Articles

March 1, 2016
 

UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.28.2016

 

 

 

 

NETWORK FINALS:  THE OSCARS ended up at 10.5, down a fairly small 0.3 from the 2015 telecast.  Interestingly, in the final national numbers, the rating was basically steady through the telecast, without the bump in the first half-hour that was evident in the overnights.  The LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET pre-show was rated as separate half-hours and adjusted to 2.6/4.0/5.9. 

 

 

 

Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart  

Finals Bcast 2016 Feb SUN.28

 

CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Not many cable networks wanted to do battle with the Oscars, but THE WALKING DEAD pressed on, although even that behemoth dropped half a point to 6.08.  TALKING DEAD followed, down 0.45 to 2.23, and COMIC BOOK MEN actually ticked up to 0.36.  E!’s LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET pre-show was at 0.73.  Adult Swim’s VENTURE BROTHERS was down 0.04 to 0.53.  On History, AX MEN slipped 0.03 to 0.43.  Food Network’s GUY’S GROCERY GAMES dropped 0.03 to 0.36, ALL STAR ACADEMY fell 0.05 to 0.32, and CUTTHROAT KITCHEN lost 0.11 to 0.30.  The weak night brought some unusual networks to the Top 10, as ID’s EVIL LIVES HERE and an NBC Sports Network PREMIERE LEAGUE soccer match were both at 0.34.  HBO may have thought that the absence of original Showtime series would compensate for the Oscars competition, but the results were minimal:  GIRLS gained 0.03 to 0.26, but LAST WEEK TONIGHT fell 0.08 to 0.26, VINYL dropped 0.07 to 0.20, and TOGETHERNESS was steady at 0.15.  Hallmark’s WHEN CALLS THE HEART ticked up to 0.23. 

Top 50 Original Cable Telecasts with Demographic Detail

Finals Cable 2016 Feb SUN.28

Top 150 Original Cable Telecasts
To search for a show: type Ctrl-F and type your show title in the search box.

