Good ABC prognosis
Strong demo bow for 'Hospital' points to net's rare drama hit
Although not in the same league as the big numbers previous King projects scared up for ABC, "Kingdom Hospital" produced the Alphabet's best ratings for a premiering drama since "Alias." It won its slot in both young-adult demos and total viewers.
The sweep, meanwhile, ended as projected (Daily Variety, March 3), with NBC comfortably on top in the key adults 18-49 battle and CBS and Fox tied for second. The Eye led the month in total viewers, NBC in adults 25-54 and Fox in under-35 categories.
From 9 to 11 Wednesday, "Kingdom Hospital" (5.5/14 in adults 18-49, 14.06 million viewers overall) won its timeslot opposite diverse drama competish: Fox's "The OC," NBC's "West Wing" and "Law & Order" and a special repeat of CBS' "CSI."
This is the best opening demo score for a drama since the Eye's "Without a Trace" in September 2002 (following "CSI") and the best for an ABC drama since "Alias" in September 2001.
If "Kingdom Hospital" can continue to produce solid ratings, and with both "Alias" and "NYPD Blue" stocked with plenty of original episodes for the remainder of the season, ABC could draw some much-needed drama momentum.
Beginning next week, "Kingdom" will air in its regular 10 o'clock slot opposite "Law & Order" and CBS newsmag "48 Hours." While ABC would be ecstatic if "Kingdom" could top "Law & Order" on a regular basis in 18-49, it would probably be very happy if it is within shouting distance.
"Kingdom" maintained its 18-49 share with each half-hour but did drop a bit in rating at 10:30, when "Law" led with a 5.3/14, followed by "Kingdom" (5.1/14) and "CSI" (3.8/10).
The spooky hospital drama should get a lead-in boost in April when the next edition of "The Bachelor" preems. For the next two weeks at least, ABC will fill out the 9 o'clock hour with reality skein "Extreme Makeover."
Best numbers for "Kingdom" came from women, logging a 15 share in 18-34, a 16 share in 18-49 and a 17 share in 25-54. In women 18-34, in fact, result is the best for a debuting drama since "CSI: Miami" on CBS in 2002 and ABC's strongest since "Once and Again" in 1999.
Elsewhere on the final night of the sweep, Fox prevailed in adults 18-49 and other demos with "American Idol" (8.5/22 in 18-49, 19.31m), "The OC" (4.7/12 in 18-49, 10.27m) and "That '70s Show" (4.5/13 in 18-49, 9.69m).
"Idol" again dominated at 8:30 but drew its lowest 18-49 result of the season. Although season averages remain up nicely over last year, Wednesday marked the first time that "Idol's" 18-49 rating was lower than the parallel night of a year ago (8.6).
For the sweep, Fox's three nights of "American Idol" this week enabled it to pull into the second-place tie with CBS (4.2/11). ABC again finished fourth (3.6/10), down 10% year-to-year.
For NBC, which was overtaken by "Joe Millionaire"-led Fox last year, its 4.8 rating easily led the pack in 18-49, while its 5.4 rating in adults 25-54 was enough to edge out CBS (5.2). Fox's late surge put it on top in adults 18-34 (4.2/13 to NBC's 4.1/13), while it cruised among persons 12-34 (4.3/13) and teens (4.3/14).
The WB (1.8/5) squeaked past UPN (1.7/5) for fifth place in adults 18-34 one year after the Frog led convincingly (2.3/6 vs. 1.6/4).
Among series, NBC's "Friends" and Fox's Tuesday edition of "American Idol" tied for the sweep lead in adults 18-49 (11.1 rating). CBS drama "CSI" was the most-watched program overall (29.8 million).
