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The WB Network Posts High Numbers For Season Premieres |
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CBS Premieres Show Strong
The only other network with year-to-year growth in the opening of the 2002-2003 season, CBS pulled strong numbers in demos, total viewers and household gains. The network has launched 10pm dramas on four nights, including the high performing “CSI: Miami” on Monday and “Without A Trace” on Thursday.
CBS’s first week of the new season drew a 22 percent increase in adults 18 to 34 (3.3/9 vs. 2.7/8), a 43 percent surge in teens (2.0/7 vs. 1.4/5) and an 11 percent rise in total viewers (13.84 million vs. 12.51 million).
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The WB came out swinging in the season premiere week of September 23 – 29. The network posted big numbers in the first four days of the new season. The WB shared the top spot for year-to-year ratings increases in most key demos and total viewers with CBS.
“The network [The WB] enjoyed an unexpected May 2002 sweeps ratings growth spurt, and this season seems to be picking up right where it left off,” said Electronic Media‘s Michael Freeman.
Especially noteworthy was The WB’s numbers on its “Big Sunday” lineup. The network as a whole broke records with its evening premiere ratings for the two-hour season premiere of “Charmed” with chart-popping records according to Nielsen Media Research. Records were broken in adults 18 to 34 (2.6/7), persons 12 to 34 (2.7/8) women 18 to 34 (3.1/9) and total viewers (5.2 million). Charlotte’s WB55, Capitol Broadcasting Company station WWWB-TV, booked a 5.5/8 share for the “Charmed” episode, which out-delivered the metered market average by 8%.
“If there is a headline for [last] week, it was The WB re-establishing its comedies on Friday and drama lineups on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings with little advance promotion,” said Bill Carroll, senior VP and director of programming for Katz Television Group.
A few other of the high performing shows included “Gilmore Girls” which got its best-ever ratings in adults 18 to 34 (3.4 household rating/10 share) and persons 12 to 34 (2.4/8). The new show “Everwood’s” posted the second-highest metered-market delivery in the time period nationally since January 1998. Both “7th Heaven” and “Everwood’s” struck gold in their second week with the highest metered market ratings for a Monday since November 2000.
Overall, The WB boasted increases of 75 and100 percent in adults 18 to 49 (2.1/6 vs 1.2/3) and adults 18 to 34 (2.4/7 vs. 1.2/4) respectively.
