Viewers Won’t Even Go For Convention Lite

Thu., Aug. 22, 1996

From Wire Reports

The final night of the Republican National Convention last Thursday, highlighted by the acceptance speeches of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp, produced the biggest audience of the four sessions - a total of 17.9 million viewers for the three big networks.

Despite the bump, network research executives were predicting that the skimpy audiences for the slimmed-down convention diet - five hours for ABC and CBS, 4-1/2 for NBC over the four nights from San Diego - would probably produce the lowest-rated prime-time week in network history.

The 17.9 million viewer total for the closing GOP session on ABC, CBS and NBC was down 34 percent from the 27.2 million who watched the final night of the GOP’s Houston convention in 1992.

If all these signs of viewer disinterest haven’t already given Democrats - and network news executives - early frights as they face next week’s news-free coronation ceremonies in Chicago, they can ponder the fact that closing ceremonies a week from Thursday slide into the start of the long Labor Day weekend.

With network programming almost totally reruns, NBC stayed on top last week, though ABC’s “20/20” vaulted to second place.

For week 47 in the waning season, NBC had a 7.0 rating and 13 percent share of the U.S. television audience, according to Nielsen Media Research figures released Tuesday.

ABC was runner-up with a 6.4 rating and 12 share, while CBS was third with a 6.1 rating and 12 share.

The Fox Broadcasting Co., with 16 hours of prime time, earned a 4.8 rating and 9 share.

The Top 10 shows, their networks and ratings:

A rating measures the percentage of the nation’s 95.9 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 959,000 households.

1. (2) “Seinfeld,” NBC, 14.0, 13.4 million homes.

2. (9) “20/20,” ABC, 12.5, 12.0 million homes.

3. “3rd Rock From The Sun,” NBC, 10.8, 10.4 million homes.

4. (4) “Friends,” NBC, 10.6, 10.2 million homes.

4. (7) “Home Improvement,” ABC, 10.6, 10.2 million homes.

6. (17) “NBC Sunday Night Movie: A Friend To Die For,” NBC, 10.1, 9.7 million homes.

7. (18) “Nanny,” CBS, 9.4, 9.0 million homes.

7. (9) “60 Minutes,” CBS, 9.4, 9.0 million homes.

9. (14) “Coach,” ABC, 9.3, 8.9 million homes.

10. “ABC Monday Night Movie: Jacksons: American Dream, Part 2,” ABC, 9.1, 8.7 million homes.

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