The Associated Press reports that the week of July 4th was the worst ever for broadcast television. ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox averaged just 20.8 viewers per prime-time minute, a stat that beat the old record set in July of 2005. Even though the TV industry has mightily tried to explain it away, it's not all the surprising considering that only one in four young people can name the four major networks.

The top 10 shows watched were:

1. "America's Got Talent," NBC, 12.03 million
2. "So You Think You Can Dance" (Wednesday), Fox, 9.78 million
3. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (Thursday, 10 p.m.), CBS, 9.7 million
4. "60 Minutes," CBS, 9.11 million
5. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," NBC, 8.86 million
6. "So You Think You Can Dance" (Thursday), Fox, 8.85 million
7. "Cold Case," CBS, 8.82 million
8. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 8.66 million
9. "CSI: Miami," (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.), CBS, 8.22 million
10. "Law & Order," NBC, 8.16 million

Of course, considering the innaccuracy of the way ratings are calculated who the heck knows if these numbers are even close to reality? Personally, I didn't watch any of 'em.

Labels: Old Media Deathwatch