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Sarah Palin may not be as big or as popular in Western New York as the cable network TLC believes.
Buffalo was one of eight markets that got an advance theater screening of the new TLC reality series, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.”
But when the premiere of the reality show starring the former Republican vice presidential candidate and her family made it to cable at 9 p.m. Sunday it “only” received a 2.6 local rating. The repeat on Monday had a 1.5 rating. A rating point equals about 6,300 households here.
While I wrote “only” a 2.6, those are very good numbers here for TLC. However, the local rating was about 30 percent lower than the 3.5 household rating the premiere received nationally.
The 2.6 rating also is about one-third lower than the premiere of Conan O’Brien’s talk show on TBS had six nights earlier. Naturally, Palin’s rating also is a fraction of what the prime time network shows received here Sunday night. That was expected.
Palin’s show attracted almost 5 million viewers nationally, setting a TLC record for a series debut. According to national reports, Palin’s series was more popular with older viewers than the 18 through 49 viewers that advertisers crave.
Of course, older viewers may also have more money for travel, which could make them more likely visitors to Alaska, a state whose spectacular scenery was the best part of Palin’s show.
While many are already proclaiming the series a hit, experts will look at the drop-off for this Sunday’s episode two from the premiere, which wasn’t exactly exciting and was critically-panned in many quarters.
As usual, Palin (see above) can laugh at her critics all the way to the bank. She reportedly is making $250,000 per episode.
Alan Pergament was the television critic for The Buffalo News for 28 years. He currently is an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College and Medaille College, teaching courses in communications. He also writes a monthly column on the media for Buffalo Spree magazine.
I spent three years in central Alaska, which is somewhat like Palin: attractive, brute dumb, murderous, and indifferent to suffering.
Great remarks. Watched her once out of curiousity. That voice: like fingernails on chalkboard.
What, no “Dancing with the Stars” Bristol Palin surprise/upset commentary? Alan, that’s all people talked about Wednesday after Palin garnered enough votes to beat out singer/actress Brandy Norwood. Major surprise shocker.