'CSI' Wins Viewers But Not The Key Demo

CSI Files

CSI Files

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The latest episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’s tenth season, “Working Stiffs”, won the 9:00pm hour in total viewers on Thursday, October 8. The episode pulled in 14.63 million viewers, which was down a million from the week before. Despite the drop, CSI had enough viewers to beat the competition. Grey’s Anatomy had 13.79 million [...]

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csi like never wins the key demo hardly but usually in overall viewings
the ratings were down but we still beat grey's:thumbsup:
 
I wonder, where the edge comes from then? Above 49 or below 18. I understand that the complete mill. can´t come from one or the other end. But if Generation Y (1990 -2000 = Y or Millinium Generation) is one of the smallest generations out where as the beatnik and X generations are bigger and act + spend money as if they were young. Then the demografic might need some adjustment. Then the money might be in 30 - 60 instead of 16 - 28. All being relative of course.

But my question being: is the majority of the demografic in top or buttom of the agegroups?
 
Ajbuckly said:
I wonder, where the edge comes from then? Above 49 or below 18. I understand that the complete mill. can´t come from one or the other end. But if Generation Y (1990 -2000 = Y or Millinium Generation) is one of the smallest generations out where as the beatnik and X generations are bigger and act + spend money as if they were young. Then the demografic might need some adjustment. Then the money might be in 30 - 60 instead of 16 - 28. All being relative of course.

But my question being: is the majority of the demografic in top or buttom of the agegroups?
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You can probably look at the commercials and figure that out, lol. Are they advertising Birth Control Pills or Viagra? Luxury cars or hybrids? :lol:
Anyway, you get my point.

CBS does tend to look at the higher age group, and in fact, reports the range 25-54 as being their important demo. So they recognize that their viewers skew older. I think trying to appeal to a mass audience they probably sacrifice some of their younger demo, so they can keep long time, and probably older, viewers watching. Although that may not translate into more advertising dollars, it does keep their network relatively stable I would guess. The problem, is at some point, they have to make money.

Is the demo overated? Maybe. But if you're the one with the money, as the ad agencies are, then you can make the rules. I'm sure they have spent a lot of their own money doing the research, so who am I to argue? But it does keep some of my favorite shows going, like The Office; its demo is great considering it only has half the total viewers of CSI. Plus, look at a network like CW; very small viewer numbers, but their target audience is 18-34, I think, and they are able to survive somehow.

It's an interesting debate. But, logically, the longer a show is on the air, the older their audience gets. CSI is often compared to L&O or ER, but look at their demos: around 2 or less, and half the total viewers of CSI. L&O is cheaper to produce, though. It has an ever changing cast (so they don't have big salaries) and little/no special effects. I doubt CBS can afford CSI if it got the ratings of L&O. That's why Without A Trace was cancelled. Next to be cancelled will probably be Cold Case and/or Numbers. It's fine to say you are the 'most watched network', but they do need to find new shows that appeal to the younger demo to balance things out, and look to the future.

Just my 2 cents worth. :)
 
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You can probably look at the commercials and figure that out, lol. Are they advertising Birth Control Pills or Viagra? Luxury cars or hybrids? :lol:
Anyway, you get my point.

No as I am in Europe and we don´t have the same comercial blocks as you. And I think overhere the viewers of theese types of show are "older".
As we have Paradise Hotel ( I think you have that too) and some other youth oriented show you don´t.

CBS does tend to look at the higher age group, and in fact, reports the range 25-54 as being their important demo. So they recognize that their viewers skew older. I think trying to appeal to a mass audience they probably sacrifice some of their younger demo, so they can keep long time, and probably older, viewers watching. Although that may not translate into more advertising dollars, it does keep their network relatively stable I would guess. The problem, is at some point, they have to make money.

Well, that is just it....Nowadays the money spend on wellness is made by the "older" demografic and as you say the car- comercials are oldergroup oriented and all thoose hair and eyecream comercials ....I just "feel" the biz are forgetting Generation Y is one of the smallest generations out there. So the sum of money in that group is limited. Yes- the boomerang generation might stay home longer and therefor have money to buy clothes and such more then the mum or dad. But still the bulk of money is in the working demografic. And besides as toycomercials show it is often mum and dad that need to be affected as to getting any money going.

Is the demo overated? Maybe. But if you're the one with the money, as the ad agencies are, then you can make the rules. I'm sure they have spent a lot of their own money doing the research, so who am I to argue? But it does keep some of my favorite shows going, like The Office; its demo is great considering it only has half the total viewers of CSI. Plus, look at a network like CW; very small viewer numbers, but their target audience is 18-34, I think, and they are able to survive somehow.

