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CABLETELEVISION ADVERTISING BUREAU
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Broadcast’s Primetime Erosion Chart 1985-2003 & A18-49 Rating Classifications 02/03 vs. 92/93
Broadcast programming is becoming weaker year after year as viewers tune to other forms of programming for their entertainment.
With all of cable niche programming available to viewers today, Broadcasters are finding it more difficult to keep their viewers. Broadcast programming is just not delivering those ratings it once did. For example, 60 Minutes in 1Q93 would deliver a 23.4 HH rating whereas today it only earns an average 10.3 HH rating – half of what it performed 10 years ago. Also, "water cooler" shows have practically become a thing of the past with only one coming to mind today – American Idol.
In fact, Broadcast’s average rating for the Big Three Nets (ABC, CBS, and NBC) is practically half of its 1985 level (7.6 HH RTG in 1Q03 vs 16.4 HH RRG in 1Q85).
In First Quarter 2003, Broadcast Big 4 Nets delivered a 7.2 HH rating, down 36% from 10 years ago and its average weekly cume % fell to a 59.6.
Download Broadcast Rating & Cume (1985-2003) Spreadsheet
NOTE: Prior to First Quarter 1992, average rating included ABC, CBS, and NBC only.
Download Broadcast Primetime A18-49 Ratings 02/03 vs. 92/93 Spreadsheet
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Content © 2004 by Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (www.onetvworld.org). Reprinted with Permission.