Sunday Shows

With the Iowa Straw Poll set for Saturday, August 13, the network Sunday public affairs shows are heading to the state to get close to the action.

CBS and ABC will also be without their usual anchors this weekend. on CBS, Norah O’Donnell will fill in for Bob Schieffer on “Face the Nation,” while Jake Tapper fills in for Christiane Amanpour on ABC’s “This Week.” Both Schieffer and Amanpour will be on vacation for a few weeks, and O’Donnell will be filling in as long as both are gone.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” will have its usual moderator David Gregory in-state, and the show will originate from the main stage at the Coliseum where the straw poll will be held. “Fox News Sunday” will also be in Iowa.

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It was one year ago this week that Christiane Amanpour debuted on ABC’s “This Week.” So far, the ratings have remained mostly in the same ballpark. “This Week” was down slightly in both total and demo viewers from last year, placing third in both categories.

As usual, NBC’s “Meet the Press” won the week in both total and demo viewers, followed by CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “Fox News Sunday” placed fourth in both categories.

“Meet the Press” and “Face the Nation” were up in both categories compared to the same week in 2010, “FNS” was down slightly.

Rebroadcasts of “Meet the Press” added an additional 1,658,000 viewers.

With the debate over raising the debt ceiling dominating the discussion, the Sunday public affairs programs had a strong day July 24.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” remained the top program in both total and demo viewers, and was up from the same week last year. ABC’s “This Week” placed second in the demo and third in total viewers, and was also up year-to-year. CBS’ “Face the Nation” placed second in total viewers and third in the demo, but was down in both categories from 2010. “Fox News Sunday” was up in both total and demo viewers compared to 2010.

Rebroadcasts of “Meet the Press” added an additional 1,105,000 viewers.

NBCs “Meet the Press” was on top again this week, drawing 2,701,000 million total viewers and 851,000 viewers in the A25-54 demographic.

“Meet the Press,” CBS’s “Face the Nation” and “Fox News Sunday” all posted gains in A25-54 viewers from last week. ABC’s “This Week” was down. Year-over-year, all four political affairs shows were up in total viewers.

Rebroadcasts of “Meet the Press” added an additional 1,409,000 viewers. “Fox News Sunday” added a combined 2,301,000 total viewers and 541,000 A25-54 viewers through cable replays.

After a weeklong hiatus for Wimbledon coverage, NBC’s “Meet the Press” was back on top of the political affairs shows last week, snagging the top spots in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic.

Week-to-week, CBS’s “Face the Nation” posted gains in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic, while ABC’s “This Week” — which was on top in total viewers and the demographic last week — was down in both categories. Year-over-year, NBC, ABC and “Fox News Sunday” were all up in both categories, while CBS was down.

Cable rebroadcasts of “Meet the Press” added 848,000 total viewers. “Fox News Sunday,” which was anchored this week by Bret Baier, added a combined 2,440,000 total viewers and 559,000 A25-54 viewers through replays.

The July 4th holiday weekend and Wimbledon led to an unusual Sunday for the network public affairs programs. ABC’s “This Week” was the top program in both total viewers and adults 25-54. The usual leader, NBC’s “Meet the press,” was preempted by the network’s coverage of Wimbledon.

CBS’ “Face the nation” placed second in both categories, and “Fox News Sunday” was third.

CBS and Fox were down compared to the same week last year, while ABC was down in total viewers but up in the demo.

Because of the Casey Anthony trial and a holiday schedule, “FNS” was not replayed on Fox News Channel.

No surprises here. NBC’s “Meet the Press” remained the ratings winner of the political affairs shows on June 26, winning in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic.

CBS’s “Face the Nation” was the only show to post week-to-week gains in both total viewers and the demographic. The CBS Sunday show has also grown significantly in year-over-year total viewers, up 39 percent compared to the same week last year. “Fox News Sunday” was also up in total viewers and the demographic since 2010.

Replays of “Meet the Press” added 1,144,000 total viewers, while “Fox News Sunday” added a combined 1,393,000 total viewers and 329,000 A25-54 viewers through replays.

As usual, NBC’s “Meet the Press” was the top Sunday morning public affairs show on June 19.

All four shows were down week-to-week in total viewers, and all but “Fox News Sunday” were down in the key adults 25-54 as well. Year over year, “Meet the Press” and “This Week” were down in both total and demo viewers, while “Face the Nation” and “Fox News Sunday were up in both categories.

Cable replays of “Fox News Sunday” averaged a combined 2,029,000 total viewers and 473,000 A25-54 viewers.

NBC was back to regular programming Sunday after a week-long hiatus due to the French Open, and it showed: “Meet the Press” reclaimed the top spot among the political  shows, winning in both overall viewers and the key A25-54 demographic.

Even with “MTP” returning, both CBS’s “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week” were up week-to-week. “Fox News Sunday” fell in total viewers from last week, but gained 20,000 A25-54 viewers. All four shows were up year-over-year.

Cable replays of “Fox News Sunday” averaged a combined 1,987,000 total viewers and 420,000 A25-54 viewers. Rebroadcasts of “MTP” added 1,243,000 viewers  – 453,000 on NBC and 790,000 on MSNBC.

With NBC’s “Meet the Press” pre-empted due to NBC’s coverage of the French Open, CBS’ “Face the Nation” took the top slot among the Sunday morning public affairs shows in both total and demo viewers.

ABC’s “This Week” took the second slot in both categories, with Fox’s “Fox News Sunday” bringing up the rear.

All three programs were down year-to-year in both total and demo viewers, with “MTP” also having been pre-empted last year. And without “MTP,” the three shows were up week-to-week in both categories.

Cable replays of FOX News Sunday averaged a combined 2,206,000 total viewers and 507,000 A25-54 viewers.