News From The Networks

• Variety's Rick Kissell has written an article on the May sweeps performance by the six national networks in the United States. The truly big ratings were of course for major networks such as ABC and NBC, but UPN is also doing extremely well, showing great improvements over last season. As a matter of fact, together with 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' network ABC, UPN is one of only two networks to show increases ratings this season. Here are the numbers:
  • In the adults 18-49 demographic, UPN scored an average rating of 1.7 / 5 share from the start of May through Monday the 15th of May. This is an increase of 55% over last year, and gives UPN better ratings than archrival WB, which scored a 1.4/4 (down 18%).
    
  • In total viewers, UPN increased by 51% to 4.16 million, again beating the WB's 3.32 million (down 23%).
    
  • The ratings increase was even bigger last week, when UPN again scored a 1.7/5, which was an enourmous 70% increase over the same week last year.

  UPN was able to achieve this ratings rise thanks to 'WWF Smackdown!', and, amazingly, 'Star Trek: Voyager'! Last Wednesday's 'Life Line' gave the show its best ratings since 'Tsunkatse' on the 9th of February, scoring a 3.1/8 in the important adults 18-49 timeslot, with a total of 5.53 million viewers. Kissell's full ratings report can be found here.

• According to a report on UltimateTV, CBS just announced its Fall 2000 television schedule. Next year, they'll be airing a CBS Wednesday Night Movie in the Wednesday 9:00pm timeslot, opposite 'Voyager'.

• UltimateTV is also reporting that the Sci-Fi Channel has cancelled 'Good vs. Evil' after one year on the air, due to very disappointing ratings. For the second half of its season, former Trek staff writer Ronald D. Moore acted as consultant for the show, and also wrote one episode of the series a few months ago.

• Section 31 is reporting that yesterday on his live radio show, Howard Stern commented on the current 'Voyager' season, saying it was "a good season overall". His news lady Robin Quivers concurred, and added her disappointment that there was only one year left for the show. Stern also said that he didn't care for 'The Muse', which he thought was a "horrible episode".

• And that same Howard Stern is apparently considering leaving his radio-show syndicator Viacom/CBS when his contract runs out later this year, according to this report on UltimateTV.

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