From the beginning, UPN’s “Veronica Mars” has been a critics’ favorite. It premiered last season to high praise, lauded as intelligent and well-written. But despite all that the show failed to take off.
Now "Mars''" ratings are finally catching up. What it took was a move to a new night and the resulting boost of a much stronger and more compatible lead-in.
So far this season, “Mars” has averaged 956,000 viewers 18-34 in its new Wednesday 9 p.m. timeslot. That’s up 29 percent from its 739,000 season average last year. And that’s despite facing one of the top-rated shows on broadcast, ABC’s “Lost.”
Among 18-49s, the show is up 24 percent from last season, to 1.6 million viewers in that demo.
The simple explanation for “Mars’” significant rise this year is Tyra Banks' “America’s Next Top Model,” its new lead-in. The show went from having virtually no lead-in last year, when it aired after “Eve” at 9 p.m. Tuesdays, to following the network’s highest-rated program.
“Now it’s in UPN’s best time period,” notes Jordan Breslow, director of broadcast research at MediaCom. He says buyers like the show, which follows a teenage girl detective, because it’s different from most of UPN’s standard one-note fare.
Also at work is the synergy between the two shows, which both skew young and female, suggests Bill Carroll, director of programming at Katz Television Group.
“This move made Wednesday on UPN a destination for young women,” he says. The network is up 3 percent for the night among female teens versus last year, with a 3.1 average rating. "Kevin Hill" occupied "Mars'" timeslot last year.
Another factor could just be that the show is finally coming into its own in its second season.
“It takes time sometimes for a drama to find its core audience,” says Breslow. “[The network] is giving this the time that it needs to flourish.”
Nonetheless, UPN is making sure it does what it can to ensure the continued upswing for the show, including a tie-in with AOL.com. An alternative ending to tonight’s episode will be available exclusively through the site, along with the original televised ending. Fans can then vote for their favorite. The winning ending will be revealed Dec. 7 on AOL and during the airing of that night’s episode.
Meanwhile, in other broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 27:
Among adults 18-49, ABC finished first with a 4.3 average rating and a 12 share. CBS ended a six-week run on top and dropped to second at 4.1/11, with Fox third at 3.6/10, NBC fourth at 3.1/8, and UPN and the WB tied for fifth at 1.3/3.
Among adults 18-34, ABC finished on top for the third straight week with a 3.6 average rating and 11 share. Fox was a close second at 3.5/11, CBS third at 2.7/8, NBC fourth at 2.5/8, and UPN and the WB tied for fifth at 1.4/4.
Among adults 25-54, CBS finished first for the eighth straight week, coming in with a 5.2 average rating and a 13 share. ABC finished second at 4.9/12, Fox third at 3.8/9, NBC fourth at 3.6/9, the WB fifth at 1.3/3 and UPN sixth at 1.2/3.
Top five (18-49s): 1. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 11.1; 2. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 8.9; 3. “CSI” (CBS) 8.4; 4. “Lost” (ABC) 7.8; T5. “CSI: Miami” (CBS), “Survivor: Guatemala” (CBS) 8.3.
Top five (total viewers): 1. “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 25.89 million; 2. “CSI” (CBS) 25.72 million; 3. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 19.59 million; 4. “Survivor: Guatemala” (CBS) 19.54 million; 5. “Without a Trace” (CBS) 19.50 million.
Bottom five (18-49s): T100. “One Tree Hill” (WB), “Love, Inc.” (UPN), “Cuts” (UPN), “Eve” (UPN) 0.7; 104. “Everwood” (WB) 0.5.
Bottom five (total viewers): T99. “What I Like About You.” (WB), “Cuts” (UPN) 1.92 million; 101. “Eve” (UPN) 1.83 million; 102. “Love, Inc.” (UPN) 1.75 million; 103. “One Tree Hill” (WB) 1.67 million; 104. “Everwood” (WB) 1.49 million.
