Preliminary Ratings: 02/23/2014

NBC's Olympic coverage ended more with a fizzle than a bang, as the network only managed to draw 15.3 million viewers to the closing ceremonies of the Sochi games. Compared to the 2010 Vancouver ceremonies, NBC was down 6 million viewers and off by 40% in the A18-49 demographic ratings.

 Following the closing ceremonies, NBC premiered the new comedy GROWING UP FISHER, starring JK Simmons and Jenna Elfman. The first episode drew 9.4 million viewers and a 2.1 demo rating. That is more than a million more viewers that watched the premiere of ABOUT A BOY, the night before, but both comedies drew similar A18-49 ratings.

Personally, I looked the comedy. JK SIMMONS is great in his role. Jenna Elfman will take some time to get use too. Her character may be too quirky. It has a shot to succeed with a Tuesday, 9:30 time slot. I should beat the comedies on both ABC and FOX.

Because of bad weather through most of the day, FOX got a primetime DAYTONA 500 race handed to it, along with overrated, fan favorite Dale Jr., winning the coveted race. The race drew about have the viewers as the Olympics, but came within 25% of it in the demo numbers.

AMAZING RACE, All-Stars, had it's season premiere to a series low 5.4 million viewers. It is a tough gig to go up against both the premiere NASCAR race and the Olympics. But not a good sign that it almost got beat by a movie on ABC. Could this be the last running of THE AMAZING RACE?
 

Preliminary Network Averages:

ABC - 5.1 million viewers, 1.3 rating in Adults 18-49

CBS - 5.5 million viewers, 1.0 rating in Adults 18-49

CW - 0.9 million viewers, 0.3 rating in Adults 18-49

FOX - 6.3 million viewers, 2.0 rating in Adults 18-49

NBC - 13.5 million viewers, 2.9 rating in Adults 18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
7:00	ABC	AFV [R]	6.20	1.4
8:00	ABC	Movie: The Proposal	5.10	1.5	-18%
10:00	ABC	Castle [R]	4.00	0.9	-22%
7:00	CBS	60 Minutes	8.00	1.2
8:00	CBS	The Amazing Race All-Stars	5.40	1.6	-33%
9:00	CBS	The Mentalist [R]	3.40	0.6	-37%
10:00	CBS	The Good Wife [R]	3.10	0.4	-9%
7:00	FOX	Bob's Burgers [R]	4.20	1.4
7:30	FOX	American Dad [R]	4.00	1.4	-5%
8:00	FOX	Daytona 500	8.00	2.5	100%
7:00	NBC	Winter Olympics: Day 18	12.60	2.6
8:30	NBC	Olympics: Closing Ceremonies	15.30	3.3	21%
10:30	NBC	Growing Up Fisher	9.40	2.1	-38%

* - in millions