TV Guide Network's 'Blunders' Special Rates With Nielsens
TV Guide Network's original special counting down the biggest mess-ups in TV history cumed some 3.3 million viewers on Sunday night.
In its premiere window at 8 p.m. on Feb.28, the network's 25 Biggest TV Blunders averaged a 0.5 household rating, 377,000 households and 510,000 viewers, according to Nielen data. The show encored that night at 9 p.m. and at midnight on March 1.
The special, in its debut period, scored a 100% jump over the prior-year period and a 74% increase among women 25 to 54, making it the network's top special with that group in 2010, said TV Guide officials.
"Our 25 Biggest TV Blunders special achieved what we wanted it to -- that is, bring TV Guide Network back to a brand that speaks to fans and people who love TV shows," said Diane Robina, executive vice president, development, acquisitions and programming strategy at TV Guide Network, in a statement. "We're pleased that the special resonated with the TV fans who have come to rely on TV Guide as a source for what to watch on television today."
On the cable side, the legal intrigue and shift of Project Runway to Lifetime from Bravo ranked as blunder No. 6, according to the TV Guide Network special.
Counting down the top five: No. 5: Stars turning downing hit roles, like Paul Shaffer for George Costanza on Seinfeld, and Dana Delaney for Carrie Bradshaw on HBO's Sex and the City; No. 4: the quiz show scandals of the 1950s; No. 3: the 2000 election flip-flop coverage in which Fox News Channel called Florida for George W. Bush, before moving back to undecided; and No. 2: "Nipplegate," with Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during CBS's coverage of Super Bowl halftime performance with Justin Timberlake
The biggest blunder, according to the TV Guide Network special, was NBC's move of Jay Leno to the 10 p.m. hour.
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