Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Vulture created an infographic showing how each broadcast show did between 2012-13 and 2013-14 among 18 to 49 year olds, a key demographic for advertisers for the broadcast networks. It includes DVR usage for up to a week but not anything people viewed after that or on demand, on Hulu, or Amazon or the like. This also excludes summer shows such as "Big Brother," "Rookie Blue" and "So You Think You Can Dance."
Nonetheless, it's pretty disheartening. Overall, 18-49 viewership among the five major English language networks fell 10 percent.
(I wish they'd create one for overall viewership as well. It may not be quite as bad but probably comparable.)
It's typical for shows to lose 5 to 15 percent of their audience any given year. If you go up (like "Scandal" or "Supernatural"), you should be thrilled. "Grey's Anatomy," despite its age, saw gains, probably aided by "Scandal." "Chicago Fire" has become a bonafide hit for NBC and "Shark Tank" defies gravity over on ABC.
Aging reality shows such as "The Bachelor," "Dancing With the Stars" and "Survivor" kept losses under 10 percent. "The Voice" fell about 11 percent, not terrible.
If you are losing more than 20 percent, you should be worried. That's where "The Amazing Race' landed, along with "Hell's Kitchen."
"Idol"? We've chronicled that drop off extensively: 28 percent. And there's a reason "Two and a Half Men" is entering its final season: an alarming fall of 32 percent. "Raising Hope,' now cancelled, fell a scary 50 percent. "Glee" dropped an alarming 45 percent but since it received a two-season pickup, Fox had no choice but to give it a final 13 episode ride in 2014-15.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
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