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An amazing summer
for 'Amazing Race'
Week's best non-Olympics show among 18-49s
By Diego Vasquez
A year ago decision-makers at CBS were pondering
whether to bring back the fading “Amazing Race” franchise.
What a difference a year makes.
“Amazing Race 5” has turned all of that
around, and rather smartly, heading into its scheduled Sept. 14 finale.
There will be a season six, launching Sept. 25 at 8 p.m., and producers
are already casting for a season seven.
The latest example of "Race's" strength came last week, when NBC
aired finales for its summer programming. Despite big build-ups for "Last Comic
Standing," "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?" and "For Love or Money
4," a regular episode of "Race" still beat them all.
In fact, "Race" was the top-rated non-Olympic program of the week
among adults 18-49, managing the rare feat of not only outdrawing "CSI" reruns
but also besting the preseason return of "Monday Night Football" on ABC.
Not bad for a show that took a one-year hiatus before its summer return.
And it has certainly been some summer. "Race's" July 6
premiere averaged a 6.4 household rating and 10.3 million viewers while posting a 4.3
rating among viewers 18-49.
Over six weeks, “Race” has
improved on those numbers, averaging a 6.48 household rating and 10.5 million viewers, as
well as a 4.45 average rating in 18-49s.
Further, those numbers were well up from last
year--17.8 percent in households and 25 percent in average total viewers.
What changed?
"Race" has always been a darling of critics, such as Media
Life's Dan Jewel, as the purest of reality shows, one stripped bare of cheesy gimmickry.
But the show struggled to get much beyond vanilla ratings, and by season four the trend
was in a downwardly direction.
What makes “Amazing Race 5” a draw is an engaging cast, reproving
the truism of reality TV shows that ultimately people tune in for the characters more than
the contest itself.
In reviewing this season's opener, Jewel wrote, “By the end of the
season premiere, we’re already emotionally invested in most of the teams, whether
we’re rooting for them to stay or desperately hoping they’ll go.”
This season has been highlighted by a slew of memorable teams, including
Charla and Mirna, the team of cousins, Kami and Karli, the identical twins identified by
some as the team most likely to get lost, and Linda and Karen, a dark- horse team of
bowling moms.
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 15 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
| NBC |
9.2 |
9970 |
16 |
5.5 |
15140 |
15 |
5.4 |
6980 |
16 |
| CBS |
5.1 |
5540 |
9 |
2.8 |
7650 |
8 |
2.5 |
3240 |
8 |
| ABC |
4.1 |
4500 |
7 |
2.2 |
6160 |
6 |
2.3 |
2900 |
7 |
| FOX |
3.1 |
3340 |
5 |
1.7 |
4710 |
5 |
2.1 |
2670 |
6 |
| UPN |
1.7 |
1890 |
3 |
0.9 |
2540 |
3 |
1.1 |
1350 |
3 |
| WB |
1.7 |
1820 |
3 |
0.9 |
2470 |
2 |
1.0 |
1330 |
3 |
| PAX |
0.4 |
490 |
1 |
0.2 |
650 |
1 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
* Each
rating point is equivalent to 1.084 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 15 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
| CBS |
