I thought August was a sweeps month, smaller and less important than February, May and November.

Never heard anything about July.

"Sweeps"

Much of the ratings system, however, still consists of the completion by viewers of ratings diaries, in which a viewer records his or her viewing habits, generally for a week, in exchange for being advanced a nominal amount ($5 in the United States.) These diaries play an especially important role during the four sweeps periods conducted in February, May, July and November in an attempt to measure smaller local market audiences in markets that are not covered by People Meter samples already. (Other, smaller sweeps are conducted through the year in the markets large enough to be measured by non-demographic meters, but not large enough to be measured by the demographic meters (people meters.)

The term "sweeps" has two meanings. One refers to how the diaries were handled by Nielsen Media when the ratings were first produced: They are mailed to the households and processed by starting on the East Coast and "sweeping" across the nation. The other refers to television programming during the months of November, July, and/or May, in which eagerly anticipated programs are deliberately scheduled in order to boost television ratings.

Television networks and other programmers make unusual efforts to attract additional viewers during these periods, including airing mostly first-run programming as opposed to repeats, airing more special broadcasts, and including special content in programming such as guest stars, controversial and unexpected plots or topics, extended episodes, finales, and increased competition in advertising. Even news programs are often involved, airing especially controversial or titillating investigative reports and promotions. For this reason, the "sweeps" system of national ratings has been criticized as not representative of typical programming, and encouraging an increase in content of concern such as violence and explicit sexuality. Outside of these peak periods it is more common to see reruns of television programs.

Has anyone else heard the rumors that CBS is negotiating with P&G to cut both ATWT and GL to a half-hour? The story goes that CBS is apparently planning to force affiliates to air two full hours of the CBS Early Show (rather than the current one hour that's required), and to make up for this, they are going to give the affiliates an extra hour during the day.

I tried to find out if there's any validity to it, but I can't even find anything about CBS wanting to expand the Early Show, so I'm not sure where this is coming from.

I haven't heard anything, but I don't think it will happen. It doesn't make any sense. CBS' 'Early Show' is low-rated - why expand it? Having it on for three hours will bring in more viewers? I don't think so.

DAYS IMHO is one of the best soaps on right now, along with ONE LIFE are my 2 faves right now. GH has dropped down below both because of the constant Jason/Elizabeth/Sam/Sonny/Carly/Jerry/Jax/Kate-Connie/Patrick/Robin sameness over and over. GH needs a new head-writer, a new producer, & a few axings to get it out of its mess. (I'm almost about to drop GH in fave of ATWT due to the Jason/Elizabeth mess). I'm glad ONE LIFE has increased in its ratings and w/ Ron Carlivati's shows airing in August, I bet ONE LIFE's ratings will continue to go up.

Has anyone else heard the rumors that CBS is negotiating with P&G to cut both ATWT and GL to a half-hour? The story goes that CBS is apparently planning to force affiliates to air two full hours of the CBS Early Show (rather than the current one hour that's required), and to make up for this, they are going to give the affiliates an extra hour during the day.

I tried to find out if there's any validity to it, but I can't even find anything about CBS wanting to expand the Early Show, so I'm not sure where this is coming from.

What's going on with the CBS Early Show is that many affiliates only air the second hour of the show in full. About 40 CBS affiliates work a good chunk of local news into the first hour of the show, then carry The Early Show from 8am-9am. What CBS is planning on doing is revamping their morning news show once again, and have affiliates carry the entire 2 hour block, in whole. The change won't happen until early 2008, and cutting P&G's shows to a half hour format has not been discussed. Some affiliates are balking at the plan, and will need to make up revenue somehow to recoup the loss of local advertising. What I'm afraid might happen is a continuation of the trend to move GL to the morning time slots (9 or 10am) and keep open the later afternoon timeslot for more lucrative syndicated or local programming, so the affiliates can make back the money they'll lose by eliminating their local portions to the CBS Early Show.

I'm always happy to see GL get out of that number 8 slump!