And the most engaging network among adults 18-49 is… Bravo!
By fred | July 13, 2008
So this is a shocker, or, you know, odd. According to numbers-guru Nielsen, who have surveyed about 82 000 people between 18 and 49, the beloved demographic, the most engaging network of all the ones out there, not only cable, is Bravo. That’s right, before of all the big four.
It seems 75% of Bravo viewers could answer correctly all queries relating to Bravo’s programming, while for CBS only 74% could do the same, 73% for ABC, 71% for The CW, 70% for NBC and 69% for Fox.
Now what? Well, nothing really, but I have to say I find that number a bit surprising. Now, what could possibly explain such results ? I few ideas, on top of my head…
- First, Nielsen is just so wrong at getting people that actually truly represents the global audience, and once again they got things wrong. There are actually a lot more people watching Jericho or Gossip Girl that Nielsen like to say, and also those guys are a lot more engaged than the other viewers, I mean, they know exactly how many times Hurley said “Dude!” on Lost ! (Something like 214 times as of There’s No Place Like Home, Part 1 I hear - not that I counted)
- Unlike Bravo viewers, the casual viewers has only so little time, and with so many series everywhere it can’t remember everything. Not that they’re not engaged or paying attention, but once it’s over they move on to other things…
- Maybe people who watches Bravo really do that and only that, devoting their entire attention to the show more than any other viewers. Of course, among the 82 000 people surveyed, only 4 of them actually did watch Bravo, and they’re all related, so it might actually be a family thing…
- People are scarred. Paying attention to a new series on, say, Fox (totally random choice, I swear) means you risk to get involved, like the show, love the characters, and never see them again nor know what will happen to them, because the fourth episode, like all the others after it, will never air. It’s been canceled already. Instead, how about a rerun of Deal Or No Deal oh yeah, I said Fox, sorry… well then, Don’t Forget The Lyrics?
- Bravo viewers actually work for Bravo, it’s that that they’re engaged to anything, but they work on those damn shows every day, so of course they remember things… In fact, 75% isn’t that good, really. Is someone sleeping at work?
- Any other ideas ? Post away!
Posted in News
Thank you for the mention Jericho and I totally agree with you. I truly believe that even though I and my family watched live, we all know that we were never counted under the current and antiquated way to measure viewership. I am smack dab in the demographics that supposedly the networks want but my experience with CBS has done just that. I have a very bitter taste. I am 31 so when I do take the time to watch tv it really has to be something to keep my attention. Eventhough I am 31 I have done the fluffy type shows like Buffy and others along the same style. But the last couple of years I want something original and intelligent. That is why I gave Jericho a try. Loved it from the get go. I also watch alot of A&E, The Discovery Channel and some from the Sci Fi Channel. I can say that I will never return to CBS after this experience. I will continue to fight and find a new network that will appreciate Jericho and all of it’s loyal viewers.
Hi Fred,
Great article! I’ve put a link and summary in the Jericho Telegraph.
Gwen
http://www.jericho-kansas.com
Hey Fred
Thanks for the article and thank you for mentioning JERICHO! I am a JERICHO Ranger and that has been 1 of our arguments since the first cancelation of JERICHO. Not every household in America is a Nielson home, not by a huge margin. Why do these networks continue to rely on ratings reported by a company that is, self admitedly, antiquated and unable to correctly moniter what is being watched on TV and report it. We need everyone to ban together to help us prove that JERICHO is one of many casualties of a ratings system that just does not work any more.