The TV Zone

Close, but no stogie:

Nielsen just released the final final figure for yesterday's inaugural viewing, from 10 to 5 p.m.:

37.8 million.

That's how many watched the full day, per the ratings service, and the most since 1981, when 41.8 million watched Ronald Reagan's inaugural.

As promised, I've got some numbers for you. The winners of yesterday's inauguration coverage, in terms of sheer viewer volume: NBC and CNN.

Here are the cable numbers, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

CNN: 6.9 million...
FNC: 4.4 million...
MSNBC: 2.6 million...

ABC also sent out a release saying it had the most "combined" viewership of the entire day - a total of 47 million - meaning that the network added up viewers of the day's various events as well as the primetime ones as well. The figure is impressive, indeed.

But...here's the midday figure, from 11 to 12:30. Looks like NBC beat 'em by a nose there, and same with 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

ABC: 11, 036,666...
NBC: 11,490,000...
CBS: 7,193,333...

And...10 to 5...

ABC: 8,363,714...
NBC: 8,650,000...
CBS: 5,530,695...

Observation? These figures almost seem to mirror - to the person - early evening news numbers. In other words, brand loyalty is unshakable.

So ... how many people DID watch yesterday's big event?

Answer: 29.2 percent of all TVs in the top 55 cities were tuned to the inaugural. That's the word - or rather figure - from Nielsen, which should provide a total figure later today.

Go here for a chart that will give you the blow-by-blow. New York places somewhere in the middle - about average.

"The combined overall household rating for the inauguration of President Barack Obama in the top 56 local television markets where Nielsen maintains TV meters was 29.2%.

The Raleigh-Durham market had the largest TV audience with more than 51% of households tuned in to the day’s events. Seattle-Tacoma had the lowest viewership, with only 18.8% of households watching the events."

Meanwhile, last night's "Neighborhood Ball" telecast on ABC did take a meaty chunk out of "American Idol" - an eight-million-or-so viewer chunk. "Idol" launched last week with 30.4/30.3 million viewers on the Tuesday/Wednesday editions.

Last night: 22.4 million, to 12.6 for "Ball."

Fox - a glass-half-full kinda network - says, "the Live +7 numbers for last night's episode to be much bigger than normal. "

And "Fringe": Bit by bit, its numbers grow, and if you too followed "Idol" at 9 p.m., bit by bit YOUR numbers would grow, too. But the show is a closet hit for Fox - "closet" in the sense that people are watching, but critics and TV writers don't seem to be.

If you've been missing this pretty good show, go to this page - bottom, left-hand - for the five-minute recap that'll bring you up to speed ...


(Mark Wilson / Getty Images Photo)

That's right, Al.

It was brief.

It was only partially informative.

And I think the president even fibbed. Already: His first interview with the press, and the truth was stretched.

For those wondering why Al is croaking this morning, and who MAY have turned away from the screen yesterday just around 4:15 or so, here's the clip ...

To be serenaded by Beyonce.

Singing "At Last."

Yup.

That's when you've REALLY reached the top of the mountain.

And that's the mountaintop Barack Obama stood on last night. It was really one of the highlights of the day, this moment at the "Neighborhood Ball," and if you missed it, then you should watch. Go to the jump for the bootleg version - which Disney will yank as soon as they discover.

Or, if you want to stay legal this morning, here's another clip, her tribute to Etta James, at the Fifth Annual Fashion Rocks concert on CBS last September. As you're aware, B is Etta James in "Cadillac Records."

And if you want to know more about Etta James - who doesn't? - here's her discography...

Continue reading "The Inauguration: Beyonce Sings" »