Wow... I have never heard of thoose channels but that is the demo there? Or the CW which I have never heard what shows are on there?

It's an interesting debate. But, logically, the longer a show is on the air, the older their audience gets. True...And we are predicted to live till we are a 100 years old. :).

CSI is often compared to L&O or ER, but look at their demos: around 2 or less, and half the total viewers of CSI.

Please explain I don´t quite understand?

L&O is cheaper to produce, though. It has an ever changing cast (so they don't have big salaries) and little/no special effects. I doubt CBS can afford CSI if it got the ratings of L&O. That's why Without A Trace was cancelled. Oh now I am sad I actually liked that show...But no worries.. We have great shows overhere. If you get the chance: " Waking the dead" is nice or "BAU" which is Criminal Minds but european style.

Next to be cancelled will probably be Cold Case and/or Numbers. It's fine to say you are the 'most watched network', but they do need to find new shows that appeal to the younger demo to balance things out, and look to the future.

Just my 2 cents worth. :)

Well .... this debat includes some many debats I am in at the moment...It is fanstastic...In your opinion:

As older viewers ain´t going dancing saturday night or any night:);):guffaw:....they will be watching something...For how long do you think they will stay loyal to CSI and the genre? And when they(viewers as myself) tune their attention else where ....Do you see them going SCI -FI or are we doing other Sex and the City run?
 
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Ajbuckly, I'll try to address some of your questions as best I can. I'm by no means an expert, but I do find it interesting to discuss ratings, and analyze what people watch.

CW is a '5th' network in the US and it caters to a much younger demo. It has had several very successful shows, such as 'One Tree Hill' and 'Gossip Girl', which are teen soap operas; 'Supernatural' and 'Smallville', more syfy in nature, and a new 'Vampire Diaries', which is doing very well. All these shows are very popular among the 18-35 crowd, and even younger. They only get 3-5 million viewers per episode, but I suspect 90% of their viewers are in their target demographic. They are actually pretty good shows, and with young actors that are cheaper to employ.

Regarding the L&O and ER demos, I would say that anything under a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo is terrible, 3.0 being decent. But CSI needs to be closer to a 4 to be successful on Thursday night, which is the most competitive night for advertisers.

And addressing the older demo who is home watching tv over the weekend? The advertisers would rather they were out spending money. lol. In the US on Saturday nights, it's primarily reruns.

I'm not a 'Sex and the City' person, but I do like sci-fi, when it's done well; mostly, I like good storytelling. But I'm in the older demographic, so the networks probably don't care what I like. :lol:
What I do see happening is that networks are identifying themselves with certain viewers, and will cater to those viewers. Cable networks do it already, and the mainstream networks to a lesser degree: ABC has a more youthful image, CBS is the older, crime/procedural image, and NBC is the young and quirky one. NBC is struggling now because of this image, and maybe it's not mainstream enough, but I do like a lot of their shows, including 'The Office'.

I think the crime drama will be a popular genre for years to come. CSI will need to stay current with their technology and interesting with their storytelling, but the characters are what will attract viewers. People aren't awed by the technology or the gruesome crimes anymore (many shows have these); instead, they will be drawn in by interesting characters. I know CSI doesn't like to get personal, but I think it needs to in order to stay successful. On the other hand, they could consider themselves the blueprint for crime shows (like Gunsmoke was for westerns), not change a thing, and be satisfied that they have had a great run and a huge impact on television. I just hope that when CSI goes out, it goes out at the top of its game.
 
jtd94 said:
Ajbuckly, I'll try to address some of your questions as best I can. I'm by no means an expert, but I do find it interesting to discuss ratings, and analyze what people watch.

CW is a '5th' network in the US and it caters to a much younger demo. It has had several very successful shows, such as 'One Tree Hill' and 'Gossip Girl', which are teen soap operas; 'Supernatural' and 'Smallville', more syfy in nature, and a new 'Vampire Diaries', which is doing very well. All these shows are very popular among the 18-35 crowd, and even younger. They only get 3-5 million viewers per episode, but I suspect 90% of their viewers are in their target demographic. They are actually pretty good shows, and with young actors that are cheaper to employ.

Regarding the L&O and ER demos, I would say that anything under a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo is terrible, 3.0 being decent. But CSI needs to be closer to a 4 to be successful on Thursday night, which is the most competitive night for advertisers.

