Fox has once again claimed the adult demo crown.
The network's 3.5 rating/10 share average in the adults 18-49 demographic is tops among broadcasters for the seventh straight season — this, despite Fox's 5 percent year-to-year drop in that key demo.
CBS once again finished the 2010-11 season No. 1 among total viewers, averaging 11.6 million (a 3 percent year-to-year drop).
Here are the preliminary full-season rankings, based on Nielsen data:
Adults 18-49
FOX: 3.5/10 (-5%)
CBS: 2.9/8 (-9%)
ABC: 2.5/7 (-7%)
NBC: 2.3/6 (-15%)
Total Viewers
CBS: 11.6 million (-3%)
FOX: 9.8 million (-3%)
ABC: 8.5 million (-2%)
NBC: 7.0 million (-16%)
Here's Fox's announcement:
FOX WINS SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE SEASON,
ACHIEVES LONGEST WINNING STREAK IN BROADCAST HISTORY
AMONG ADULTS 18-49
Network Wins May 2011 Sweep by Largest Margin of Victory in 5 Years
It’s official: FOX has won its seventh straight season among Adults 18-49, breaking its previous record for the most consecutive season wins in the key adult demo in broadcast history. Averaging a 3.5/10 rating, FOX dominated the No. 2 network (CBS) by +21%, the No. 3 network (ABC) by +40% and the No. 4 network (NBC) by +52% and showed the best year-over-year retention among Adults 18-49 of any broadcast network this season.
FOX once again drew the youngest audience among the Big Four networks and with originals closed the season with:
· The most-watched program in TV history – SUPER BOWL XLV
· The No. 1 show on Television – AMERICAN IDOL
· The No. 1 comedy among Women – GLEE
· The No. 1 scripted series among Men – FAMILY GUY
· The No. 1 scripted series among Teens – GLEE
· The No. 1 new scripted series among Young Adults – RAISING HOPE
· The No. 1 new scripted series among Teens – RAISING HOPE
In addition, in Live + Same Day ratings, FOX won the May 2011 sweep by +29% among Adults 18-49 rating – the largest May sweep margin of victory in five years (since FOX’s +33% advantage in May 2006).
Other key 2010-2011 season highlights include:
· In addition to winning in the key adult demo for the seventh straight season, FOX has ranked No. 1 among Adults 18-34 for nine seasons in a row and No. 1 among Teens 12-17 for 11 consecutive seasons.
· FOX ranks No. 1 among Adults 18-49 on four of seven nights of the week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) – the most nights of any network.
· FOX ranks No. 1 among Adults 18-34 on six out of seven nights of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
· FOX ranks No. 1 in Thursday prime among Adults 18-49 for the first time in the network’s history – in fact, FOX won 18 consecutive Thursdays this season, the longest broadcast season streak for any network in 12 years.
· FOX has topped the rankings among Adults 18-49 for nine of the past 10 quarters (1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2011).
· FOX’s median age of 45 for all programming is the youngest of the four major broadcast networks – four years younger than the second-youngest network, NBC; six years younger than ABC; and 10 years younger than CBS.
Preliminary broadcast network season averages and year-over-year performance through 5/25/2011 (based on Nielsen Most Current ratings) are:
Adults 18-49
FOX: 3.5/10 (-5%)
CBS: 2.9/8 (-9%)
ABC: 2.5/7 (-7%)
NBC: 2.3/6 (-15%)
Total Viewers
CBS: 11.6 million (-3%)
FOX: 9.8 million (-3%)
ABC: 8.5 million (-2%)
NBC: 7.0 million (-16%)
About Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation and the leading broadcast television network among Adults 18-49. FOX finished the 2010-2011 season at No. 1 in the key adult demographic for the seventh consecutive year – a feat that has never been achieved in broadcast history – while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.
