VH1's presentation of benefit show The Concert for New York City Oct.
20 proved quite beneficial for the music network.
The nearly six-hour show, held at Cablevision Systems Corp.'s Madison Square
Garden, averaged a 3.7 household rating and a 3.2 among persons 18 through 49,
according to Nielsen Media Research data. Those performances represented new
ratings records for VH1.
The show was also the highest-rated program in both of those measurements on
basic cable Oct. 20, leading VH1 to the highest total-day mark in its
history.
The commercial-free concert -- all proceeds from which are earmarked for the
Robin Hood Relief Fund to meet the needs of victims of the World Trade Center
attacks -- garnered 5 million total viewers and 3 million households. Nearly 16
million viewers watched some portion of the show, according to the network.
Viewing momentum built for the show, which spanned from 7 p.m. to 12:50 a.m.
Oct. 21. Quarterly hour ratings peaked at a 4.8 household rating at 11 p.m. and
averaged a 4.3 from 10 p.m. through the cablecast's conclusion.
The concert played big in the 'Big Apple,' scoring an 11.4 rating in New York
(650,000 households).
Presented by VH1, Cablevision, Miramax Films and AOL Time Warner Inc., The
Concert for New York City featured performances by Paul McCartney; The Who;
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; David Bowie; Elton John; Eric Clapton; Billy
Joel; James Taylor; Destiny's Child; and John Mellencamp, among others.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Hillary
Clinton (D-N.Y.), New York Gov. George Pataki, Jim Carrey, Billy Crystal, Will
Farrell, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere were among the notables on hand at the
concert, along with members of New York sports teams.