Top 150 Original Cable Telecasts: Sunday February 28, 2016 P18-49 P2+
Rank Program Net Start Mins Rating (000s)
1 WALKING DEAD AMC 9:00 PM 62 6.08 12,794
2 TALKING DEAD AMC 10:02 PM 59 2.23 4,890
3 LRC 16 ACADEMY AWARDS: N/A E! 5:30 PM 180 0.73 2,103
4 VENTURE BROTHERS ADULT SWIM 12:00 AM 30 0.53 986
5 AX MEN HISTORY 9:00 PM 63 0.43 1,751
6 SAN ANDREAS HBO PRIME 7:00 PM 114 0.39 1,052
7 GUYS GROCERY GAMES FOOD NETWORK 8:00 PM 60 0.36 1,184
8 COMIC BOOK MEN AMC 12:30 AM 30 0.36 747
9 EVIL LIVES HERE INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY 10:00 PM 60 0.34 1,216
10 PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/MANCHESTER UNITED NBC SPORTS NETWORK 8:58 AM 137 0.34 717
11 ALL-STAR ACADEMY 2 FOOD NETWORK 9:00 PM 60 0.32 1,200
12 CUTTHROAT KITCHEN FOOD NETWORK 10:00 PM 60 0.30 896
13 UNUSUAL SUSPECTS INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY 9:00 PM 60 0.29 1,153
14 HOARDERS SPECIALS A&E NETWORK 9:00 PM 60 0.27 735
15 SPORTSCENTER WEEKEND-AM L: N/A ESPN 10:00 AM 180 0.27 576
16 GIRLS HBO PRIME 10:01 PM 29 0.26 533
17 MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADY NICKELODEON 7:00 PM 30 0.26 1,064
18 LAST WEEK TONIGHT HBO PRIME 11:00 PM 30 0.26 699
19 SPORTSCENTER WEEKEND-AM L ESPN 8:00 AM 60 0.24 580
20 SOUTHERN AT HEART FOOD NETWORK 12:00 PM 30 0.23 906
21 WHEN CALLS THE HEART HALLMARK CHANNEL 9:00 PM 60 0.23 1,738
22 FIRST LOOK: HW MEDIUM E! 8:30 PM 12 0.22 571
23 LIGA MX (EF) SUN: GUADALAJARA/TIJUANA UNIVISION DEPORTES 5:50 PM 130 0.22 508
24 BRUNCH AT BOBBYS FOOD NETWORK 12:30 PM 30 0.21 815
25 SPORTS REPORTERS ESPN 9:30 AM 30 0.21 551
26 GUYS BIG BITES FOOD NETWORK 9:30 AM 30 0.20 779
27 VINYL HBO PRIME 9:00 PM 59 0.20 533
28 BLENDED HBO PRIME 2:00 PM 117 0.18 447
29 PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE NBC SPORTS NETWORK 11:15 AM 45 0.18 368
30 PBA BOWLING: CP3 PBA CELEBRITY ESPN 1:00 PM 120 0.18 631
31 SPORTSCENTER LATE       L ESPN 11:00 PM 90 0.18 374
32 OUTSIDE THE LINES-WKND ESPN 9:00 AM 30 0.18 500
33 MOVIE: CRUEL LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK 8:00 PM 120 0.18 687
34 CNN NEWSROOM CNN 5:00 PM 60 0.18 1,119
35 COUNTDOWN 2016 OSCARS: N/A E! 1:30 PM 240 0.18 499
36 CNN NEWSROOM CNN 4:00 PM 60 0.17 949
37 CNN NEWSROOM CNN 3:00 PM 60 0.16 924
38 BROKEN SKULL CHALLENGE 3 CMT 8:00 PM 60 0.16 424
39 NASCAR RACEDAY L FOX SPORTS 1 11:00 AM 90 0.16 662
40 FOX NEWS SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2:00 PM 60 0.16 1,160
41 FOX & FRIENDS SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 9:00 AM 60 0.16 1,339
42 FOX & FRIENDS SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 8:00 AM 60 0.16 1,424
43 STATE OF THE UNION CNN 9:00 AM 60 0.15 836
44 FAREED ZAKARIA: GPS CNN 10:00 AM 60 0.15 874
45 NHL REGULAR SEASON  L: TAMPA/BOSTON NBC SPORTS NETWORK 6:33 PM 162 0.15 474
46 ESPN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY ESPN 3:00 PM 60 0.15 381
47 SNAPPED OXYGEN MEDIA 9:00 PM 60 0.15 489
48 TOGETHERNESS HBO PRIME 10:31 PM 27 0.15 336
49 NHL REGULAR SEASON  L: LOS ANGELES/ANAHEIM NBC SPORTS NETWORK 9:15 PM 169 0.15 364
50 MEDIA BUZZ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 11:00 AM 60 0.14 1,246