Show on the rise: “The Simpsons,” Fox, Sunday 8:47 p.m. “The Simpsons” benefited from spillover from the biggest audience to watch Fox’s late NFL coverage in three years, earning a 5.4 rating among viewers 18-49, a 10.2 percent increase versus the previous week’s 4.9.
Show on the decline: “Lost,” ABC, Wednesday 9 p.m. Freddie Prinze Jr. is clearly a better lead-in than Kenny Chesney. Last week, with a Kenny Chesney special as its lead-in, “Lost” averaged a 7.8 rating among 18-49s, down 15.2 percent from the previous week’s 9.2, when the show had its normal “Freddie” lead-in.
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households Week Ending November 27 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
CBS |
8.9 |
9830 |
15 |
5.1 |
14270 |
13 |
4.1 |
5320 |
11 |
ABC |
7.1 |
7790 |
12 |
4.1 |
11410 |
10 |
4.3 |
5600 |
12 |
NBC |
5.8 |
6400 |
10 |
3.3 |
9170 |
8 |
3.1 |
3980 |
8 |
FOX |
5.5 |
6040 |
9 |
3.2 |
9020 |
8 |
3.6 |
4670 |
10 |
UPN |
2.2 |
2400 |
4 |
1.2 |
3270 |
3 |
1.3 |
1680 |
4 |
WB |
2.2 |
2370 |
3 |
1.2 |
3310 |
3 |
1.3 |
1720 |
3 |
PAX |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
0.2 |
610 |
1 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK Ranked on Households Week Ending November 27 |
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
CBS |
8.7 |
9610 |
14 |
4.8 |
13480 |
12 |
4.1 |
5340 |
11 |
ABC |
7.1 |
7800 |
11 |
3.9 |
10980 |
10 |
4.1 |
5360 |
11 |
NBC |
6.2 |
6880 |
10 |
3.3 |
9340 |
9 |
3.2 |
4210 |
9 |
FOX |
5.5 |
6060 |
9 |
3.1 |
8600 |
8 |
3.3 |
4240 |
9 |
UPN |
2.4 |
2630 |
4 |
1.3 |
3610 |
3 |
1.5 |
1950 |
4 |
WB |
2.4 |
2610 |
4 |
1.3 |
3590 |
3 |
1.5 |
1960 |
4 |
PAX |
0.4 |
460 |
1 |
0.2 |
570 |
1 |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.096 million homes Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK TV Ranked on Households Week Ending November 27 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
15.8 |
22 |
17446 |
1 |
9.2 |
25890 |
2 |
CSI - THANKSGIVING(S) |
CBS |
14.6 |
26 |
16109 |
1 |
9.2 |
25722 |
3 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
12.7 |
20 |
13986 |
6 |
6.9 |
19355 |
4 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
12.6 |
19 |
13865 |
3 |
7.0 |
19592 |
5 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
12.2 |
18 |
13490 |
6 |
6.9 |
19365 |
6 |
WITHOUT A TRACE-THNKS(S) |
CBS |
11.9 |
23 |
13152 |
3 |
7.0 |
19496 |
7 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
11.2 |
18 |
12388 |
9 |
6.1 |
17083 |
8 |
LOST |
ABC |
10.8 |
17 |
11856 |
6 |
6.9 |
19293 |
8 |
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
10.8 |
17 |
11933 |
11 |
5.8 |
16285 |
10 |
SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA THNKS(S) |
CBS |
10.6 |
21 |
11670 |
3 |
7.0 |
19538 |
11 |
CBS SUNDAY MOVIE |
CBS |
10.3 |
15 |
11384 |
12 |
5.7 |
16104 |
12 |
NCIS |
CBS |
10.2 |
16 |
11237 |
10 |
5.9 |
16427 |
13 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
10.1 |
15 |
11089 |
14 |
5.6 |
15745 |
14 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
9.6 |
15 |
10566 |
15 |
5.2 |
14566 |
14 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
9.6 |
14 |
10603 |
12 |
5.7 |
16073 |
16 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
9.2 |
16 |
10151 |
15 |
5.2 |
14520 |
17 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
9.1 |
14 |
10074 |
15 |
5.2 |
14723 |
18 |
OUT OF PRACTICE |
CBS |
