Ay Caramba! NBC's decline this decade hasn't exactly been an industry secret. The network that once ruled the airwaves with hits such as Seinfeld, ER, Friends, and Cheers has now given up its place on the ladder to its rivals Fox, CBS, and ABC.
But numbers from last week were particularly eye-popping for the network, according to stats from TV By The Numbers. NBC averaged fewer than 6 million viewers in primetime for the week, placing it well behind the other majors, with total-viewers champ CBS averaging 11.49 million, Fox averaging 10.28 million, and ABC averaging 9.17 million. In fact, NBC was actually much closer to the (for lack of a better word) minor networks.
As far as demographics go, things were even worse. NBC actually took a back seat to one of the lesser networks in the 18-34 year old demo. The network that beat it? Spanish-language Univision, which averaged 1.16 million in that age group to NBC's just-under 1 million.
With NBC positioning five hours of Jay Leno next fall, it doesn't seem like the network is even interested in being a major force anymore. Even NBC boss Jeff Zucker seems to be throwing in the towel (or serving up a serious portion of sour grapes), as evidenced by his quote last week: "What does number one in prime time mean anymore?... I don't think we'll ever be able to say, 'NBC is number one in primetime.'" Yep, that'll rally the troops.
Currently, NBC's best-rated (in key demos) scripted hit is The Office, with The Biggest Loser, Heroes, Law & Order: SVU, and Celebrity Apprentice also dropping by the top 20. Heroes, however, is sinking like a rock.
Zucker and co-chairman Ben Silverman have been lambasted in the media for their decisions (the new Knight Rider!), but are they really to blame? Probably. But with the surge of cable television, Internet viewing, and DVR watching, all the majors are hurting--it's just NBC that is taking the worst of it. The network may perform well during awards time (having Tina Fey will do that), but unless they're melting down those trophies for gold, they aren't paying the bills.
NBC is in serious trouble. Remember when ER was pulling in 30 million viewers a week? Do you feel sorry for the network, or are they getting what they deserve?
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they get what they deserve.. they have canceled a bunch of great shows (Las Vegas was amazing and did good even with the terrible time slot) and replaced it with shows that they don't let evolve since they cut them before the story gets to the good parts
This is disappointing, NBC is one of the networks I watch the most of, besides ABC. although if they cancel life or kings, I will be disappointed.
just remember ABC was like this back in the 90's and such. Now it's NBC's turn.
NBC are in big trouble, lucky for me I only watch the Office on NBC and they are hardly going to axe their biggest rater.
ABC and CBS are still around?
NBC needs to stop their little shindig about "not caring for the demographics" because it is obviously hurting from that!
Well, keeping Leno, axing shows left and right, betting on reality tv, not promoting the good ones and letting them go... Also, Conan's on vacation. Not a good time for NBC.
When you axe shows, in a gun-ho fashion, viewers... well view other shows, on other networks
NBC management needs a wake-up call.
I hope this does not affect Chuck.
After Scrubs left and went to ABC, the channel wasn't really worth watching anymore.... I still watch Heroes but other than that there's nothing that appeals to me.
This is like when a guy says something unconfortable to a girl and appeares the great "Ups"... i hope they can fix it XO XO :):)
WELL THIS SUCKS......HOPE THEY CAN FIX THIS ISSUE...GOOD LUCK...I STILL LOVE HEROES!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I think people have become so used to not watching NBC they almost forget to turn to that channel at all. I gave up on Heroes. I still watch Earl & The Office, if I don't have something better to do, and I watch Chuck, but only online. If they counted their shows online they'd do a lot better.
I still like Heroes though I understand why so many people have stopped watching it. Of NBC's other shows I only really like Chuck and Life.
i think that if hiro,ando and micah die and if peter,sylar,angela and claire stop making the same "days of our lives" faces every single episode,show may be as good as season 1 again...
personaly i would like for tv.com to offer univision .
NBC needs an overhaul. Heroes still has potential, the last episode showed a glimmer of it but it needs to have a less agoraphobic writing team. The super humans are fighting an agency secretly or against each other and they have no effect on others in the world. The infighting harkens to an age of superheroes whose greatest foes threatened to reveal their identities. The Economic dynamic is flawed for a watcher's investment.Get the writing team to take some lessons from Robert Mckee.
@agent0042: Heroes inst gettin better. I dont even watch it anymore. The only thins I watch on NBC is SVU. I wonder what time will SVU be on since jay in on m-f!10pm? Will SVU have an 11th year?
It's a shame that "Heroes" is continuing to tank because it really is getting better. The only other show I watch on NBC, however, is the one that follows, it "Medium." And even that I watch on DVR, once I've finished watching the recording of "Heroes." (I watch "24" at 9 P.M.) Also, I find it a bit hilarious that the picture depicts Hiro and Daphne with the caption "We're still here!"--- seeing as Daphne was offed in the most recent episode!
Dont forget about My name is Earl, 30 Rock and Chuck. I would be super bummed if I didnt get to watch My Name is Earl anymore. That is one of my favorite all time shows. I find it comforting to hear someone from TV say that ratings arent important anymore. I havent owned a TV in over 2 years and I am tired of feeling guilty when my favorite shows get cancelled due to poor ratings.
Only NBC Thursday nights are worth watching. The network has been dying for years now.
No sh** it's NBC's fault. They lack the ability to make anything work.
I feel sorry for them. They are the network that has shows worth watching or at least they did until they threw in the towel(Studio 60, Kings, Life, Scrubs and Friday night Lights) I mean come on they have had some of the most interesting program but I guess that is why they are in trouble. They have the better shows they just don't seem to keep viewers interested for long.
I feel sorry for them. They are the network that has shows worth watching or at least they did until they threw in the towel(Studio 60, Kings, Life, Scrubs and Friday night Lights) I mean come on they have had some of the most interesting program but I guess that is why they are in trouble. They have the better shows they just don't seem to keep viewers interested for long.
kinda sad to say that SNL does better than all of the other shows on NBC
Simply put, the main issue here seems to be getting people to tune in to NBC, so the network should focus on reaching its shows' target audience.
Ha perdido su mente NBC! The network has a lot of work to do because this is just pitiful.
NBC shows really suck the only ones I watch Heroes and SNL