Ratings News - 24th February 2012 *Full Tables Added*

We'll have the full tables and updated Cancellation Chart online shortly. Check the Twitter feed for updates.



METERED MARKET THURSDAY RATINGS
CBS Wins; The Big Bang Theory Inches Past American Idol

Thursday 2/23/12
Metered Market Results

Household
Rating/Share
CBS 8.6/14
Fox 7.5/12
ABC 5.0/ 8
NBC 2.4/ 4
CW 0.9/ 1

-Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening – Thursday 2/24/11
CBS: + 6, ABC: - 6, NBC: -17, Fox: -46, CW: -50

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-Winners:
The Big Bang Theory (CBS), American Idol (Fox), Person of Interest (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), The Mentalist (CBS)

-Fading Fast:
The Office (NBC)

-Losers (excluding repeats):
Wipeout (ABC), 30 Rock (NBC), Parks and Recreation (NBC), Up All Night (NBC), The Finder (Fox)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led this fourth Thursday in February with a 1.1 rating point advantage in the metered markets over second-place Fox. Third overall was ABC, followed by distant NBC and a night of repeats on The CW.

The Big Bang Theory on CBS opened with a dominant 10.4 rating/17 share in the overnights at 8 p.m., which was two percent ahead of the first half of Fox’s competing American Idol (10.2/16). Once upon a time, nothing could top Idol. Next on the Eye net was recent entry Rob at a second-place 6.4/10 at 8:30 p.m., which was comparable to year-ago occupant Rules of Engagement (6.2/ 9 on 2/24/11). With retention for Rob out of The Big Bang Theory of just 62 percent, CBS needs to decide if this is enough to keep it on the air. Rob, unfortunately, may never have the stamina to stand on its own.

Next on CBS was renewable freshman drama Person of Interest (#1: 8.9/14 at 9 p.m.), which built from year-ago occupant CSI (7.8/12 on 2/24/11) by 14 percent, followed by The Mentalist at a comparable 8.6/15 at 10 p.m.

On Fox, American Idol averaged a 10.8/17 from 8-9 p.m., which was enough to lead the hour in the overnights overall. But compared to one year earlier (13.8/21 on 2/24/11), it dropped by 22 percent. The Voice on NBC, no doubt, is a much fresher singing competition at present.

At 9 p.m., recent entry The Finder dipped to third in the 9 p.m. time period, with a 4.2/ 7. Comparably, retention out of the 8:30 p.m. portion of American Idol (11.4/18) was lacking at 37 percent. As a reminder, parent series Bones returns to the Thursday 9 p.m. hour on April 5. The Finder is not expected to return next season.

Over at ABC, Wipeout is not strong enough to be anchoring Thursday at a distant third-place 3.1/ 5 in the overnights at 8 p.m. One year earlier, it scored a 3.8/ 6. Next was veteran medical drama Grey’s Anatomy at a second-place 7.0/11 at 9 p.m., which was equal to the year-ago night, followed by spin-off Private Practice at a second-place 5.0/ 9 at 10 p.m. As a reminder, Private Practice will move into the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour out of Dancing With the Stars for four weeks beginning on April 10.

Elsewhere, NBC has another horrific Thursday with its combination of 30 Rock (#4: 2.8/ 4), which sparked no interest with guest star Jim Carrey, Parks & Recreation (#4: 2.7/ 4), fading The Office (#4: 3.6/ 6: down 14 percent year-to-year), Up All Night (#4: 2.5/ 4) and an encore telecast of freshman drama Grimm (#3: 1.5/ 2). And The CW capped off the evening with repeats of The Vampire Diaries (#5: 1.1/ 2) and Supernatural (#5: 0.7/ 1).

Upcoming on NBC, three-year-old Community will return to its former Thursday 8 p.m. time period on March 15, leading into relocated 30 Rock at 8:30 p.m., which temporarily replaces Parks and Recreation. Parks and Recreation moves into the Thursday 9:30 p.m. half-hour (out of The Office) effective on April 19 after current occupant Up All Night concludes its freshman season run. Given Community’s always sluggish performance, there is no reason to think these changes will make a difference, unfortunately.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data

Source: Marc Berman@TVMediaInsights