Obama Ad Boosts Network Ratings (NBC +43% and CBS +10% in the time period)

[NYCGirl]

Obama improved NBC's rating by 43% and CBS by 10% compared with last week.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/obama-ad-rating.html

If Barack Obama fails to win the election, perhaps the networks should hire him to entertain viewers on Wednesday nights.

Ratings are coming in for Obama's 30-minute primetime infomercial, and the paid ad managed to outperform the usual programming in the time period.

The Obama special was seen by 26.3 million viewers across broadcasters CBS, NBC and Fox, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings.

Now the tricky question is: What do you compare Obama's ad to? After all, such a national pre-election special hasn’t been attempted in 16 years.

The entertainment programming that usually runs in the time period on those three broadcast networks has averaged a cumulative 23.1 million viewers each week since the start of the season -- 12% lower than the Obama ad total. Put another way, the time period averages about 7.7 million viewers and a 2.4 adults 18-49 rating per network. In the preliminary ratings, the ad pulled an average of 9.2 million viewers and a 2.7 average rating -- boosting the adult demo by 13%.

But the usual shows are comedies and dramas. Can one realistically compare "Knight Rider" to a political ad? That would normally seem unfair -- to the politician. Obama improved NBC's rating by 43% and CBS by 10% compared with last week. And keep in mind Obama was competing with himself.

[WI_DEM]

1. Hmm, maybe they should have him on Monday night again.

[NYCGirl]

3. They should definitely ask him to replace "Knight Rider"! NT

[demo dutch]

2. I did't see the ad yet, because we were at the rally in Sunrise, it was awesome!

[4_Legs_Good]

5. Now that is too cool!

Best reason for missing the Obamercial EVER!

Wish I coulda been there!

David

[demo dutch]

11. It was way cool, and the transition from stump speech to live TV was flawless, I couldn't tell if it

wasn't for when he said something like ... and to the Americans in the country who have joined us..
It was Biden who and the end of his intro revealed that we were going to be taped.

I took a short video on my camera, but I have no idea how to up load from my computer to DU

[4_Legs_Good]

4. I think he should have a weekly "Feel good about America" show

Something he narrates every week that reminds people how we're working together to make this country great again.

I bet it'd do better than Knight Rider.

David

[musicblind]

10. You know what. I think that is an EXCELLENT idea. And I am being 100% serious.

It reminds me of "fireside chats" I used to be told about by my grandparents. I think it would do a lot to boost America's morale during these hard economic times. Once Obama wins, why don't we all join together and email this suggestion to his administration?

[4_Legs_Good]

15. Sign me up!

Exactly in the vein of the fireside chats. And Obama doesn't even need to appear in them, just narrate them so we get the feeling that he's there working in the background, and just let us know what's going on and what we're doing about it.

Anyway, I'm glad you like the idea!

David

[stillcool]

21. Me too...we surely won't get...

the truth of what he says from the 'media' on tv. I'm hoping that volunteering and activism takes on a new role after the election.

[NYCGirl]

22. It's a great idea! NT

[Occam Bandage]

6. I think we can call it a stunning success, yes.

[rucky]

7. Sorry, ABC

sucks to be you!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. You're welcome assholes!. nt

[high density]

9. That's a riot!!

I think the lousy economy is causing some bad shows (i.e. Knight Rider) to be given a big benefit of the doubt.

[tblue37]

12. What this tells me is that this year people really, really give a damn. nt

[Cha]

13. Best 1/2 hour Special I ever saw.

:*

[Alter Ego]

14. Well, MNF's going to feature Obama and McCryptkeeper

next week, so I expect ratings will shoot through the roof there again.

[David__77]

16. More than double what Perot got in 92.

That's interesting. The pundits weren't expecting that.

[Two Sheds]

17. Did GE even say thank you?

they should.

[Median Democrat]

18. Obama's Voice As A Narrator Reminds Me Of Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman's credits include a lot of films and documentaries that he has narrated with that deep, fatherly, reassuring voice. Indeed, in Michael Myers's "The Love Guru," the film even made fun of Morgan Freeman's popularity as a narrator. I have to say, Obama is the one guy who could give Morgan Freeman competition as the person I would most want to narrate a film.

[quantass]

20. +1

Agreed..I remember Morgan Freeman also narrating March of the Penguins (one of the biggest positives for the film viewers said was Freeman's narration...helping it become the 2nd biggest Documentary in History -- $200 million gross -- yes, for a documentary!)

[WeDidIt]

19. So it was win-win for the networks that carried it

They got paid for the time AND a ratings boost!

[barack the house]

23. As I say Barack's good for business. Ratings like that are a good sign for Nov 4.

[workinclasszero]

24. Hey ABC...