51 FIVE, THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL 5:00 PM 60 0.14 1,269
52 RELIABLE SOURCES CNN 11:00 AM 60 0.14 806
53 HOLLYWOODS BIGGEST NIGHT CNN 6:00 PM 90 0.14 731
54 SPORTSCENTER WEEKEND-AM L ESPN2 9:00 AM 60 0.14 305
55 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY DISNEY XD 8:30 AM 30 0.14 447
56 BRAIN GAMES NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHNL 9:00 PM 60 0.13 332
57 SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 AM 60 0.13 1,200
58 CNN NEWSROOM CNN 2:00 PM 60 0.13 858
59 FOX REPORT SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 7:00 PM 60 0.13 1,327
60 E! AFTER PARTY 16 OSCARS E! 11:45 PM 90 0.13 380
61 CURSE OF THE FROZEN GOLD ANIMAL PLANET 10:02 PM 61 0.13 527
62 CAPITAL ONE CUP – L: FINAL LIVERPOOL VS. MANCHESTER CITY BEIN SPORT 11:25 AM 195 0.13 275
63 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN DISNEY XD 9:00 AM 30 0.13 469
64 INSIDE POLITICS CNN 8:00 AM 60 0.13 699
65 PGA TOUR GOLF CHANNEL 1:00 PM 118 0.13 875
66 OUTSIDE THE LINES-WKND ESPN2 10:00 AM 30 0.12 268
67 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE: 2016 – DL & LB NFL NETWORK 9:00 AM 390 0.12 265
68 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 12:00 PM 60 0.12 1,133
69 LIFT EVERY VOICE BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TV 10:02 AM 31 0.12 468
70 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1:00 PM 60 0.12 971
71 FOX & FRIENDS SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 7:00 AM 60 0.12 993
72 SPORTSCENTER EARLY      L ESPN 5:54 PM 66 0.11 342
73 COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD: SEC INDOOR CHAMP ESPN 7:00 PM 120 0.11 438
74 WICKER MAN, THE HBO PRIME 5:15 PM 102 0.11 280
75 PAID PROGRAM USA NETWORK 7:00 AM 30 0.10 315
76 DISTURBIA HBO PRIME 8:45 AM 105 0.10 223
77 BUNDESLIGA – L: MAINZ VS LEVERKUSEN FOX DEPORTES 11:27 AM 122 0.10 212
78 CHEERLEADING ESPN2 12:30 PM 30 0.10 276
79 CHEERLEADING ESPN2 12:00 PM 30 0.10 287
80 NFL TOTAL ACCESS NFL NETWORK 7:00 PM 60 0.10 177
81 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 4:00 PM 60 0.09 927
82 NHRA D: PHOENIX FOX SPORTS 1 5:00 PM 185 0.09 645
83 WCB: 2/27/16 CRAWFORD/LUN HBO PRIME 10:30 AM 102 0.09 225
84 ESPN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY ESPN2 8:00 AM 60 0.09 186
85 NBA GAMETIME LIVE NBA-TV 10:22 PM 38 0.09 181
86 MEET THE PRESS MSNBC 2:00 PM 60 0.09 629
87 AMERICAS NATIONAL PARKS NAT GEO WILD 8:00 PM 60 0.09 407
88 GREG GUTFELD SHOW, THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.09 695
89 SALVAGE DAWGS DIY NETWORK 9:30 PM 30 0.09 385
90 NBA REGULAR SEASON   L: MINNESOTA/DALLAS NBA-TV 7:01 PM 147 0.09 243
91 GENERATION X NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHNL 10:00 PM 60 0.09 226
92 SPORTS REPORTERS ESPN2 10:30 AM 30 0.08 221
93 EXPEDIENTES UDN – L UNIVISION DEPORTES 8:00 PM 60 0.08 207
94 WEEKEND EXPRESS HLN 10:00 AM 60 0.08 304
95 CHEERLEADING ESPN2 11:00 AM 60 0.08 191
96 PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO NBC SPORTS NETWORK 8:00 AM 58 0.08 164
97 WEEKEND EXPRESS HLN 7:00 AM 60 0.08 371
98 NBA POSTGAME SHOW NBA-TV 9:28 PM 54 0.08 184
99 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 12:00 PM 60 0.08 506