8.8 |
13 |
9696 |
19 |
4.7 |
13259 |
19 |
MEDIUM |
NBC |
8.7 |
14 |
9541 |
18 |
4.8 |
13415 |
20 |
NFL MONDAY SHOWCASE |
ABC |
8.6 |
13 |
9445 |
19 |
4.7 |
13252 |
21 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
8.3 |
13 |
9120 |
21 |
4.6 |
12831 |
22 |
LAS VEGAS |
NBC |
7.9 |
11 |
8672 |
23 |
4.4 |
12385 |
22 |
NUMB3RS |
CBS |
7.9 |
14 |
8758 |
22 |
4.5 |
12671 |
24 |
CRIMETIME SATURDAY |
CBS |
7.7 |
13 |
8499 |
23 |
4.4 |
12357 |
24 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
7.7 |
13 |
8455 |
26 |
4.3 |
11934 |
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST Adults 18-49 Week Ending November 27 |
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
11.1 |
14477 |
2 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
8.9 |
11595 |
3 |
CSI - THANKSGIVING(S) |
CBS |
8.4 |
10894 |
4 |
LOST |
ABC |
7.8 |
10154 |
5 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
6.6 |
8597 |
5 |
SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA THNKS(S) |
CBS |
6.6 |
8528 |
7 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
6.5 |
8461 |
8 |
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
6.1 |
7932 |
9 |
WITHOUT A TRACE-THNKS(S) |
CBS |
5.9 |
7662 |
10 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.7 |
7344 |
11 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
5.4 |
6960 |
12 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
5.2 |
6797 |
13 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
5.1 |
6565 |
14 |
MY NAME IS EARL |
NBC |
5.0 |
6559 |
15 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.9 |
6323 |
16 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
4.7 |
6053 |
16 |
MEDIUM |
NBC |
4.7 |
6105 |
16 |
NFL MONDAY SHOWCASE |
ABC |
4.7 |
6166 |
19 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
4.5 |
5911 |
19 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
4.5 |
5785 |
21 |
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S) |
ABC |
4.4 |
5727 |
21 |
WAR AT HOME |
FOX |
4.4 |
5695 |
23 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
4.3 |
5540 |
23 |
LAS VEGAS |
NBC |
4.3 |
5563 |
23 |
OUT OF PRACTICE |
CBS |
4.3 |
5636 |
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
CABLE TV Ranked on Households Week Ending November 20 |
BASIC CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
1 |
NFL REGULAR SEASONL (CHIEFS/TEXANS) |
ESPN |
5190 |
4.7 |
6811 |
2 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) |
USA |
4133 |
3.8 |
5721 |
3 |
WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) |
USA |
3986 |
3.6 |
5513 |
4 |
LAGUNA BEACH |
MTV |
3503 |
3.2 |
4342 |
5 |
COLL FTBALL-SAT AFT L (PENN STATE/MICHIGAN STATE) |
ESPN |
3446 |
3.1 |
4683 |
6 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3242 |
2.9 |
4189 |
7 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3200 |
2.9 |
4152 |
8 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
3130 |
2.8 |
4258 |
9 |
COLL FTBALL-SAT PRIME L (GEORGIA TECH/MIAMI) |
ESPN |
3074 |
2.8 |
4038 |
10 |
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS |
NICK |
3048 |
2.8 |
3961 |
11 |
COLL GAMEDAY SCOREBOARD L |
ESPN |
3027 |
2.7 |
3931 |
12 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2918 |
2.6 |
3644 |
13 |
MULAN II |
DSNY |
2859 |
2.6 |
3845 |
14 |
NFL PRIME TIME L |
ESPN |
2853 |
2.6 |
3765 |
15 |
SPONGEBOB |
NICK |
2824 |
2.6 |
3691 |
PAY CABLE |
# |
PROGRAM NAME |
