MediaBuyerPlanner: Although ABC’s two biggest hits are going off the air, the network may be able to hold onto the lead it has built in the first week and a half of Nov. sweeps, as long as its two new shows have a passable showing.
While Dancing with the Stars and Lost are heading off the air, the Stars finale, along with the weakness of other networks, should keep ABC ahead in the Nov. sweeps, writes Media Life.
Show Me the Money debuted last night, and is replacing Dancing with the Stars (which has its finale tonight), while Day Break will replace Lost. If those shows take off, ABC will comfortably win, according to the article.
ABC currently leads sweeps with a 4.1 average in adults 18-49 and 11 share. NBC follows with 4.0/11. CBS is third with 3.8/10, Fox fourth at 2.7/7 and the CW fifth at 1.4/4 (tied with Univision).
Even if ABC’s new shows don’t soar, it still has hits like Desperate Housewives, which is gaining in ratings again on Sundays, and several sweeps stunts left.
Those stunts include a Barbara Walters two-part special, called 30 Mistakes in 30 Years.
However, NBC is close on ABC’s heels. If Sunday Night Football paces ahead of its already high season average in the next two weeks, and Deal or No Deal and Heroes also get season highs, it could beat out ABC. That doesn’t look likely, however.
Still, the article points out, compared to last year, when NBC trailed CBS and ABC by more than a full point, this year looks to be a successful sweeps for NBC.
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