PERFORMANCE/SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
(Updated as of January 20, 2009)
TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC:
Persons 25-54, though they aim more toward the 40s.
DECEMBER 2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
TOP PRIMETIME SHOWS:
TRIBAL ODYSSEY, MAN VS. FOOD, BAR FOOD PARADISE, MOST TERRIFYING PLACES IN AMERICA, MOST CHRISTMASSY PLACES IN AMERICA, BREAKFAST PARADISE, STEAK PARADISE, GHOST ADVENTURES, ALASKAN WILD, CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME.
SCHEDULING STRATEGIES:
Two Series debuted in December (one new and one Americanized) MAN VS. FOOD and MOST HAUNTED USA. These series were needed to help bolster the overworked ANTHONY BOURDAIN and ANDREW ZIMMERN series. MAN VS. FOOD started on Wednesdays but will eventually be added to Saturdays, replacing WORLD POKER TOUR in January.
PROGRAM/SCHEDULE CHANGES:
NOVEMBER_DECEMBER 2008:
-Tuesdays at 9pm-LIVING WITH THE KOMBAI/MEK.
-Wednesdays at 10pm-MAN VS. FOOD.
-Fridays at 10pm-MOST HAUNTED USA.
PREMIERES:
**RIBS PARADISE -December 3, 8pm.
**MAN VS. FOOD - December 3, 10pm.
**MOST HAUNTED USA - December 12, 10pm.
FINALES:
**GHOST ADVENTURES (Season) - December 5, 9pm.
JANUARY AND BEYOND:
PREMIERES:
**TREASURE HUNTER: KIRSTEN GUM - January 3, 9pm.
**ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS - January 5, 10pm.
**NOTORIOUS: SAN FRANCISCO - Janauary 15, 10pm.
**UNTOUCHED AMERICA - Janauary 18, 10pm.
**MARK & OLLY: LIVING WITH TH MACHIGENGA - February 8, 10pm.
**BRIDGET'S BEACHES - March 12, 2009.
**DHANI TACKLES THE GLOBE - March 16, 9pm.
YEAR AGO/BIG PICTURE:
Travel Channel finally seems to be building momentum and is building on year-to-year ratings. December '08 has a nice 7% increase in Households and 27% in the target P25-54 demo. Two of its newer Series offerings (GHOST ADVENTURES and MAN VS. FOOD) really are the secret behind Travel's recent success. Prior to these two Series, Travel had not launched a successful Series since BIZARRE FOODS over a year ago.
DECEMBER 2008 PRIMETIME RATINGS ANALYSIS:
Despite the large growth in the P25-54 demo (27%), Travel Channel was flat in the demo on two nights against last year. MAN VS. FOOD had a smoking hot start for the network. Hopefully it can continue that success when it joins the Saturday night lineup in January (it appears that that the Travel Channel has finally dealt with the "elephant-n-the-room: WORLD POKER TOUR).
Mondays are down by 10% in Households and flat in the P25-54 demo from last year. The heavy rotation that ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS had to handle in the lineup this past year has affected its ratings, the series is down 19% in Household and 11% in the P25-54 demo from last year.
Tuesdays are up 7% in Households and 19% in the P25-54 demo over last year. BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN continues to show growth, although slower than previous months.
Wednesdays are down 5% in Households but up by 41% in the P25-54 demo ( 64% growth in Women 25-54). MAN VS. FOOD looks like a break-out hit from it's initial three weeks delivering a household average rating 39% above the monthly average for the night and 54% above the P25-54 monthly average for the night.
Thursdays are flat in Households and up 15% in the P25-54 demo from last year. Six Plays of BIZARRE FOODS helped the night deliver ratings growth (P25-54) for December while SAMANTHA BROWN'S Series' continue to perform lower than year ago ratings.
Fridays showed the largest overall growth with 28% in Households and a whopping 67% in the P25-54 demo. GHOST ADVENTURES continues its strong performance while the fresh take of MOST HAUNTED USA does a very good job of holding its lead-in ratings.
Saturdays are up 10% in Households but flat in the P25-54 demo from last year. WORLD POKER TOUR is on its last legs in primetime and will be gone from Saturday nights in January.
Sundays are up 21% in Households and 54% in the P25-54 demo over last year. Two stacks, BIZARRE FOODS and TRIBAL ODYSSEY, helped drive a solid ratings growth for Sunday night.
ADDITIONAL RATINGS ANALYSIS:
PROGRAM ACQUISITIONS:
AMAZING RACE - Season 12, 13 & 14.
PROGRAM RENEWALS:
MAK & OLLY: LIVING WITH ..., 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
