Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Total viewing of broadcast networks and basic cable channels rose about 1 percent for the year, to an average of 34 hours per person per week, according to a New York Times story based on new Nielsen numbers. Over-the-air networks are down, but still beat the pants off the top cable-only shows. The most popular new show on TV in 2010? “Hawaii Five-0” on CBS.
CBS, stable as always, was the No. 1 network among total viewers for 51 out of 52 weeks, and three of its new shows, “Hawaii Five-0,” “Blue Bloods” and “Mike & Molly,” landed in the top 20 for the year, the only new shows to do so. CBS also used the Super Bowl to introduce the reality show “Undercover Boss,” which cracked the top 25....Nielsen noted in an end-of-the-year recap that eight of the 10 highest-rated telecasts of the year were football games. The two others were the Academy Awards and the premiere of “Undercover Boss,” which followed the Super Bowl.
Among viewers ages 18 to 49, Fox ranked first for the year. The NYT story cites “American Idol” and “Glee" as the main drivers for Fox.