7.8 |
8400 |
13 |
4.3 |
11910 |
12 |
3.5 |
4540 |
10 |
| NBC |
6.7 |
7290 |
11 |
3.7 |
10150 |
10 |
3.9 |
4980 |
11 |
| FOX |
5.4 |
5850 |
9 |
3.1 |
8590 |
8 |
3.6 |
4640 |
10 |
| ABC |
5.4 |
5820 |
9 |
3.0 |
8190 |
8 |
3.0 |
3830 |
9 |
| WB |
2.2 |
2430 |
4 |
1.2 |
3310 |
3 |
1.3 |
1730 |
4 |
| UPN |
2.2 |
2350 |
4 |
1.2 |
3200 |
3 |
1.3 |
1670 |
4 |
| PAX |
0.6 |
690 |
1 |
0.3 |
960 |
1 |
0.2 |
280 |
1 |
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.084 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 15 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
1 |
SUM OLYM SUN
PRIME 1(S) |
NBC |
15.4 |
26 |
16693 |
1 |
9.4 |
25819 |
2 |
SUM OLYM OPEN
CEREM(S) |
NBC |
14.6 |
27 |
15784 |
2 |
9.2 |
25384 |
3 |
SUM OLYM SAT
PRIME 1(S) |
NBC |
11.8 |
23 |
12760 |
3 |
7.2 |
19819 |
4 |
EVERYBODY
LOVES RAYMOND |
CBS |
7.7 |
13 |
8383 |
4 |
4.3 |
11787 |
5 |
LAW AND
ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
7.6 |
13 |
8277 |
6 |
4.0 |
11097 |
6 |
TWO AND
A HALF MEN |
CBS |
7.4 |
12 |
8002 |
8 |
3.9 |
10847 |
7 |
AFC-NFC HALL
OF FAME
GAME(S) |
ABC |
7.3 |
13 |
7885 |
8 |
3.9 |
10838 |
7 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.3 |
12 |
7913 |
5 |
4.2 |
11517 |
7 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
7.3 |
12 |
7950 |
6 |
4.0 |
10902 |
10 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.1 |
13 |
7745 |
8 |
3.9 |
10742 |
11 |
AFC-NFC HALL
FME
SHOWCASE(S) |
ABC |
7.0 |
13 |
7539 |
12 |
3.7 |
10307 |
12 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
6.6 |
12 |
7146 |
13 |
3.4 |
9286 |
13 |
AMAZING RACE: 5 |
CBS |
6.4 |
11 |
6955 |
11 |
3.8 |
10392 |
14 |
60 MINUTES
SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
6.1 |
10 |
6568 |
17 |
3.2 |
8922 |
15 |
BIG BROTHER
5-THU |
CBS |
6.0 |
11 |
6511 |
13 |
3.4 |
9507 |
15 |
BIG BROTHER
5-TUE |
CBS |
6.0 |
10 |
6473 |
13 |
3.4 |
9320 |
17 |
LAW AND ORDER
WED 9PM |
NBC |
5.9 |
10 |
6356 |
19 |
3.0 |
8348 |
18 |
TRADING SPOUSES |
FOX |
5.7 |
10 |
6214 |
16 |
3.3 |
9198 |
19 |
60 MINUTES II |
CBS |
5.3 |
10 |
5760 |
25 |
2.7 |
7460 |
19 |
COLD
CASE-SPEC (S) |
CBS |
5.3 |
8 |
5796 |
21 |
2.9 |
8016 |
19 |
EXTREME
MAKEOVER-THU |
ABC |
5.3 |
9 |
5784 |
22 |
2.8 |
7699 |
19 |
LAST COMIC
STANDING2
8/12(S) |
NBC |
5.3 |
9 |
5783 |
17 |
3.2 |
8809 |
19 |
NAVY NCIS |
CBS |
5.3 |
9 |
5722 |
22 |
2.8 |
7747 |
24 |
48 HOURS MYSTERY |
CBS |
5.2 |
9 |
5670 |
25 |
2.7 |
7326 |
25 |
PRIMETIME
THURS |
ABC |
5.0 |
9 |
5386 |
34 |
2.4 |
6699 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending August 15 |
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
SUM OLYM SUN PRIME
1(S) |
NBC |
9.8 |
12612 |
2 |
SUM OLYM OPEN
CEREM(S) |
NBC |
8.0 |
10304 |
3 |
SUM OLYM SAT PRIME
1(S) |
NBC |
6.9 |
8827 |
4 |
AMAZING RACE: 5 |
CBS |
4.7 |
6083 |
5 |
LAST COMIC STANDING2
8/12(S) |
NBC |
4.4 |
5657 |
5 |
TRADING SPOUSES |
FOX |
4.4 |
5668 |
7 |
AFC-NFC HALL OF FAME
GAME(S) |
ABC |
4.2 |
5409 |
8 |
BIG BROTHER 5-TUE |
CBS |
4.1 |
5245 |
9 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.0 |
5210 |
10 |
BIG BROTHER 5-THU |
CBS |
3.9 |
4981 |
10 |
EVERYBODY LOVES
RAYMOND |
CBS |
3.9 |
5045 |
12 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
3.7 |
4704 |
