Ratings from the 70's

[DM James Fairbanks]

@JAS0N47 Thank you so much again.  If there data on affiliates goes back to the 50's, one of the biggest mysteries will be solved.  How did "Full Circle", that ran for nine months, from 1960 to 1961, and followed ATWT that was getting a 10.4, only got a 1.4 rating. Ratings below are from Wikipedia.

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After LeMay left, AW was good but was sssssllllloooowww compared to GH and even GL.  Also, too many new characters came on all at once.  Beverlee McKinsey would have left or be reduced because she was tired (she was still recovering from her accident the year before).  Finally, NBC stood for No Body Cares at that point (in prime-time Different Strokes was the highest rated show at #30).

[Paul Raven]

Little House on the Prairie?

That 2pm timeslot following ATWT was a problem for CBS for years. Beat the Clock, Jimmy Dean, for Better or Worse all had a run w/o success. Even though that slot was bookended by ATWT and Art Linkletter-two very successful shows. And there was no competition. Affiliates must have been very resistant to giving up that slot.

Then CBS schedules Password and it ran successfully for years.

@DM James Fairbanks Have you checked out the Ratings from the 60's thread?

[JAS0N47]

1978-1979 TV SEASON AVERAGES (ending 4/20/79):

 

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Differences from Wikipedia chart (all .1 difference):
The Young and the Restless 8.6
As the World Turns 8.2
Search for Tomorrow 7.6

Ryan's Hope 7.2

Love of Life 5.8

 

Wikipedia chart (time slot averages of NBC soaps):

Another World 7.5
Days of Our Lives 6.8
The Doctors 6.3

Note: For Richer, For Poorer 2.1 (last episode 9/29/78) listed as part of previous season in Nielsen book.

[Contessa Donatella]

I'm trying to find the first week of March in 1979 & I'm not finding it. Am I just being blind today?

[JAS0N47]

I posted those on June 22. So check there in the thread!

[GLATWT88]

So GH and YR averaged the same viewers and rating, but YR had a greater share and AMC besting both of them. Even the lowest rated soaps aren't too far off. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Thanks! 

2-26-79

5-GL  8.2/28

6-OLTL  8.2/29

8-AW  7.4/24

3-5-79

4-GL  8.7/29

5-OLTL 8.5/30

8-AW  7.4/24

So, GL +0.5, OLTL +0.3, AW flat

3-5-79

GL Roger raped Holly

OLTL Karen Wolek on stand 1st day not THE day

AW 1st 90 minute show & John Randolph killed

3-6-79 

OLTL Karen Wolek on stand 2nd day & breaks down & is THE day

 

[JAS0N47]

Good news, James! 

1954 SAMPLE INFO....

 

There are a few 1954 issues, from microfilm, very hard to see, but from what I can make out, the program coverage is available. This is a sample of what would be available in 1954 issues. I think back then they only gave the 2-week average of ratings, but they actually gave program coverage to an extra decimal point! I think I am typing up the correct rating data, it's in quite a different format than the ones I am used to. Also, the NBC data is pretty much useless as it can't be read on the charts in the microfilm. ABC & Dumont do not seem to have programmed anything against the CBS soaps, so that's why they have such a big share.  Search for Tomorrow, if I'm reading it right, had a 79 share! And, the sponsors are listed as well, so actually you get more data points in the 1950's issues than in the 1970's (although only 2-week averages of ratings, not the weeklies). The 1955 stuff should be all readable, so at least we know now every data point (and more) are around in 1954 (in 2-week average format).

 

Weeks of 4/12/54-4/16/54 & 4/19/54-4/23/54:

 

Valiant Lady...Coverage: 90.2...Rating: 10.2...Share: 53.9...Sponsors: General Mills (M/W/F) & Toni Gillette Razor Co. (Tu/Th); (Aired M-F)

Love of Life...Coverage...93.0...Rating: 14.5...Share: 70.0...Sponsor: American Home Products; (Aired M-F)

Search for Tomorrow...Coverage...96.0...Rating: 17.2...Share: 79.0...Sponsor: Procter & Gamble; (Aired M-F)

Guiding Light...Coverage...95.8...Rating: 15.7...Share: 73.9...Sponsor: Procter & Gamble; (Aired M-F)

Brighter Day...Coverage: 79.9...Rating: 6.5...Share: 41.3...Sponsor: Procter & Gamble; (Aired M-F)