100 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 1:00 PM 60 0.07 569
101 OFFSEASON: KEVIN DURANT HBO PRIME 6:01 AM 52 0.07 154
102 HIGHWAY THRU HELL THE WEATHER CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.07 370
103 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 5:00 PM 79 0.07 508
104 COLL BSKTBL: BIG EAST L: XAVIER/SETON HALL FOX SPORTS 1 12:30 PM 133 0.07 242
105 KICKBOXING: N/A ESPN2 9:00 PM 120 0.07 225
106 WEEKEND EXPRESS HLN 9:00 AM 60 0.07 291
107 NBA PREGAME SHOW NBA-TV 6:30 PM 31 0.07 178
108 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 3:00 PM 60 0.07 443
109 FOX & FRIENDS SUNDAY FOX NEWS CHANNEL 6:00 AM 60 0.07 596
110 WEEKEND EXPRESS HLN 8:00 AM 60 0.07 299
111 SALVAGE DAWGS DIY NETWORK 9:00 PM 30 0.07 372
112 AND THE WINNER IS…: AND THE WINNER IS 2016 CNN 12:00 AM 120 0.07 340
113 WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L ESPN2 1:00 PM 111 0.06 213
114 WEEKENDS WITH ALEX WITT MSNBC 7:00 AM 30 0.06 250
115 NEW DAY SUNDAY CNN 7:00 AM 60 0.06 520
116 TECH GARAGE VELOCITY 8:30 AM 30 0.06 212
117 X GAMES: OSLO 2016 ESPN2 7:00 PM 120 0.06 176
118 COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN    L: WASHINGTON/OREGON ESPNU 8:35 PM 123 0.06 227
119 TRANSPORTER, THE MAXPRIME 8:25 PM 92 0.06 138
120 AMERICAS NATIONAL PARKS NAT GEO WILD 9:00 PM 60 0.06 327
121 TRNING PT W DR D JEREMIAH USA NETWORK 7:30 AM 30 0.06 213
122 WINX CLUB NICK JR 10:30 AM 30 0.06 381
123 PLACE FOR POLITICS: N/A MSNBC 10:00 AM 120 0.06 399
124 COLL BKBL SCOREBOARD  L ESPN2 2:51 PM 13 0.06 161
125 COMBINE PRIMETIME: 2016 – DL & LB NFL NETWORK 8:00 PM 180 0.06 112
126 VIUDA NEGRA II, LA 02/28 GALAVISION 10:03 PM 57 0.06 108
127 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 4:00 PM 60 0.06 390
128 WEEKEND EXPRESS HLN 11:00 AM 60 0.06 277
129 YOUR BUSINESS MSNBC 7:30 AM 30 0.06 249
130 DOLPHIN TALE 2 HBO PRIME 6:55 AM 107 0.05 125
131 WINX CLUB NICK JR 10:00 AM 30 0.05 350
132 CNN NEWSROOM LIVE CNN 2:00 AM 60 0.05 242
133 PLACE FOR POLITICS MSNBC 9:00 AM 60 0.05 360
134 BECOMING MIKE NICHOLS HBO PRIME 4:00 PM 72 0.05 124
135 JOEL OSTEEN USA NETWORK 8:30 AM 30 0.05 267
136 NHL LIVE POST NBC SPORTS NETWORK 12:04 AM 21 0.05 106
137 TRUCK RACING: MINT 400 NBC SPORTS NETWORK 1:00 PM 120 0.05 125
138 NHL LIVE PRE NBC SPORTS NETWORK 5:30 PM 63 0.05 159
139 NEW DAY SUNDAY CNN 6:00 AM 60 0.05 437
140 BUNDESLIGA – L: FRANKFURT VS SCHALKE FOX DEPORTES 1:29 PM 120 0.05 96
141 BUNDESLIGA L: MAINZ/LEVERKUSEN FOX SPORTS 2 11:26 AM 124 0.05 81
142 WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L ESPN2 5:06 PM 114 0.05 184
143 YU-GI-OH! ARC-V NICKTOONS 10:00 AM 30 0.05 176
144 AMHQ WEEKEND THE WEATHER CHANNEL 8:00 AM 60 0.05 273
145 DRACULA UNTOLD  (2014) MAXPRIME 10:00 PM 92 0.05 115
146 WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L ESPN 4:00 PM 114 0.05 197
147 BLACK KNIGHT MAXPRIME 10:25 AM 96 0.04 101
148 AMHQ WEEKEND THE WEATHER CHANNEL 7:00 AM 60 0.04 277
149 WEEKEND RECHARGE THE WEATHER CHANNEL 9:00 AM 60 0.04 333
150 ESPN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY ESPN2 7:00 AM 60 0.04 103

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About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.