Well, its that time of the year again – the time when all our favourite US shows return to US screens, and many new shows premiere. US 2011/2012 ratings season started Monday September 19 with most new and returning shows premiering in the week that follows.
For the full list of US show premiere dates, and when they will air here in Australia, click here for the all-essential guide.
From now until the end of the 2011 ratings season, we will keep track of which of the Australian networks are fast tracking what and how soon after their international premiere they air during the prime time hours of 6pm – midnight nightly. We will see how networks compare to each other using a points system, where points will accumulate on a weekly basis.
First for some rules. For the purposes of separating different degrees of fast tracking, and awarding points accordingly, there will be three categories.
The first will be called extreme fast tracking. Extreme fast tracking will be defined as a show airing here in Australia within 24 hours of its US air time. Due to the time difference, this generally will only apply to shows airing within a few hours of their US air time. Extreme fast tracking will be given 10 points.
Next category will be Regular fast tracking, which will be defined as shows airing up to 7 days after the US air time. Note – late night talk shows like Craig Ferguson, Letterman and Conan will not be included even though they regularly fit into this category. Regular fast tracking will attract 5 points.
Then, there is Slow fast tracking, for shows that air between 8 days and one month after their US air time. Two points for shows in this category.
Any show that airs more than a month after it does in the US will not be considered fast tracked at all.
If a show moves to a digital channel from the main channel, and still fits into any of the three fast track categories, the points for that show will start accumulating for the digital channel, not the main channel.
This post will be updated regularly as programming information is released. Initially, only the commercial networks are in the competition.
Updated October 13, 2011.
Extreme Fast Tracking.
Ten – 0
Nine – 1
Ten – Glee, Wed Sept 21, 8.30pm. US air time, Tue Sept 20, 8pm (Glee has a break of a few weeks in October, so will see what happens when it returns to Ten later)
Nine – Two and a Half Men, Tue Sept 20, 8.30pm. US air time, Mon Sept 19, 9.00pm
Regular Fast Tracking
Ten – 3
Nine – 5 (Nine 4, GO! 1)
Seven – 1
Ten – NCIS, Tue Sept 27, 8.30pm. US air time Tue Sept 20, 8.00pm
Ten – NCIS: LA Tue Sept 27, 9.30pm. US air time Tue Sept 20, 9.00pm
Ten – Terra Nova, Sunday Oct 2, 8.30pm. US air time, Mon Sept 26, 8.00pm
Nine – Person of Interest, Sun Sept 25, 9.30pm. US air time Thur Sept 22, 9.00pm
GO! – Charlie’s Angels, Tue Sept 27, 7.30pm. US air time Thur Sept 22, 8.00pm – moved to GO! for third episode.
Nine – CSI, Wed Sept 28, 8.30pm. US air time Wed Sept 21, 10.00pm
Nine – Prime Suspect, Wed Sept 28, 9.30pm. US air time Thur Sept 22, 9.00pm
Nine – Survivor South Pacific, Tue Sept 27, 9.30pm. US air time, Wed Sept 14, 8.00pm – The double episode on Tue Oct 4 means we move within 7 days of US air date.
Seven – The Amazing Race – we are now within 7 days of US air time.
Slow Fast Tracking
Nine – 4
Ten – 5 (Ten 3, ELEVEN 2)
Seven – 2
Nine – Unforgettable, Thur Oct 6, 8.30pm. US air time, Tue Spet 20, 10pm.
Nine – CSI: Miami, Mon Oct 3, 9.30pm. US air time, Sun Sept 25, 10pm
Nine – The Mentalist, Mon Oct 3, 8.30pm. US air time, Thur Sept 20, 10pm
Nine – The Big Bang Theory, Mon Oct 10, 7.30pm. US air time, Thur Sept 20, 8pm
Ten – Hawaii Five-O, Wed Sept 28, 9.30pm. US air time Mon Sept 19, 10.00pm
Ten – Ringer, Sun Oct 9, 9.30pm. US air time Sept 13, 9pm
Ten – House, Fri Oct 14, 8.30pm. US air date Mon Oct 3.
ELEVEN – Supernatural Mon Oct 3, 8.30pm. US air time Fri Sept 23
ELEVEN – The Cleveland Show Tue Oct 12, 9.30pm. US air time Sun Sept 25
Seven – Body of Proof Season 2, Mon Oct 3, 9pm. US air time Tue Sept 20, 10pm
Seven – The Amazing Race US, Thur Oct 6, 9.30pm. US air time Sun Sept 25, 8pm
Seven – Parenthood, Tue Oct 4, 9.30pm. US air time, Tue Sept 13, 10pm
The weekly tally.
Week 1. Sept 19-25, 2011
Extreme fast tracking – 10 points:
Ten 1, Nine 1, Seven 0
Regular fast tracking – 5 points
Ten 0, Nine 0, Seven 0
Slow fast tracking – 2 points
Ten 0, Nine 0, Seven 0
Total points for the week
Ten 10, Nine 10, Seven 0
Week 2. Sept 26-Oct 1, 2011
Extreme fast tracking – 10 points:
Ten 1, Nine 1, Seven 0
Regular fast tracking – 5 points
Ten 3, Nine 4, Seven 0
Slow fast tracking – 2 points
Ten 1, Nine 1, Seven 0
Total points for the week
Ten 27, Nine 32, Seven 0
Week 3. Oct 2-8, 2011
Extreme fast tracking – 10 points:
Ten 1, Nine 1, Seven 0
Regular fast tracking – 5 points
Ten 3, Nine 5, Seven 0
Slow fast tracking – 2 points
Ten 2 (Ten 1, ELEVEN 1), Nine 3, Seven 3
Total points for the week
Ten 29, Nine 41, Seven 6
Week 4. Oct 9-15, 2011
Extreme fast tracking – 10 points:
Ten 0, Nine 1, Seven 0
Regular fast tracking – 5 points
Ten 3, Nine 5 (Nine 4, GO! 1), Seven 1
Slow fast tracking – 2 points
Ten 5 (Ten 3, ELEVEN 2), Nine 4, Seven 2
Total points for the week
Ten 25, Nine 43, Seven 9
Week 5. Oct 16-22, 2011
Extreme fast tracking – 10 points:
Ten 0, Nine 1, Seven 0
Regular fast tracking – 5 points
Ten 3, Nine 5 (Nine 4, GO! 1), Seven 1
Slow fast tracking – 2 points
Ten 5 (Ten 3, ELEVEN 2), Nine 4, Seven 2
Total points for the week
Ten 25, Nine 43, Seven 9
Note that advanced programming weeks are subject to change. Information here is based on what is known as of the update date.
Cumulative points (adding up the weekly tallies)
1st place Nine 169 (Nine 159, GO! 10)
2nd place Ten 116 (Ten 106, ELEVEN 10)
3rd place Seven 24
If anyone has any comments about the above, please let me know – especially if you spot any variences or programming changes we may have missed that affect the outcome of this fast track competition.
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