NET |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
1 |
ROME |
HBO |
1901 |
1.7 |
2592 |
2 |
WCB: MAYWEATHR VS MITCHEL 11/19/2005 |
HBO |
1379 |
1.3 |
2062 |
3 |
WCB: MAYWEATHR VS MITCHEL 11/19/2005 |
HBO |
1274 |
1.2 |
1895 |
4 |
RACING STRIPES |
HBO |
1187 |
1.1 |
1923 |
5 |
NATIONAL TREASURE |
STARZ |
1115 |
1.0 |
1655 |
* Ratings based on 109.6 million U.S. TV homes. One ratings point represents 1.096 million homes. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SYNDICATION Ranked on Households Week Ending November 13 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
US Rtg% |
(000) |
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
8.7 |
9559 |
2 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
8.0 |
8838 |
3 |
ESPN NFL REGULAR SEASON |
ESP |
7.2 |
7938 |
4 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
6.6 |
7247 |
5 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
6.5 |
7108 |
6 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
5.5 |
6085 |
6 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
5.5 |
6081 |
6 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5.5 |
6048 |
9 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
5.4 |
5957 |
9 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5.4 |
5953 |
11 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
5.0 |
5499 |
12 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.8 |
5325 |
13 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
4.4 |
4806 |
14 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
4.1 |
4564 |
15 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.6 |
3981 |
15 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
3.6 |
3975 |
17 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.2 |
3518 |
18 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
3.1 |
3372 |
19 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3.0 |
3292 |
20 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
2.9 |
3250 |
20 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
2.9 |
3217 |
20 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
2.9 |
3186 |
23 |
ACCESS HOLLYWOOD (AT) |
WB |
2.8 |
3132 |
23 |
KING OF QUEENS-SYN (AT) |
SPT |
2.8 |
3122 |
23 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.8 |
3074 |
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION Ranked on Households Week Ending November 27 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
(000) |
1 |
CONTRA VIENTO Y MAREA M-F |
UNI |
19.7 |
2216 |
2 |
ESPOSA VIRGEN M-F |
UNI |
19.0 |
2132 |
3 |
PIEL DE OTONO M-F |
UNI |
17.9 |
2014 |
4 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
15.2 |
1708 |
5 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
13.9 |
1566 |
6 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
13.7 |
1534 |
7 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP TUE |
UNI |
13.6 |
1530 |
8 |
HORA PICO-SUN |
UNI |
13.0 |
1457 |
9 |
ASI ES GILBERTO GLESS FRI |
UNI |
12.9 |
1450 |
10 |
FSTL MARIACHI DISNEY11/27(S)-11/27/2005 |
UNI |
12.4 |
1396 |
11 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
10.6 |
1192 |
12 |
VER PARA CREER-SUN |
UNI |
10.1 |
1129 |
13 |
LO Q NO VIO P TV Y N11/24(S)-11/24/2005 |
UNI |
9.9 |
1117 |
14 |
PERPLEJOS FRI |
UNI |
9.8 |
1096 |
15 |
CHESPIRITO 35 ANOS 11/24(S)-11/24/2005 |
UNI |
9.1 |
1027 |
16 |
CUERPO DEL DESEO M-F |
TEL |
8.6 |
972 |
