By the numbers: The latest soap opera ratings
In this section, you will be able to check out the latest soap opera ratings in a variety of areas. First, the industry's measure is the Nielsen ratings system. These numbers are used to rank the various soap operas and the numbers determine how much a show can command for advertising. Each ratings point equals 1,149,000 viewers (so a 2.0 rating means that about 2.3 million people viewed that program).
Please note that these ratings figures only pertain to those viewers watching the first-run daytime airings of each soap. Internet broadcasts and SOAPnet broadcasts are not counted in these figures.
The Trend column shows the overall ratings trend over the past four weeks. Reading from the left, the symbols represent this week's change, the previous week's change and so on. + indicates ratings growth. - indicates ratings decline. = indicates no change.
The Nielsen Ratings
by Dan J Kroll
For the Week of October 24, 2011
 | | This | | Last | | Program Name | Rating | | +/- | | Trend | |
|
| | 01 | | 01 | | The Young and the Restless | 3.4 | | +0.1 | | = | |
|
| | 02 | | 02 | | The Bold and the Beautiful | 2.4 | | +0.1 | | = | |
|
| | 03 | | 03 | | One Life to Live | 1.9 | | +0.0 | | + | |
|
| | 04 | | 04 | | General Hospital | 1.8 | | -0.01 | | = | |
|
| | 05 | | 05 | | Days of our Lives | 1.7 | | -0.1 | | = | |
|
Following is a breakdown of the overall ratings averages for each of the three networks. The average is obtained by adding the ratings for each of the soaps on a given network and then dividing that total by the number of soaps on that network.
Also provided is a cumulative total of the ratings for each of the soaps currently on the air. The ratings for each of the soaps are added together to reach an overall total. Then, an average is obtained by dividing that total by the total number of soaps currently on the air.
| Average Rating By Network | ||
| ABC
1.85 +0.07 from last week | CBS
2.90 -0.06 from last week | NBC
1.70 +.000 from last week |
| By the Numbers | |
| Total Ratings for All Shows
11.2 +0.20 from last week | Average Rating
2.24 +0.04 from last week |
