Sunday Shows

NBC took the top spot among the political affairs shows on February 5, keeping the competitive battle between “Meet the Press” and CBS’ “Face the Nation” alive. “MTP,” which was broadcast from Indianapolis’ Lucas Stadium ahead of the Super Bowl, bested “Face” in both Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers.

ABC’s “This Week” was third, followed by “Fox News Sunday” in fourth and Univsion’s “Al Punto” in fifth.

The shows were down across the board in Total Viewers compared to the same week last year, except for “This Week,” which was flat. In the A25-54 demographic, “Face the Nation” was the only show that was up year-over-year.

The numbers for February 5:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.28M	1.04M
CBS	“Face the Nation”	2.84M	983K
ABC	“This Week”	2.60M	792K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	927K	406K
Univision	“Al Punto”	776K	351K

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The Sunday shows continue trading off the top spot, with CBS’ “Face the Nation” beating NBC’s “Meet the Press” on January 29. CBS won in both Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers, although NBC was close behind in both categories.

Compared to the same week last year, “Face the Nation” and Univision’s “Al Punto” are both up in Total Viewers. In the demographic, “Al Punto” is up and “Face” is flat. “MTP,” ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday” are down in both measurements.

Cable replays for “Fox News Sunday” added 2.71M total viewers and 649,000 demo viewers.

“Face the Nation” was a special one-hour edition on January 29, but the last 30 minutes was coded a special and excluded from the average.

The numbers for January 29:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.21M	1.03M
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.15M	918K
ABC	“This Week”	2.50M	834K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.20M	508K
Univision	“Al Punto”	859K	400K

The Sunday morning public affairs shows continue to ping-pong, with NBC’s “Meet the Press” topping CBS’ “Face the Nation” on January 22. “MTP” topped “Face” in both total and demo viewers, though the CBS show was very close behind in both regards.

ABC’s “This Week” placed third in both categories, “Fox News Sunday” placed fourth in both categories, while Univision’s “Al Punto” placed fifth.

NBC, CBS and ABC were up in both total and demo viewers compared to the same week last year. Fox was flat in total viewers, and down slightly in the demo.

Cable replays for “Fox News Sunday” added 3.327M total viewers, and 655,000 demo viewers.

The numbers for January 22:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.66M	1.15M
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.34M	1.07M
ABC	“This Week”	2.67M	804K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.42M	628K
Univision	“Al Punto”	845K	406K

CBS’ “Face the Nation” was the most-watched Sunday morning public affairs show by a wide margin on January 15. Bolstered by a pair of GOP contenders (Gingrich, Santorum) and the author of the book The Obamas, the program handily placed first in both total viewers and adults 25-54.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” placed second in both categories, with ABC’s “This Week” not far behind in the demo. With George Stephanopoulos anchoring, “This Week” was seen by more viewers than any broadcast since March, 2011.

“Fox News Sunday” placed fourth in both categories, followed by “Al Punto.”

Cable replays for “Fox News Sunday” added 1.787M total viewers, and 368,000 demo viewers.

The numbers for January 15:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.54M	1.31M
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.12M	880K
ABC	“This Week”	2.66M	780K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.25M	529K
Univision	“Al Punto”	959K	459K

Despite a tight ratings battle between NBC and CBS of late, Sunday morning’s NBC debate — which drew more than 4,000,000 viewers  — propelled “Meet the Press” to a win on January 8.

“Face the Nation” placed second in both categories, followed by ABC’s “This Week” in third on the day of George Stephanopoulos‘ debut (again). “Fox News Sunday” and Univision’s “Al Punto” traded off fourth and fifth place in total and demo viewers.

The numbers for January 8:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	4.15M	1.44M
CBS	“Face the Nation”	2.76M	924K
ABC	“This Week”	2.36M	747K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	924K	324K
Univision	“Al Punto”	870K	404K

With the GOP candidates debating over on NBC (and MSNBC), George Stephanopoulos returned to “This Week” on ABC. Stephanopoulos hosted from St. Anselm College, site of last night’s GOP debate, with a live audience and a show open voice over from none other than former ABC Newsman Charlie Gibson. New “This Week” EP Jon Banner worked with Gibson on “World News” for many years.

“Great to be back with you on Sunday mornings,” said Stephanopoulos.

First up: the democratic response to the ABC and NBC debates with Obama adviser David Axelrod followed by a conversation with 2008 GOP presidential candidate and now Fox News host Mike Huckabee.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” was the top Sunday public affairs show in total viewers on January 1, though NBC’s “Meet the Press” was tops in the key news demo of adults 25-54. Both programs were very very close, with NBC placing just behind CBS in total viewers, and CBS right behind NBC in the demo.

A placeholder “This Week” on ABC (George Stephanopoulos starts this week) placed third in both categories, followed by “Fox News Sunday” and Univision’s “Al Punto.”

The numbers for January 1:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.12M	925K
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.05M	954K
ABC	“This Week”	2.43M	718K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.03M	390K
Univision	“Al Punto”	815K	387K

The Los Angeles Times‘ Scott Collins notes that for the GOP presidential candidates, the late night comedy circuit has become a much more desirable place to give interviews than the Sunday morning public affairs shows.

But in an ever fragmenting television universe, the Sunday morning talk shows are witnessing their central role in the election process fade as candidates gravitate toward lighter programs where the hosts are more welcoming, the audiences younger and the questions usually softer.

To that list we would add that the late night shows typically draw more viewers, and far more young viewers than the Sunday shows, which skew very old. In addition, viewers of the Sunday shows are often already interested in politics, which results in diminishing returns for candidates. The late night shows appeal to a wider range of viewers, including those who aren’t political junkies, and may not have already made up their minds on who to vote for.

Collins also spoke to both comedians and Sunday show hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Chris Wallace, and featured their reactions to the question of whether late night was becoming more of a destination for politicians.

Read more

NBC’s “Meet the Press” was #1 in Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers last Sunday, but only #2 CBS’s “Face the Nation” showed growth in both Total Viewers and younger viewers compared to the same week last year: +16% in Total Viewers and +40% in A25-54 viewers.

ABC’s “This Week” which will be getting a new host January 8, came in third followed by “FOX News Sunday” which had the first Sunday interview in more than 20 months, with Mitt Romney. On cable, “Meet the Press” added an additional 642,000 viewers with rebroadcasts on MSNBC while “Fox News Sunday” added 1.87 million viewers for Fox News Channel replays.

The numbers for December 18:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.22M	957K
CBS	“Face the Nation”	3.15M	941K
ABC	“This Week”	2.30M	669K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.30M	497K
Univision	“Al Punto”	852K	405K

NBC’s “Meet the Press” was the top Sunday public affairs program on December 11. “MTP” has been going back and forth over the last few weeks with CBS’ “Face the Nation” as the top Sunday show in total and demo viewers, but last week it was easily number one in both categories, with CBS staking a solid number two.

ABC’s “This Week,” which will be getting a new (old) moderator January 8, placed third in both categories, with “Fox News Sunday” and “Al Punto” switching off for fourth and fifth place in total and demo viewers.

All of the programs were down compared to the same week last year.

The numbers for December 11:

Network	Program	Total Viewers	A25-54
NBC	“Meet the Press”	3.30M	925K
CBS	“Face the Nation”	2.88M	829K
ABC	“This Week”	2.47M	702K
FOX	“Fox News Sunday”	1.12M	367K
Univision	“Al Punto”	892K	372K