17 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
7.0 |
784 |
18 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
6.6 |
744 |
19 |
TORMENTA M-F |
TEL |
6.4 |
720 |
20 |
ANA GABRIEL CONCERT 11/26(S)-11/26/2005 |
TEL |
6.3 |
707 |
21 |
ACCION EXTREMA U |
TEL |
6.1 |
687 |
22 |
FESTIVAL DE CINE IV 11/24(S)-11/24/2005 |
TEL |
6.0 |
673 |
23 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
5.8 |
647 |
24 |
SIN FRONTERAS |
TEL |
5.6 |
627 |
25 |
DECISIONES EXTRA M-F |
TEL |
5.4 |
610 |
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 9.7 million Hispanic TV homes. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS Ranked on Households Week Ending November 13 |
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
1 |
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
INDIANAPOLIS AT NEW ENGLAND |
14.3 |
23 |
15719 |
21860 |
2 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-NATIONAL |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
12.9 |
24 |
14237 |
19833 |
3 |
NFL MONDAY SHOWCASE |
ABC |
|
10.5 |
16 |
11524 |
16304 |
4 |
CBS NFL SINGLE |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
9.1 |
21 |
9996 |
13529 |
5 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-REGIONAL |
FOX |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
8.0 |
18 |
8853 |
11800 |
6 |
NFL MONDAY POST GUN |
ABC |
|
7.4 |
17 |
8146 |
11081 |
7 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
|
6.7 |
11 |
7431 |
10384 |
8 |
PHOENIX 500(S)-11/13/2005 |
NBC |
NEXTEL CUP |
5.0 |
10 |
5459 |
7433 |
9 |
CBS NFL SINGLE POST GAME(B)-11/13/2005 |
CBS |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
4.7 |
10 |
5151 |
6697 |
10 |
HOME DEPOT CLLG FOOTBALL2 |
CBS |
LSU AT ALABAMA |
4.4 |
10 |
4795 |
6505 |
11 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-LATE |
ABC |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
3.7 |
9 |
4037 |
5181 |
12 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-PRE |
FOX |
|
3.1 |
8 |
3449 |
4290 |
13 |
ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-EARLY |
ABC |
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES |
2.9 |
7 |
3148 |
3959 |
14 |
WWE SMACKDOWN! |
UPN |
|
2.7 |
5 |
3014 |
4219 |
15 |
NASCAR TUNE-UP-SUN |
NBC |
|
2.5 |
6 |
2776 |
3488 |
16 |
CBS NFL TODAY |
CBS |
|
2.2 |
6 |
2458 |
2971 |
17 |
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL |
NBC |
NAVY AT NOTRE DAME |
2.1 |
6 |
2349 |
3057 |
18 |
FRANK TEMP SHARK SHOOT-SU(S)-11/13/2005 |
CBS |
|
2.0 |
4 |
2221 |
2678 |
19 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 11/12(S)-11/12/2005 |
NBC |
IRONMAN |
1.3 |
3 |
1436 |
1624 |
20 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 11/13(S)-11/13/2005 |
NBC |
PRO BULL RIDING |
1.2 |
3 |
1283 |
1626 |
21 |
FRANK TEMP SHARK SHOOT-SA(S)-11/12/2005 |
CBS |
|
0.9 |
2 |
954 |
1165 |
22 |
ML SOCCER CUP '05(S)-11/13/2005 |
ABC |
NEW ENGLAND VS LOS ANGELES |
0.8 |
2 |
854 |
1137 |
23 |
THRIFTY MID-POST(B)-11/12/2005 |
ABC |
NORTHWESTERN AT OHIO ST |
0.7 |
2 |
743 |
979 |
24 |
NBA INSIDE STUFF-ABC |
ABC |
|
0.7 |
2 |
788 |
996 |
25 |
UNDER THE HELMET |
FOX |
|
0.6 |
2 |
693 |
1024 |
26 |
WGC: WORLD CUP-11/13(S)-11/13/2005 |
ABC |
|
0.5 |
1 |
540 |
643 |
27 |
FRNK TMP SHRK SHT-11/13(BS)-11/13/2005-11/13/2005 |
CBS |
|
0.5 |
1 |
570 |
698 |
28 |
FRNK TMP SHRK SHT-11/13(S)-11/13/2005 |
CBS |
|
0.5 |
1 |
570 |
698 |
Source: Nielsen Media Research |