Summer Battle: CW vs ION

During the summer of 2011, ION television regularly topped The CW in the weekly ratings. No one watches The CW during the summer, while ION hold steady with its weekly averages. This summer, we will look in and document the war between The CW and ION.

After four weeks into the Summer 2012 season, ION is easily besting The CW. ION is attracting 1.11 million viewers, while the CW is 40% lower with just 675 thousand viewers. All four weeks ION has bested the CW.

On the 18-49 demographic ratings, things are a little more even. ION still has the advantage with a 0.3o demo rating. The CW is just a tick less at 0.25 of a ratings point.

When you look at the 2011-12 season to date, which ends in September, ION has started creaping up on the CW's average... Or should it be the CW is dropping toward ION's average.

The last week of the season the CW had an average of 1.71 million viewers and a 0.8 demo rating. ION was posting a 1.06 million viewer average and a 0.3 demo rating. An advantage of 650k in viewers and a 0.5 demo rating. After four weeks of summer, the gap has narrowed to 560k viewer lead for the CW and the demo rating lead is down to just 0.4 of a point. ION is holding steady with its numbers while the bottom is dropping out from the CW.

SCORE CARD

WEEKLY WINS:  

• ION - 4
• CW - 0

SUMMER AVERAGE:

• ION - 1.11 million viewers, 0.3 demo rating
• CW - 0.675 million viewers, 0.25 demo rating

2011-12 SEASON ADVANTAGE:

• CW Leads by 0.56 million in total viewers
• CW leads by 0.4 ratings points in thw 18-49 demographic