National Ratings in Prime-Time: Week of August 25, 2008 (Mediaweek.com)

NBC led the low-rated troops for the week of August 25 in households, total viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54; while Fox pulled ahead among adults 18-34. But with four nights of coverage of the 2008 Democratic Convention at 10 p.m., none of the networks were rejoicing. CBS, in particular, took a hit with year-to-year losses of as much as 36 percent.

In season-premiere news, NBC's Deal Or No Deal was amply sampled in the Monday 8 p.m. hour, with 11.00 million viewers and a 2.8 rating/9 share among adults 18-49. That led into the series-debut of reality/competition America's Toughest Job at 7.30 million viewers and a 2.7/ 7 in the demo at 9 p.m. While the adult 18-49 retention was good, lack of original competition in the time period makes the premiere of America's Toughest Job a disappointment. And announcing the first million dollar winner on Deal or No Deal in advance this week thwarted the suspense and could prove detrimental in the future. Was that really wise?

Here are the final national ratings for the week of August 25, 2008 (with percent change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses), followed by the summer series scorecard, coverage of the Democratic Convention, and the top 20 rated programs of the week.

-Households:
NBC: 3.8 rating/7 share (no change), CBS: 3.6/ 6 (-23), Fox: 3.0/ 5 (no change), ABC: 2.8/ 5 (- 7), CW: 1.1/ 2 (-13), MNTV: 0.7/ 1 (no change)

-Total Viewers:
NBC: 5.86 million (- 1), CBS: 5.29 (-24), Fox: 4.58 (- 3), ABC: 4.12 (- 7), CW: 1.59 (-19), MNTV: 1.11 (+11)

-Adults 18-49:
NBC: 1.7 rating/5 share, (-19), Fox: 1.6/ 5 (- 6), CBS: 1.4/ 4 (-30), ABC: 1.3/ 4 (-13), CW: 0.6/ 2 (-14), MNTV: 0.4/ 1 (+33)

-Adults 25-54:
NBC: 2.1/ 6 (- 9), CBS: 1.9/ 5 (-24), Fox: 1.8/ 5 (- 5), ABC: 1.5/ 4 (-17), CW: 0.6/ 2 (-14), MNTV: 0.5/ 1 (+25)

-Adults 18-34:
Fox: 1.5/ 5 (no change), NBC: 1.3/ 5 (-24), ABC: 1.1/ 4 (- 8), CBS: 0.9/ 3 (-36), CW: 0.6/ 2 (-25), MNTV: 0.3/ 1 (no change)

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Summer Series Scorecard
(excluding repeats)

America's Got Talent (NBC) ÐTuesday 8-10 p.m.
Viewers: 11.12 million (#1), A18-49: 3.1/ 9 (#1)

America's Got Talent (NBC) ÐWednesday 8-10 p.m.
Viewers: 10.34 million (#3), A18-49: 2.8/ 8 (#3t)

Wipeout (ABC) ÐTuesday 8 p.m.
Viewers: 6.32 million (#12), A18-49: 2.3/ 7 (#6t)

Big Brother 10 (CBS) ÐTuesday 9 p.m.
Viewers: 6.28 million (#13), A18-49: 2.3/ 6 (#6t)

Big Brother 10 (CBS) ÐThursday 8 p.m.
Viewers: 5.97 million (#17), A18-49: 2.2/ 7 (#10t)

Big Brother 10 (CBS) ÐSunday 8 p.m.
Viewers: 5.70 million (#19), A18-49: 1.9/ 7 (#15t)

Greatest American Dog (CBS) ÐWednesday 8 p.m.
Viewers: 5.68 million (#20), A18-49: 1.7/ 5 (#23t)

Swingtown (CBS) ÐFriday 10 p.m.
Viewers: 3.65 million (#58), A18-49: 1.1/ 4 (#54t)

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Democratic Convention Coverage

Monday
ABC - Viewers: 4.17 million, A18-49: 0.9/ 3
CBS - Viewers: 3.46 million, A18-49: 0.9/ 2
NBC - Viewers: 4.71 million, A18-49: 1.4/ 4

Tuesday
ABC - Viewers: 4.76 million, A18-49: 1.1/ 3
CBS - Viewers: 3.82 million, A18-49: 1.1/ 3
NBC - Viewers: 5.98 million, A18-49: 1.7/ 5

Wednesday
ABC - Viewers: 3.48 million, A18-49: 0.9/ 3
CBS - Viewers: 3.54 million, A18-49: 0.9/ 3
NBC - Viewers: 5.46 million, A18-49: 1.5/ 4

Thursday
ABC - Viewers: 6.58 million, A18-49: 2.0/ 5
CBS - Viewers: 4.72 million, A18-49: 1.3/ 4
NBC - Viewers: 6.10 million, A18-49: 2.2/ 6

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Top 20:

-Total Viewers:
America's Got Talent ÐTuesday (NBC): 11.12 million, Deal or No Deal (NBC, season premiere): 11.00, America's Got Talent ÐWednesday (NBC): 10.34, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 9.03, 60 Minutes R (CBS): 8.03, NCIS R (CBS): 7.45, America's Toughest Jobs (NBC, premiere): 7.30, Criminal Minds R (CBS): 6.93, House R (Fox): 6.81, The New Adventures of Old Christine R (CBS): 6.63, Democratic Convention (ABC, Thursday): 6.58, Wipeout (ABC): 6.32, Big Brother 10 ÐTuesday (CBS): 6.28, Democratic Convention (NBC, Tuesday): 6.10, Democratic Convention (NBC, Tuesday): 5.98, Big Brother 10 ÐThursday (CBS): 5.97, CSI: NY R (CBS, Sun. 10 p.m.): 5.89, Big Brother 10 ÐSunday (CBS): 5.70, Greatest American Dog (CBS): 5.68

-Adults 18-49:
America's Got Talent ÐTuesday (NBC): 3.1 rating/9 share, Two and a Half Men R (CBS): 3.0/ 8, Deal or No Deal (NBC, season premiere): 2.8/ 8, America's Got Talent ÐWednesday (NBC): 2.8/ 8, America's Toughest Jobs (NBC, premiere): 2.7/ 7, Wipeout (ABC): 2.3/ 7, Big Brother 10 ÐTuesday (CBS), House R (Fox) and The New Adventures of Old Christine R (CBS): 2.3/ 6 each , Big Brother 10 ÐThursday (CBS): 2.2/ 7, Democratic Convention Coverage (NBC, Thursday) and How I Met Your Mother R (CBS): 2.2/ 6 each, Moment of Truth (Fox, Thurs. 9 p.m.): 2.1/ 6, Democratic Convention (ABC, Thursday): 2.0/ 5, Big Brother 10 (CBS, Sun. 8 p.m.): 1.9/ 7, The Big Bang Theory R (CBS), America's Most Wanted (Fox) and Family Guy R (Fox): 1.8/ 6 each, Criminal Minds R (CBS), House R (Fox) and Bones R (Fox): 1.8/ 5 each

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

-- Marc Berman

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