'Idol' Tops Optimedia's Three-Screen Ratings

The top show on television remains the top show in Optimedia US’ Content Power Ratings 3.0, which ranks network and cable shows across TV, Internet and mobile platforms, as American Idol continued to lead the field.  The ranking factors in total cross-platform audience size and advocacy and involvement of audiences to a particular show.

This year, the study added Facebook fan count and Nielsen BuzzMetrics, which quantify different aspects of digital activity, such as the number of fans a program has on the social networking site and the kind of conversations on blogs and chat rooms related to those shows.  Fox drama House leads the way with the most Facebook fans, while ABC’s Lost leads for online buzz, according to BuzzMetrics.

“As viewers’ habits shift, current TV metrics systems do not take into account the importance of engagement and audience participation,” said Optimedia US Executive VP, Business Development Director Greg Kahn, in a statement.  “Shows such as Glee and True Blood benefit from higher viewer involvement–whether on Facebook or Twitter–and therefore help to generate greater audience value than their TV ratings alone would suggest.”

Social media darling Glee was the top newcomer on the CPR 3.0 list, checking in at no. 9 on the chart.  Premium cable show True Blood (HBO) was the top cable program, debuting on the list at no. 18.  Showtime’s Dexter was no. 2 among cable shows.

Of shows considered on the bubble, Heroes (no. 11) was the highest rated.  The comedy genre performed well overall, with Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory all cracking the top 25.