TV Ratings: TV Viewership Down, Social Media Up For VMAs

If Taylor Swift, Missy Elliot and a 1990s rap reunion couldn’t halt the shrinkage of MTV’s television audience for its Video Music Awards, perhaps nothing can.

The show was seen by 4.9 million viewers live on Monday across 12 different Viacom-owned networks, the Nielsen company said. That’s down from last year’s audience of 5.2 million, as the annual event has slid in television viewers each year since reaching 10.3 million in 2014, according to The Associated Press citing Nielsen data.

MTV considers that more a reflection of changing media habits among young people than declining interest in its marquee show.   MTV aggressively pushes out clips of the show on social media platforms, and said those views were up 85 percent over last year and were the highest of any VMAs.

In the weeks leading up the show, social media engagements — liking, sharing or commenting upon announcements about the event — more than doubled over last year. No TV program this summer triggered more social media activity, the network said.

Led by “America’s Got Talent,” NBC won last week in prime-time network viewership, averaging 4 million viewers. CBS had 3.4 million viewers, ABC had 2.8 million, Fox had 1.8 million, ION Television had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million; Univision had 1 million and the CW had 650,000.

ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 7.9 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” was second at 7.3 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 4.9 million. Nielsen Numbers for the week of August 19:

⏩ Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Aug. 19-25:

1. “America’s Got Talent” (Tuesday), NBC, 9.43 million.
2. “America’s Got Talent” (Wednesday), NBC, 8.12 million.
3. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.07 million.
4. NFL Exhibition Football: Pittsburgh at Tennessee, NBC, 6.24 million.
5. College Football: Miami at Florida, ESPN, 5.97 million.
6. “Celebrity Family Feud,” ABC, 5.21 million.
7. “NFL Pre-Game Show,” NBC, 4.9 million.
8. “Bachelor in Paradise” (Monday), ABC, 4.8 million.
9. “Big Brother” (Sunday), CBS, 4.64 million.
9. “NCIS,” CBS, 4.64 million.

11. “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC, 4.56 million.
12. “Big Brother” (Wednesday), CBS, 4.53 million.
13. “The ”$100,000 Pyramid,” ABC, 4.48 million.
14. “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC, 4.47 million.
15. “Big Brother” (Thursday), CBS, 4.38 million.
16. “Bachelor in Paradise” (Tuesday), ABC, 4.13 million.
17. “FBI,” CBS, 4.07 million.
18. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 3.95 million.
19. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 3.93 million.
20. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 3.81 million.

Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.33 million viewers in prime time. ESPN had 2.14 million, MSNBC had 1.48 million, HGTV had 1.26 million and TLC and USA tied with 1.09 million.

For the month of August, Fox News Channel extended its impressive ratings winning streak through the month of August as the most-watched basic cable network in total day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.). That’s now 38 consecutive at No. 1 across basic cable, and the top cable news network in total viewers for the 212th consecutive month.

According to TV Newser, FNC did drop to second place in the prime time 25-54 demo this past month behind CNN, which televised Democratic primary debates on back-to-back nights in the August Nielsen calendar.

Compared with what the network averaged in August 2018, Fox News was +6% in total prime time viewers, +4% in total day viewers, -11% in prime time adults 25-54 and -7% in adults 25-54, total day.

⏩ Syndication:

As the 2018-19 syndication season comes to a close, Judge Judy has emerged as the clear No. 1 show, leading the household ratings by a wide margin with a 6.8 live-plus-same-day season-to-date national Nielsen.  This marks a full decade at the top of all first-run programs for Judy and six straight years as syndication’s highest rated show overall, reports TV NewsCheck.

Coming in second and third as of the session ending Aug. 18 were Jeopardy at a season-to-date 6.2, and Family Feud at a 6.1.

In the closely watched talk show category, Dr. Phil, which has finished first for 154 consecutive weeks, scored a 2.7 season average and was the frontrunner for the eighth year in a row, including a first-place tie in 2015-16.

Live with Kelly and Ryan, which also had a strong year, came closest to Phil with a 2.2 season-to-date, followed by Ellen DeGeneres at a 2.0.