NYT: Fading in Ratings, Fox Bets on a Late Surge

[stopbush]

The New York Times
January 6, 2005
Fading in Ratings, Fox Bets on a Late Surge
By BILL CARTER

For the Fox network, the television season so far has amounted to a limbo contest: how low can they go? That question relates both to the network's ratings, which have dropped precipitously, and its program content, which may have hit a new bottom this week with "Who's Your Daddy?," a reality series that featured a contestant, who turned out to be a one-time actress in a soft-core pornographic film, trying to identify her birth father in a quest for $100,000. (It too bombed in the ratings.)

snip

Consider Fox's current position. The network has lost about 8 percent of its viewers from a year ago (8.5 million, down from 9.2 million), but Fox, like NBC and ABC, cares most about viewers between ages 18 and 49 because advertisers pay a premium to reach that group. There, Fox is off even more: 11 percent, dropping to a 3.3 rating from 3.7. A rating point in the 18-to-49 category is worth about 1.3 million viewers.

In reality (and that word cuts several ways in Fox's case), the picture is considerably worse. Of all the prime-time shows on Fox this fall, only one, the 16-year-old hit "The Simpsons," has a rating well above the network's average, a 4.6 in that 18-to-49 category. One reality series, "Nanny 911," has a 3.4, and another, "Trading Spouses," has a 3.3.

Every other show Fox has put on this fall is below the network's own average rating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/arts/television/06fox.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[LSdemocrat]

1. This is probably why they are bringing back Family Guy

[Jack_Dawson]

2. I'm just sitting here laughing...

what else can I console this network with?

(Sentence ended in a prepositional phrase, noted)

[GainesT1958]

3. Let's face it...

With the exceptions of their two animated shows "King of the Hill" and, of course, "The Simpsons", Fox, as a network, really sucks!:puke:

When the NFL's network contracts come up for bid again, I really do hope NBC out-bids Fox for the NFC--it would serve Rupert right!:7

B-)

[tridim]

5. Don't forget "Arrested Development"

It's great, and sure to be cancelled.

[tridim]

4. They should shop around the new Family Guy episodes

To TNT and Cartoon Network. Although they did have an episode where Ted Turner had sex with a dog. :)

[AmericanErrorist]

9. Actually the FG eps are going straight to CN's Adult Swim

Later this year.

And Ted Turner hasn't been involved with those networks for years.

[ixion]

11. actually, it wasn't Turner, but Lois' father

who had sex with his dog. :evilgrin:

[librechik]

6. did he say "bimbo contest?" n/t

[housewolf]

7. Where did the viewers go?

This is really interesting. Where did their viewers go? Did they just give up tv or did they go to some other station or network?

[unpossibles]

8. cancel your cable

turn off your TV.

read. listen to music. talk with friends. play a board game.

keep the idiot box for renting videos and as a fancy knick-knack table.

[TNMOM]

10. what happens when american idol goes back on air?

I hate Fox as much as anyone posting here, but the Idol show will probably save them in February sweeps.