PERFORMANCE/SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
(Updated as of December 20, 2008)
TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC:
Persons 25-54, though they aim more toward the 40s.
NOVEMBER 2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
TOP PRIMETIME SHOWS:
THE HONEYMEN TRIBE, EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS-1, WORLD'S BEST PLACES TO PIG OUT, HAMBURGER PARADISE, EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS-2, VEGAS: ADULTS ONLY 2, SANDWICH PARADISE, WORLD POKER TOUR, BIZARRE WORLDS, TRIBAL RITES.
SCHEDULING STRATEGIES:
Travel Channel had no significant schedule changes this month and no new series launches. GHOST ADVENTURES has been a pleasant boost for aline-up that needs some fresh series content to take the pressure off ANTHONY BOURDAIN and ANDREW ZIMMERN.
PROGRAM/SCHEDULE CHANGES:
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2008:
-Thursdays at 8pm-SAMANTHA BROWN
PREMIERES:
**GONE MISSING - November 2, 10pm.
**THE MOST CHRISTMASY PLACES IN AMERICA - Nov. 27, 8pm.
SEPTEMBER AND BEYOND:
PREMIERES:
**RIBS PARADISE -December 3, 8pm.
**MAN VS. FOOD - December 3, 10pm.
**MOST HAUNTED USA - December 12, 10pm.
**TREASURE HUNTER: KIRSTEN GUM - January 3, 9pm.
**BRIDGET'S BEACHES - March 12, 2009.
**DHANI TACKLES THE GLOBE - March 16, 9pm.
YEAR AGO/BIG PICTURE:
There are very few differences in the Travel Channel line-up from last year: SAMANTHA BROWN has been struggling to hold onto a regular slot in the schedule due to her declining numbers; GHOST ADVENTURES is the firs successful Series launch since BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN; and WORLD POKER TOUR keeps on playing-what will Travel do when WPT fades or expires from the lineup?
NOVEMBER 2008 PRIMETIME RATINGS ANALYSIS:
Travel Channel is flat in Households fromn a year ago but up by 13% in the P25-54 demo. Four nights of positive growth in the demo drove the increase. GHOST ADVENTURES drove the biggest night of growth on Fridays.
Mondays are down 10% in Households but up 13% in the P25-54 demo. ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS sandwiches and episode of BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN on the night.
Tuesdays are up 10% in Households and 18% in the P25-54 demo (driven by 26% growth in men 25-54). BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN dominates the night.
Wednesdays are down 16% in households and absolutely flat in the P25-54 demo from last year. It's usually a mixed bag of programs including some of the FOOD PARADISE strand.
Thursdays are down 14% in Households and flat in the P25-54 demo (although women 25-54 were up 9%). SAMANTHA BROWN'S PASSPORT TO EUROPE moved to 8pm which improved it's performance, but not significantly.
Fridays are up 23% in Households and 46% in the P25-54 demo. It's safe to say that GHOST ADVENTURES has been a big part of the ratings growth the past two months.
Saturdays are up 10% in Households but down 20% in the P25-54 demo. WORLD POKER TOUR fills all three hours (all repeats). When will Travel Channel develop new content to replace WPT?
Sundays are up 3% in Households and 13% in the P25-54 demo over last year. Most of the one-offs that are in the highest rated list played here (The HONEYMEN TRIBE and EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS 1 & 2).
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
