PERFORMANCE/SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
(Updated as of September 23, 2008)
TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC:
Persons 25-54, though they aim more toward the 40s.
AUGUST 2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
TOP PRIMETIME SHOWS:
WILD CHINA, PASSPORT TO CHINA, ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS, SEVEN WONDERS OF CHINA, EXTREME TERROR RIDES, ICE CREAM PARADISE, BEACH GOERS EXPOSED, VEGAS: ADULTS ONLY 2, WHEN BEACHES ATTACK, BARBECUE PARADISE
SCHEDULING STRATEGIES:
Travel had no significant changes to its primetime schedule but did use the Beijing Olympics as an opportunity to stunt several specials and mini-series in august focused on China (see top Primetime shows).
PROGRAM/SCHEDULE CHANGES:
JULY-AUGUST 2008:
--No significant changes
PREMIERES:
**STAYCATION WEEK - August 4-8
-ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS - Monday, August 4, 10pm.
-EXTREME WATERPARKS - Wednesday, August 6, 9pm.
-SAMANTHA BROWN: PASSPORT TO GREAT WEEKENDS: WASHINGTON, DC - Thursday, Aug.7, 10pm.
**EXTREME WATER PARKS - August 13, 9pm.
SEPTEMBER AND BEYOND:
PREMIERES:
**ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS-LABOR DAY SPECIAL - Sept.1, 10pm.
**AMAZING RACE (Season 12) - September 3, 8pm.
**SAMANTHA BROWN: PASSPORT TO GREAT WEEKENDS - September 4, 10pm.
**MOST HAUNTED - September 5, 10pm.
**BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN - September 9, 10pm.
**GHOST ADVENTURES - October 17, 10pm.
YEAR AGO/BIG PICTURE:
Last year, WORLD POKER TOUR was finally moved off Wednesdays to Saturdays only and BIZZARE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN was just beginning to show up on the network consistently in a variety of the anthologies. Other than BIZARRE FOODS, no new Series have launched in the past year that have shown any staying power. MOST HAUNTEDF is now fully back on the schedule which means there are five reliable series: ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS, BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN, SAMANTHA BROWNS PASSPORT TO..., MOST HAUNTED and WORLD POKER TOUR.
AUGUST 2008 PRIMETIME RATINGS ANALYSIS:
Only Tuesday night is showing growth in Primetime while the overall Travel Channel numbers are down 18% in Households and 16% in P25-54 versus last year.
Mondays are down 10% in the P25-54 demo and 14% in Households against last year. Looks like the Olympics definitely impacted ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S ratings on Mondays.
Tuesdays showed big growth of 33% in P25-54. BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN was the big ratings driver with a regular lead-in from ANTHONY BOURDAIN most weeks in August.
Wednesdays are down 16% in P25-54 and 36% in Households against last year. Wednesday primetime is mostly anthology slots so had a range of programs air here, a lot from the EXTREME... strand of one-offs. The Olympics definitely took its toll on Wednesday prime for Travel.
Thursdays are down 17%in the P25-54 demo and 10% in Households. PASSPORT TO CHINA had a nice three hour stack performance before the beginning of the Olympics.
Fridays were the second biggest losses in the P25-54 demo at 25% with an 18% drop in the demo. MOST HAUNTED had a tough time building an audience with poor lead-ins and Olympic competition for three weeks.
Fridays showed a modest decline from last year of 8% in the P25-54 demo and 4% in Households. WORLD POKER TOUR has stayed relatively stable in its delivery for Travel on Saturdays.
Sundays showed the biggest losses at 35% in the P25-54 demo and 26% in Households. The WILD CHINA stack had the best ratings for the month on Sunday.
ADDITIONAL RATINGS ANALYSIS:
PROGRAM ACQUISITIONS:
AMAZING RACE - Season 12, 13 & 14.
PROGRAM RENEWALS:
5 TAKES, ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS, BEST PLACES TO FIND CASH AND TREASURES, BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN, MOST HAUNTED, NOT YOUR AVERAGE TRAVEL GUIDE, TASTE OF AMERICA, 1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE.
PROGRAM CANCELLATIONS:
None this month.
ADDITIONAL SHOWS CURRENTLY AIRING:
GREAT HOTELS, EPICURIOUS, GLOBE TREKKER, THIS JOB'S A TRIP, TRAVEL CAFE, AMAZING VACATION HOMES, WORLD ODYSSEYS, VACATION HOME SEARCH, NOT YOUR AVERAGE TRAVEL GUIDE, LIVING WITH THE KOMBAI; KIDS IN CHARGE: FAMILY VACATIONS, 5 TAKES, TRIBAL ODYSSEY, INTO ALASKA WITH JEFF CORWIN; MADE IN AMERICA; LEGEND HUNTERS