12 |
LAST COMIC STANDING
2 |
NBC |
3.7 |
4824 |
14 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.6 |
4582 |
14 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
3.6 |
4685 |
16 |
AFC-NFC HALL-FME
SHOWCASE(S) |
ABC |
3.5 |
4473 |
17 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
3.4 |
4350 |
18 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
2.9 |
3789 |
18 |
TRADING
SPOUSES-ENCORE 9P(S) |
FOX |
2.9 |
3770 |
20 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER-THU |
ABC |
2.8 |
3630 |
20 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM
ED-9P |
ABC |
2.8 |
3549 |
20 |
FEAR FACTOR |
NBC |
2.8 |
3623 |
20 |
FOR LOVE OR MONEY 4 |
NBC |
2.8 |
3595 |
24 |
AMER FUNN HM
VIDEOS-SU 8P |
ABC |
2.7 |
3433 |
25 |
2004 TEEN CHOICE
AWARDS(S) |
FOX |
2.6 |
3369 |
25 |
KING OF QUEENS WED
930PM |
CBS |
2.6 |
3327 |
25 |
WILL & GRACE |
NBC |
2.6 |
3326 |
25 |
YES, DEAR |
CBS |
2.6 |
3345 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
CABLE TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 8 |
BASIC CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
(000) |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
1 |
NEXTEL
CUP
WATKINS GLEN |
TNT |
3869 |
3.6 |
5636 |
2 |
MONK
(2109 MONK
& GAME SHOW) |
USA |
3361 |
3.1 |
4852 |
3 |
LAW
& ORDER |
TNT |
3185 |
2.9 |
4271 |
4 |
WWE
ENTERTAINMENT
(WWE RAW ZONE) |
SPIKE |
2828 |
2.6 |
4185 |
5 |
NIP TUCK
(AGATHA RIPP) |
FX |
2788 |
2.6 |
3879 |
6 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2770 |
2.6 |
3725 |
7 |
WWE ENT.
(WWE RAW) |
SPIKE |
2753 |
2.5 |
3839 |
8 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2697 |
2.5 |
3564 |
9 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2669 |
2.5 |
3717 |
10 |
NFL
PRE-SEASON FTBALL
(FALCONS/RAVENS) |
ESPN |
2655 |
2.4 |
3678 |
11 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2535 |
2.3 |
3444 |
11 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2535 |
2.3 |
3456 |
13 |
FAIRLY
ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
2509 |
2.3 |
3377 |
14 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2497 |
2.3 |
3087 |
15 |
DANNY
PHANTOM |
NICK |
2480 |
2.3 |
3397 |
PAY CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons
2+ |
(000) |
Rtg
% |
(000) |
1 |
SIX FEET UNDER |
HBO |
2375 |
2.2 |
3299 |
2 |
LEAGUE OF EXTRDNRY |
HBO |
1618 |
1.5 |
2225 |
3 |
ENTOURAGE |
HBO |
1390 |
1.3 |
1970 |
4 |
SEABISCUIT |
HBO |
1004 |
0.9 |
1321 |
5 |
CATHOUSE 2 (AU) |
HBO |
911 |
0.8 |
1091 |
*
Ratings based on 108.4 million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.084 million
homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 8 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
US
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
7.6 |
8212 |
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.4 |
6971 |
3 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN
(AT) |
KIN |
5.9 |
6391 |
4 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW
(AT) |
KIN |
5.8 |
6314 |
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5.5 |
5967 |
6 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
5.3 |
5703 |
7 |
FRIENDS-SYN (AT) |
WB |
5.1 |
5541 |
8 |
ENTERTAINMENT
TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.5 |
4898 |
8 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.5 |
4835 |
10 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
WKND |
KIN |
3.8 |
4089 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending August 15 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
1 |
MARIANA DE LA NOCHE
M-F |
UNI |
20.6 |
2173 |
2 |
AMARTE ES MI PECADO
M-F |
UNI |
19.5 |
2060 |
3 |
DON FRANCISCO
PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
17.5 |
1849 |
4 |
MUJER DE MADERA M-F |
UNI |
16.3 |
1721 |
5 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
16.1 |
1704 |
6 |
AL FILO DE LA LEY
TUE |
UNI |
15.0 |
1581 |
7 |
ESCUELITA VIP FRI |
UNI |
14.8 |
1567 |
8 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
14.7 |
1552 |
9 |
CASA DE LA RISA FRI |
UNI |
14.1 |
1492 |
10 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
13.2 |
1394 |
11 |
VER PARA CREER-SUN |
UNI |
11.1 |
1177 |
12 |
HORA
PICO...EXTRA-SUN |
UNI |
11.0 |
1166 |
13 |
PARODIA-SUN |
UNI |
8.8 |
934 |
14 |
PASION DE GAVILANES
M-F |
TEL |
8.4 |
892 |
15 |
HORA DERBEZ SAT |
UNI |
8.0 |
842 |
16 |
PRISIONERA M-F |
TEL |
7.2 |
761 |
17 |
GITANAS M-F |
TEL |
6.2 |
654 |
18 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
5.4 |
567 |
19 |
PROTAGONISTAS M-F |
TEL |
5.1 |
540 |
20 |
JGS OLMP-VRN VIE
PRIME 1 |
TEL |
4.8 |
511 |
21 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
3.9 |
408 |
22 |
SOLO BOXEO-Friday |
TF |
3.5 |
374 |
22 |
100 MEXICANOS
DIJERON M-F |
TF |
3.5 |
367 |
24 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
3.4 |
360 |
25 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
3.2 |
343 |
*
Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK SPORTS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 8 |
| # |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Prsns
2+ |
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
1 |
BRICKYARD
400(S)-8/8 |
NBC |
NSCAR
WNSTON
CUP |
6.1 |
15 |
6633 |
9315 |
2 |
LINCOLN
FIN.
BATTLE
(S)-8/2 |
ABC |
WOODS/
KUHNE VS
DALY/
MICKLSN |
3.6 |
6 |
3862 |
5074 |
3 |
FOX SAT.
BASEBALL |
FOX |
VAR.
TEAMS
& TIMES |
3.4 |
10 |
3639 |
4825 |
4 |
WWE
SMCKDWN! |
UPN |
|
3.3 |
6 |
3545 |
5150 |
5 |
X-GAMES X
(S)-8/8 |
ABC |
|
2.2 |
4 |
2406 |
3385 |
6 |
INTER.
-SUN(S)-8/8 |
CBS |
|
1.8 |
4 |
1947 |
2439 |
7 |
USA BB
MENS
NAT VS
TRKEY(S)-8/8 |
ABC |
|
1.7 |
5 |
1890 |
2527 |
8 |
X-GAMES X
SUN(S)-8/8 |
ABC |
|
1.7 |
4 |
1793 |
2403 |
9 |
INTER.
-SAT(S)-8/7 |
CBS |
|
1.6 |
5 |
1737 |
2106 |
10 |
X-GAMES X
SAT(S)-8/7 |
ABC |
|
1.2 |
3 |
1292 |
1783 |
11 |
NBC SPRTS
SPEC
8/7-B(S) |
NBC |
VANS
TRIPLE
SKTBRDNG |
1.1 |
3 |
1202 |
1549 |
12 |
US JR. GOLF
CHAMPS
(S)-8/7 |
NBC |
|
1.1 |
3 |
1200 |
1555 |
13 |
NBC SPRTS
SPEC.
8/7-A(S) |
NBC |
ADV.
SPORTS |
1.0 |
3 |
1071 |
1270 |
14 |
CBS SPRTS
SPEC.-SA |
CBS |
THE
HMBTNN |
0.9 |
3 |
965 |
1324 |
15 |
CBS AUTO
RACING
AMR
LEMNS
(S)-8/8 |
CBS |
TORNTO
GRND
PRIX:
MSPORT |
0.9 |
3 |
950 |
1232 |
16 |
TPSPIN:
USTA
KID'S SHW |
CBS |
TNNIS
ANTH. |
0.6 |
2 |
692 |
939 |
| Source:
Nielsen Media Research |
|
Aug. 18,
2004 � 2004 Media Life
--Diego Vasquez a staff writer for Media
Life.
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