RATINGS RECAP: 10/3/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 The Neighbors
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 ABC News: Presidential Debate
N/A
10:30 ABC News: Post Debate Coverage
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:00 CBS News: Presidential Debate
N/A
10:30 CBS News: Post Debate Coverage
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 

NBC
8:00 Animal Practice
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 Guys with Kids
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 NBC News: Presidential Debate
N/A
10:30 NBC News: Post Debate Coverage
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8 

FOX
8:00 The X Factor
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
9:00 FOX News: Presidential Debate
N/A

The first presidential debate was viewed by 67 million viewers between broadcast networks and the cable networks. However, that meant that regular programming was limited. On ABC, The Middle fell apart in week two as it was down a huge 1.5 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo. For a fourth year show, this is a huge week two drop unless the fact that there wasn't a full comedy lineup meant people weren't even going to start it. The Neighbors moved to 8:30pm and had a horrifying 2.9 million viewer and 1.3 demo drop. The earlier timeslot can forgive some of the drop but it's already three tenths behind The Middle and that was lower than usual. CBS had Survivor before the debates and it was up a tenth in viewers and down a tenth in the demo.

On NBC, Animal Practice was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo to a low 1.3. Guys with Kids was dead even with last week. Though a 1.6 demo is low, the hold was good and it built by three tenths in the demo from its lead-in. I still think we'll see this paired with Whitney sooner rather than later. It has shown more potential than Animal Practice which I think will be a casualty soon. On FOX, The X Factor was up a tenth in both viewers and the demo.