a roar, but the past few weeks has become something of a wimper. Ratings for Monday night’s three hour-long genre shows have been slipping the past few weeks with the line-up of “Chuck,” “Heroes” and “Journeyman” getting their worst showings of the season this week.
Ratings were as follows: “Chuck” (down 15 percent to a 2.8), “Heroes” (a series low 4.9) and “Journeyman,” while still being a favorite with those older than 49 is down another 7 percent to a 2.5 in that all important 18-49 demographic that advertisers believe are the biggest spenders.
No word yet on how time-delayed viewing numbers may help these shows in the final ratings figures. As we reported on an earlier Slice of SciFi show, network clients are taking those DVR and TiVo numbers alot more serious than previously, as is Nielsen.
However, it could be that “Journeyman” is already being considered for a move. TV Guide On-Line has reported that NBC’s executives are looking at the post-“Heroes” timeslot as a possible destination for the critically acclaimed and much-loved “Friday Night Lights” to move into. A move is much better than outright cancelation and we feel this may actually be a good thing for the show, as we have been touting since Journeyman’s debut that it belonged in an earlier time-slot on a different night.
I Tivo both Heroes and Chuck every week. With my busy schedule I am sometimes a week or two behind.
I DVR everything. I work full-time and go to school in the evenings, so it’s impossible for me to watch things live. TV execs and advertisers need start picking up on the fact that fewer people are watching live broadcasts these days soon, before we lose good shows for stupid reasons! **cough**Firefly/WonderFalls/ArrestedDevelopment/justtonameafew**cough**
I wonder what effect Southern California had on the ratings. The San Diego NBC station is not showing Monday’s shows until Sunday evening.
Indeed. We’ve never got the time to sit through three straight hours of television. We TIVO all three, though we usually watch Heroes sometime that night. I catch Chuck over the next couple of mornings while I get ready for work.
The networks are going to have to understand that people in the money group (me – men 18-49) are not going to sit all night on the sofa and watch TV anymore. I’m watching these shows and I’ve got money to spend. While I fast forward, I do catch what the ads are as I fast forward.
You want to reach me? Better not cancel these shows!
Nielson does consider the “7-day” DVR-d shows; in other words, ones you watch within 7 days of recording them. That statistic is important to networks too… but the truth is, they know that we’re fast-forwarding through commercials if we’re watching it delayed, and the whole point of ratings is to know what ad time they can sell. So we’re a little screwed there.
Journeyman is a smart, good show and I’m still crossing my fingers for it. A move to another night might be a good idea.
Move Journeyman to Si-Fi network before Ghosthunters on Wendnsday……Frack NBC