And addressing the older demo who is home watching tv over the weekend? The advertisers would rather they were out spending money. lol. In the US on Saturday nights, it's primarily reruns.

I'm not a 'Sex and the City' person, but I do like sci-fi, when it's done well; mostly, I like good storytelling. But I'm in the older demographic, so the networks probably don't care what I like. :lol:
What I do see happening is that networks are identifying themselves with certain viewers, and will cater to those viewers. Cable networks do it already, and the mainstream networks to a lesser degree: ABC has a more youthful image, CBS is the older, crime/procedural image, and NBC is the young and quirky one. NBC is struggling now because of this image, and maybe it's not mainstream enough, but I do like a lot of their shows, including 'The Office'.

I think the crime drama will be a popular genre for years to come. CSI will need to stay current with their technology and interesting with their storytelling, but the characters are what will attract viewers. People aren't awed by the technology or the gruesome crimes anymore (many shows have these); instead, they will be drawn in by interesting characters. I know CSI doesn't like to get personal, but I think it needs to in order to stay successful. On the other hand, they could consider themselves the blueprint for crime shows (like Gunsmoke was for westerns), not change a thing, and be satisfied that they have had a great run and a huge impact on television. I just hope that when CSI goes out, it goes out at the top of its game.
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I'm by no means an expert. Me neither but in here we´ll pretend;):)

a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo is terrible, 3.0 being decent The number stands for ?

and NBC is the young and quirky one. NBC is struggling now because of this image, and maybe it's not mainstream enough, but I do like a lot of their shows, including 'The Office'.
Well this brings me back to an oberservation......New show or the buzz show are the querky odd ones at first and then they go mainstream...X- files for one.....And we need tv networks like NBC to challange the norm or genres or whatever. If we are ever to have another X-files or Sex in the City for that matter. I don´t perdict the next buzzshow to be a copy -cat of any present show....Copy catting the succes LV now would be lost in a sea of producal(?) shows out there IMO. Look at the Harry Potter start. Author went to publisher after publisher before the series was accepted. And then we had Harry Potter.
But where the niche or new flavour of the viewers are headed at the moment is any ones guess. Do you have any bets?

People aren't awed by the technology or the gruesome crimes anymore (many shows have these); instead, they will be drawn in by interesting characters.
And this is where I "see" LV having a edge....You have two levels of cast.
A- level the CSI´s
B- level the labrats.
Which roughly gives u 12 characters to portray different things, storylines and emotions....We have seen Nick having a girlfriend of the hired kind...but that storyline could be repeated with any of the remaining cast. With a different twist of course. and a different start or end. If needed.

The other CSI has not used or played their supporting cast very well IMHO. Which will make any replacements in A-line risky but not impossible. Lindsey did take over from Aiden and Jesse is taking over for Eric. But course they place all their emotions and storylines on 5 castmenber. Viewer investment gets very .....hmmmm.....fixed....If showrunners have 24 episodes based on 5 people you leave viewers little to focus on....spread out storylines and development and you can have some dying or loving or....without affecting your A line....

In ecconomics you can see differents effects of the high and low conjections(?spelling) which makes the buyers go for different things.....And I think we need different entertainment needs as well....

The NFL will always be NFL. But there was a time for "X - files" and a time for "Sex in the City" and now we need??? Do you think we will ever return to westerns? Twilight serie is reusing the vampire theme ....LOL....guess they never heard of "Romeo and Juliet" or saw Wionna Ryder and Gary Oldman in "Dracula".

Please Note this is just speculation...but I wonder if "Twilight" author saw either of the above mentioned stuff and wrote her own happy ending.... I once saw a picture of her....I do belive she could be from the Leonardo and Claire Danes "Romeo and Juilet" generation. But that is just speculation...
A fact is that every generation will have their comming of age movies and there is a market out there for a new genre IMO for the generations that had "Breakfast club" and "Pretty in Pink" and "Pretty Woman". Writers should pay attention as they grow to become a100 years old. AND "Golden girls" were ok for the 80`perception of oldiers but now we have "2 and ½ man" and then what? So I wonder if will we have someone tapping into the marked which is out there...Or will we have changing of genres and as you say/write have to rethink genres.

You know that I would like if we could have a timeline/lifeline and place present mediaoffers as the different ages AND especially if thoose show fill the needs of that perticular age groups.
"High school Musical" being the tweens and early teens.
"Twillight" being the comming of age and love flick of this generation. The love element baring the film into other agegroups....
 
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