Sunday Shows

The Sunday show ratings see-saw continued unabated last week, with NBC’s “Meet the Press” reclaiming the top spot in both total and demo viewers. CBS’ “Face the Nation” was a close second in both categories.

ABC’s “This Week,” “Fox News Sunday” and “Al Punto” rounded our the top five.

All of the programs were down in both total and demo viewers compared to the same week a year ago.

Rebroadcasts of “Meet the Press” on MSNBC and NBC added 1.04M and 470,000, respectively.

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for May 20:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.70M	868K
CBS	“Face the Nation”	2.64M	717K
ABC	“This Week”	2.02M	601K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	929M	389K
Univision	“Al Punto”	574K	254K

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The Sunday show ratings battle continues to swing, with CBS “Face the Nation” regaining the top spot in total viewers, even as NBC’s “Meet the Press” wins in the demo.

ABC’s “This Week” was a very close third in the demo, and third in total viewers. Fox News Sunday and “Al Punto” rounded out the top five.

Compared to the same week last year, ABC and CBS were up in both total and demo viewers, while NBC and Fox were down in both categories. “FNS” had Shannon Bream filling in for Chris Wallace.

Cable rebroadcasts of “Fox News Sunday” averaged a combined 1.82M Total Viewers and 498,000 A25-54 viewers. A rebroadcast of “Meet the Press” on MSNBC added 1.16M and 497,000, respectively.

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for May 13:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.01M	771K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.72M	842K
ABC	“This Week”	2.15M	749K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.05M	391K
Univision	“Al Punto”	553K	272K

The Sunday show pendulum swung back to NBC this week as “Meet the Press” topped CBS’ “Face the Nation” by 40,000 Total Viewers and 146,000 A25-54 viewers. Vice President Joe Biden was the guest on “MTP.”

Compared to the same week last year, only Univision’s “Al Punto” grew in both ratings measurements. “Face the Nation,” “Meet the Press,” ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday” are down in both.

Cable rebroadcasts of “Fox News Sunday” averaged a combined 2,090,000 Total Viewers and 431,000 A25-54 viewers. A rebroadcast of “Meet the Press” on MSNBC added 567,000 and 208,000, respectively.

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for May 6:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.72M	915K
CBS	“Face the Nation”	2.68M	769K
ABC	“This Week”	2.23M	662K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	970K	378K
Univision	“Al Punto”	857K	377K

Another week on top for CBS’ “Face the Nation,” which beat NBC’s “Meet the Press” on April 29 by 220,000 Total Viewers and 80,000 A25-54 viewers.

Compared to the same week last year,  only ABC’s “This Week” improved in both Total Viewers and the demographic. “Face the Nation” and Univision’s “Al Punto” were both up in Total Viewers and down A25-54 viewers, while “Meet the Press” and “Fox News Sunday” were down in both ratings measurements.

Cable rebroadcasts of “Fox News Sunday” averaged a combined 2,368,000 Total Viewers and 593,000 A25-54 viewers. A rebroadcast of “Meet the Press” on MSNBC added 708,000 and 258,000, respectively.

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for April 29:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.03M	840K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.81M	760K
ABC	“This Week”	2.39M	727K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.04M	471K
Univision	“Al Punto”	886K	358K

CBS’ “Face the Nation” retook the top spot among the Sunday public affairs shows on April 22. NBC’s “Meet the Press” was close behind in Total Viewers and the A25-54 demographic, while ABC’s “This Week” was third, followed by “Fox News Sunday” and Univision’s “Al Punto.”

Compared to the same week last year, “Face the Nation” and “This Week” were up in both Total Viewers and the demographic. “Meet the Press” was up in Total Viewers but down in the demo, while “Fox News Sunday” was down in both measurements.

Cable rebroadcasts added an additional 558,000 Total Viewers and 197,000 A25-54 viewers to “Meet the Press” and an additional 2,469,000 Total Viewers and 501,000 A25-54 viewers to “Fox News Sunday.”

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for April 22:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.14M	881K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.02M	874K
ABC	“This Week”	2.69M	853K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.23M	488K
Univision	“Al Punto”	715K	303K

It’s a split decision for the Sunday public affairs show. CBS’ “Face the Nation” was the top Sunday public affairs show in Total Viewers while NBC’s “Meet the Press” was tops in the demo on April 15. ABC’s “This Week” came in second in younger viewers. It’s the first time the George Stephanopoulos-moderated show has topped the Bob Schieffer show in younger viewers this season. As we reported last night, Keith Olbermann will be a part of the “This Week” roundtable Sunday.

