Worried about the future of some ABC TV shows? Take a look at the chart below to see their season ranking, averages to date, and their grade in the all-important 18-49 demographic.
There’s lots of information that the networks take into consideration when cancelling or renewing a TV series but the ratings are the biggest factor. (You can see if your favorites have already been renewed or cancelled by visiting our ABC 2011-12 show page.)
These charts incorporate final ratings data through Thursday, May 30, 2012.
| Demo rank | Non-scripted ABC TV shows | Demo grade | 18-49 demo rating (actual) | Viewers in millions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dancing with the Stars (fall, perf.) (renewed) | A++ | 3.3 (3.28) | 17.56 | ratings |
| 2 | Dancing with the Stars (spring, perf.) (cancelled) | A+ | 3.0 (2.97) | 16.95 | ratings |
| 3 | Dancing with the Stars (fall, results) (renewed) | A+ | 3.0 (2.96) | 15.44 | ratings |
| 4 | Dancing with the Stars (spring, results) (cancelled) | A- | 2.6 (2.60) | 14.67 | ratings |
| 4 | The Bachelor (renewed) | A- | 2.6 (2.60) | 8.25 | ratings |
| 6 | Celebrity Wife Swap (renewed) | B- | 2.1 (2.10) | 5.74 | ratings |
| 7 | Wipeout (returning) | C | 1.9 (1.86) | 6.10 | ratings |
| 8 | Shark Tank (renewed) | C+* | 1.6 (1.61) | 5.68 | ratings |
| 9 | America's Funniest Home Videos (renewed) | C- | 1.6 (1.58) | 6.59 | ratings |
| 10 | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (cancelled) | C* | 1.5 (1.52) | 5.77 | ratings |
| 11 | Primetime: What Would You Do? (renewed) | C* | 1.4 (1.43) | 4.83 | ratings |
| 12 | 20/20 (renewed) | C-* | 1.4 (1.39) | 5.27 | ratings |
| 13 | You Deserve It (cancelled) | D- | 1.2 (1.15) | 4.61 | ratings |
Original ratings data ©The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved.
A couple of things to remember:
The averages included in these charts are based on the final numbers, not the fast affiliate ratings that are reported the morning after a show airs. These final numbers become available one to three days later (depending on holidays or weekends). The charts are updated as we get the new data.
Whether we like it or not, the demo numbers are what’s most important to the networks because that’s what’s important to advertisers. That’s how the networks measure success. Advertisers will pay more money for ad time on a show with a higher demo rating than one with more overall viewers. For example, Castle has more viewers than Grey’s Anatomy but an ad on Grey’s costs 30% more ($203,078 vs. $121,914).
Demo numbers are reported by Nielsen using the 10th decimal place (2.1, for example). In these charts, we’re including the rounded demo average as well as the average in 100ths (2.14, for example) in parenthesis so you can get a better idea of how the number’s been affected by the latest episode’s rating.
The letter grades are relative and are based on the individual network’s overall performance in either the scripted or non-scripted categories. The networks all have very different gauges for success. A hit show on The CW would get quickly cancelled on CBS. Our system for coming up with letter grades isn’t perfect but it should still give you an idea of where the shows stand when compared to others on the same network.
*The letter grades for TV series that run on Friday and Saturday nights are weighted a little differently to compensate for them airing on little-watched nights.
What do you think? How are your favorites doing? Are any of them in danger of being cancelled or sure to to be renewed?
Please don’t cancel Pan Am! My daughter and I love this show! It’s not fair that it is scheduled at 10p.m. on Sunday nights. I think if they moved it down to the 9p.m. space that desperate housewifes has had, it would do better. We often have to watch it on Hulu, because we can’t stay awake that late at night to see it., so we have to catch it the next day or so. For Halloween this year I went as one of the stewardesses and got great reveiws! Many people said they enjoyed this show and that I… Read more »
Never watched the soaps… Too busy during the day. I think ABC has the very best shows. Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, OnceUpon A Time (awesome) Do not like the home make over show… Too much screaming.
ABC if it weren’t for the tv shows Castle, Greys Anatomy, Body of Proof, and Private Practice I would never watch ABC ever again in my life!!!!!!
Castle Body of Proof and The River are the shows on ABC i have been watching. i did watch Pan Am i dont see that coming back
My one disappointment with ABC this season is that more people didn’t watch Man Up! I didn’t watch it either. I did record it though and just happened to watch it last weekend. I was surprised that it was actually pretty good. I guess ABC should have done what they have done with most of their other shows, and put in a well known name as the star of the show so people would try the show.
I’m not from the US so I watch all the shows with livefeed or online the next day…pleasee pleaase rethink Pan Am…I’m loving the show give it another season…It has more viewers than Cougar Town and you keep giving them seasons…bring back Pan Am!!!!!!!!
I AGREE!!
When is the Incredible Hulk debuting? 2013? del Toro producing = Epic!!
I love Body of Proof but it is on a very competitive time slot. I watch it On Demand. I really hope they give it another season!
I’m happy that “Once Upon A Time” is doing well! The only other shows I watch on ABC are “Castle” and “Revenge”! I would be devastated if either one was cancelled!!
I will no longer be watching ABC after they cancelled my soaps to put more talk shows and cooking shows. Just what we need.!!!!!!!
My shows have already been canceled. Now I’m returning the favor and canceling ABC and anything Disney in our home.
I’m with ya Melissa. Unfortunatly, as much as I was planning to ban ABC & Disney from our home, I decided to just block them from the tvs except for the one hour that General Hospital is on, and because OLTL actors are on their way there, & I had just gotten Roger Howarth back when they axed OLTL! If they leave, or worse, cancel Gen Hospital, then there will be NO abc or disney channels in my house. But then, maybe ABC is smart to put on yet another cooking show to go along with the 100s of others… Read more »
Why is ABC ending the BEST shows? Desperate Housewives ratings are not bad at all and ABC is ending the show. Brothers and Sisters was an excellent show! To make matters worse you are ending ONE LIFE TO LIVE! One Life to Live’s ratings were higher than General Hospital and OLTL gets the ax. I swear some one high up at ABC’s wife only watches General Hospital and thats why OLTL is ending instead. ABC doesn’t care what the viewers want or the ratings would mean something. I refuse to watch ABC once any of their cancelled shows end because… Read more »
Your rating are going sooooo down after ONE LIFE TO LIVE ends you have pissed off lots of people ,sell your right at a descent price.You think they are junk anyways what is your trip.
I so totally AGREE with Joyce Fenner..HOW DARE ABC CANCEL OUR BELOVED SOAPS..I MISS YOU ONE LIFE TO LIVE..YOU WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE MY FAVORITE SOAP OF ALL TIME….
Ha Ha you suck ABC, and what is the deal asking a high amount of money for our ABC Soaps, when you consider them junk,hope you die with our beloved soaps.
I hope Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man Standing, The Middle, Castle and Private Practice stay.
Okay, so… what do I watch on this network? Well, there’s Pan Am, which isn’t doing very well at all, Castle, which isn’t doing much better, and Once Upon a Time — which has been an amazing success. “Amazing” primarily because it’s a show I like and it actually has a high demo rating! That, like, almost never happens. Looks like I don’t have to worry about Once Upon a Time being cancelled, barring a sudden “no happy endings” curse. ;P