UPDATE: THE WINTER OLYMPICS didn’t adjust up quite as much as we expected, hitting 4.9. UP fittingly went a bit higher, by 0.1 to 1.0.
SUNDAY CABLE: Although THE WALKING DEAD (AMC) fell a sharp 1.4 from last week’s season premiere, its 6.8 was more than enough to take care of the OLYMPICS. Its companion TALKING DEAD was also down, but still held well, off 0.5 to 2.5. The NBA ALL-STAR GAME (TNT) didn’t suffer much from the OLYMPICS competition, sliding 0.2 from last year to 3.3. Meanwhile, both TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO) and SHAMELESS (Showtime) actually rose against the strong competition, each at 0.9 and up a respective 0.1 and 0.2. (Note: the only other HBO/Showtime show we have a number for is GIRLS, steady at 0.5.) On the reality-TV side, REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA (Bravo) was down 0.3 to 1.8, and KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS rose 0.1 to 1.3.
Another night with no broadcast challenge to the Olympics.
NBC: See Mitch Metcalf’s Skedball post for detailed analysis of the WINTER OLYMPICS and how Sochi compares to other Winter Games. Last night’s program was up 0.5 from Saturday to what should be an adjusted 5.0 once the 7PM half-hour (which included no commercials) is removed, but still below all 3 of the last Winter Olympics–which is true of Sochi as a whole as well. On Turin’s second Monday, those Games had a big increase, and NBC will hope the same is true tonight in particular because the Games will provide the lead-in to the launch of THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON.
OTHER NETWORKS: We don’t have numbers yet for THE WALKING DEAD or the NBA ALL-STAR GAME, which are likely to have given NBC its biggest competition. The broadcast networks continued to let NBC have its way, with reruns on CBS (highlighted by 1.0 for 60 MINUTES) and FOX (led by 1.2 for FAMILY GUY), and a run of UP on ABC (0.9).
Tonight will be busier. ABC and FOX are both airing fresh line-ups against the Olympics (CBS also has a new INTELLIGENCE), and CW is taking the unusual step of launching the new sci-fi romance STAR-CROSSED against the Games. As noted, late-night features the official promotion of Jimmy Fallon to what was once the storied Tonight Show desk.
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