Compared to the same week last year all the shows are up.

“Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full contiguous hour airs in just 64% of the country.

The numbers for April 15:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.13M	853K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.05M	1.02M
ABC	“This Week”	2.62M	889K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.04M	457K
Univision	“Al Punto”	814K	338K

CBS’ “Face the Nation” was the top Sunday public affairs show in both total and demo viewers April 8 .
As has been a regular occurrence for much of this year, NBC’s “Meet the Press” placed second in both categories. They were followed by ABC’s This Week,” “Fox News Sunday” and “Al Punto.”
Compared to the same week last year, all of the programs except for “Face” were down in both total and demo viewers. On cable replays, “FNS” added 1.94 million total and 535,000 demo viewers.

Note: “Face the Nation” is based on the first half-hour only, as the full hour only airs in 62% of the country. This post previously had incorrect numbers for that program.

In addition: Because of the Easter holiday, all of the Sunday shows were retitled as specials, and will not count toward the monthly or yearly averages.

The numbers for April 8:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.11M	1.02M
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.51M	761K
ABC	“This Week”	2.11M	659K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	970K	433K
Univision	“Al Punto”	729K	322K

In its first week as an hour-long show, “Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer” wins the Sunday morning race… with an asterisk. The numbers only reflect the first half hour. As we explained the other day, the show airs as a full hour in just 62% of the nation. NBC’s “Meet the Press” with fill-in host Savannah Guthrie and roundtable moderator Joe Scarborough, came in second in total viewers and third in younger viewers. ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” took second in the demo trailing “Meet” by 20,000 total viewers.

Compared to last year, only “Face” is up in both total viewers (11%) and in younger viewers (15%). ABC’s “This Week” grew in Total Viewers (+11%).

The numbers for April 1:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.14M	974K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	2.63M	793K
ABC	“This Week”	2.61M	855K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.06M	404K
Univision	“Al Punto”	656K	307K

“Face the Nation” expanded to an hour last Sunday, but about a quarter of  the nation didn’t see it. They couldn’t have, at least not on their local CBS station.

The one-hour edition of the public affairs show airs, in full, in 62% of the country. Another 14% of CBS stations carry the hour, but split in two. KHOU in Houston airs the second half hour Monday morning at 2am. Same goes for New Orleans’ WWL and Memphis station WREG. Other stations have decided to pass on the second half hour altogether, including Cedar Rapids, IA, Dothan AL, Flint, MI, and Wheeling, WV.

Because it does not have full U.S. clearance the show will continue to be rated for its first half hour only. Competitors have complained this is CBS’ way of keeping up their average. CBS says they have no choice, since the show has incomplete clearance.

Many CBS affiliates are contractually obligated to carry other Sunday morning programs — most of the religious variety. And since the extra half hour is coming from time that belongs to the affiliates, some may be in no hurry to give up the extra dollars.

But CBS execs have faith that clearance will increase. And when it does, the show will begin to use an hourly average.

This is a big few days for the CBS Sunday public affairs show “Face the Nation.” Today the show launched a shiny new website, which is heavy on graphic elements. On Sunday the guest will be Vice President Joe Biden, a big get for any show. And of course the biggest thing: on Sunday “Face the Nation” expands from a half-hour to a full-hour, putting it on par with its competition on NBC, ABC and Fox.

Moderator Bob Schieffer spoke to the AP’s David Bauder about the move, saying he “almost fainted” when he got the news that the show would be expanding:

“Tim [Russert] was the best of the best,” Schieffer said. “But the fact of the matter is what propelled them to No. 1 is they went to an hour and they were the first to do that. When they did that, it left us in the dust.”

Schieffer repeatedly nagged his bosses to follow suit. He made the same speech when Jeff Fager and David Rhodes took over last year, not expecting much. When they gave the go-ahead, Schieffer said, “I nearly fainted.”

Update: For what it’s worth, the first show to actually go an hour was “This Week with David Brinkley,” back in 1981.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” is responding by tweaking its own format. With moderator David Gregory on vacation, Savannah Guthrie will conduct the newsmaker interviews.  Joe Scarborough will moderate the political roundtable, which will include his “Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski as well as David Brooks, Tom Friedman, Jon Meacham, and Harold Ford, Jr.