Portia Faces Life...Coverage: 31.6...Rating: 5.4...Share: 32.9...Sponsor: General Foods Corp.; (Aired M-F) 

Secret Storm...Coverage: 56.5...Rating: 5.4...Share: 31.7...Sponsor: American Home Products; (Aired M/W/F) (Sustaining Tu/Th)

Hawkins Falls...Coverage: 80.1...Rating: N/A...Share: 17.8...Sponsors: Wesson Oil & Snowdrift (all but Mon-Week 1) & S.O.S Co. (Mon Week 1); (Aired M/W/F Week 1; Aired W Week 2)

Three Steps to Heaven...Coverage: 87.8...Rating: N/A...Share: 21.4...Sponsor: Procter & Gamble; (Aired M-F Week 1; Aired M-W Week 2)

Based on the Soap Opera Encyclopedia, Woman with a Past (CBS) also aired at this time, but is not listed at all in the ratings book. The CBS 4PM time slot, when it aired, is blank on the chart. In another book I found, it says that Woman With a Past was "sustaining", meaning it did not get any rating. So that would be the reason it is not listed on the charts. Upon further research, I've found that Secret Storm was sustaining on Tue & Thu, that's why it's not listed as airing those days.

Edited August 27, 2023 by JAS0N47

[Paul Raven]

@JAS0N47 there is a Ratings from the 50's thread that I started but haven't updated since 2020.

I'm going to bump it up and hopefully you can add your info there so that everything is in the correct place.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

[Contessa Donatella]

OMG, just look at those shares!

[DM James Fairbanks]

Fascinating!  Especially since in the year end ratings, Women with a Past finished with a 7.5 rating to The Secret Storms 8.1.  Now I know it was CBS's lowest rated soap, but a 7.8 avg rating for the half hour was terrific. 

[JAS0N47]

LAST TWO WEEKS FROM 1978 "MISSING WEEKS" PREEMPTIONS CONFIRMED...

 

All soaps had 20 additional telecasts comparing the 4/7/78 list and 5/12/78, except for ATWT, which had only 19 telecasts. (The week of 4/24/78 is a fast weekly week and does not count in the telecasts). That confirms ATWT had one full preemption during the two missing weeks of 4/10/78 and 4/17/78.

 

# of Telecasts as of 4/7/78...as of 5/12/78 (should all be 20 more)

AMC 129...149

AW 126...146

ATWT 127...146 (1 preemption)

DAYS 129...149

DOC 126...146

EDGE 123...143

FOR 73...93

GH 54...74

GL 96...116

LOVE 128...148

OLTL 55...75

RYAN 129...149

SEARCH 127...147

YR 127...147

[JAS0N47]

1978 WEEKLY NIELSEN CHARTS NOW POSTED, PLUS A CHECKLIST OF NIELSEN RATINGS DATA STILL MISSING SINCE 12/26/77...

 

The 1978 weekly ratings data is now available here: http://www.jason47.com/days/ratings1978.html

 

In addition, here is a checklist of the 10 weeks of Nielsen ratings data still missing since the week of 12/26/77:

 

Two Full Regular Weeks (2): 4/10/78, 4/17/78. These two weeks are missing the final ratings/shares/affiliates/clearances and partial preemptions data. Full preemption data is confirmed by comparing the # of telecasts in the preceding and succeeding books. ATWT had one preemption during the two missing weeks.

 

Two Partial Regular Weeks (2): 10/19/87, 12/14/87. These two weeks have ratings data, unconfirmed but likely to be accurate, from a SON post in 2019. These weeks are missing the shares/affiliates/clearances and partial preemptions data. Full preemption data is confirmed by comparing the # of telecasts in the preceding and succeeding books.

 

Fast Weekly Weeks (6): 3/20/78, 4/24/78, 6/26/78, 8/28/78, 12/25/78, 8/24/81. These six weeks are all missing the preliminary ratings and full/partial preemptions data.

 

All weekly Nielsen ratings charts from 1978-Present are now posted here, except for 1988 and 1989, which will be posted in the next few months: http://www.jason47.com/days/nielsensweekly.html

[JoeCool]

@JAS0N47 Thanks for 1978!! Kudos!! Thank you.

[Contessa Donatella]

Is this the first chart? Does your information begin with Dec. 1977?