The Challenge: Rivals - Ratings

Ah for some reason I thought we hit a 1.4 a couple weeks ago. Well I am happier to hear that 1.3 is the highest of a show since the Ruins. That's great news. I still have hope of a renewal!

maybe they would get better ratings if they stopped bringing in all the same people. I mean instead of Kenny, and others who were never one Real World/Road Rules etc bring in some of the newer people or a least try.

[quote]MTV’s “The Challenge: Rivals” delivers its largest audience in more than two years Tune in for “The Challenge: Rivals” Finale on Wednesday, August 24th At 10PM ET/PT New York, NY – August 11, 2011 – Last night MTV drew the largest P12-34 audience of any cable network during the 10 PM hour thanks to “The Challenge: Rivals,” which posted a season-best 2.0 P12-34 rating. Over two million total viewers tuned in to last night’s episode, making it the most-watched “Challenge” telecast in more than two years. Through eight weeks, “The Challenge: Rivals” is averaging a 1.6 rating, up +14% from last season. “The Challenge: Rivals” is Wednesday’s #1 original cable series with P12-34 and averages over 1.7 million total viewers each week. Source: The Nielsen Company. Live+SD P12-34 coverage ratings. “The Challenge: Rivals” premiere telecasts (6/22/11-08/10/11). Most-watched = total viewers (2.057 million). Most-watched telecast since “Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel II” (6/10/09; 2.188 million). Time period rank based on P12-34 impressions.[/quote]From tvbythenumbers

That's pretty good. I don't know what else mtv is looking for. Not alot of shows on MTV are doing well rating wise anyways. Aren't the challenges one of their higher rated shows anyways. Teen Mom, Jersey Shore...what else? I don't really watch MTV like that.

[QUOTE=Nightwolf;269704]From tvbythenumbers[/QUOTE] Now THAT'S what I want to see!!!!

[QUOTE=DCLJulia;269699]maybe they would get better ratings if they stopped bringing in all the same people. I mean instead of Kenny, and others who were never one Real World/Road Rules etc bring in some of the newer people or a least try.[/QUOTE] Ya but Kenny is the most entertaining and brings the best sound bytes, why would you take away one of the most consitantly entertaining cast memebers?

[QUOTE=RWRRULES;269753]Ya but Kenny is the most entertaining and brings the best sound bytes, why would you take away one of the most consitantly entertaining cast memebers?[/QUOTE] That's a matter of opinion... Out of Kenny's 8 challenge appearances, I've only maybe found 2 or 3 things about him entertaining, and that's being generous. I know some people, who simply don't like him at all... Back in the day, people like Timmy were consistent in their entertainment, and he's done about half the amount of show's Kenny has, and his humor doesn't consist of a bunch of one liners cutting down other cast members, or reminding everyone how "beautiful/awesome/great" he is... One specific time I found Kenny interesting/entertaining was on Duel 1 when Tina didn't call his name during the elimination order. He said something like "I thought she and I were friends" or something like that. At that point he seemed genuine, and not desperate for camera time. I also think his feelings were legit hurt, which then reflected how he played the game from then on out. Hell he even voted his own team into an Exile in FM1... Sorry for the rant. But the series did great before Kenny, I'm sure it can after he is long gone.

I don't know if perhaps I misunderstood this, but during Katie's podcast, she asked Cara Maria what challenge she would like to see next. They discussed that and then Katie mentioned that there "Was going to be another show".

[QUOTE=Dash_Vegas!;269770]That's a matter of opinion... Out of Kenny's 8 challenge appearances, I've only maybe found 2 or 3 things about him entertaining, and that's being generous. I know some people, who simply don't like him at all... Back in the day, people like Timmy were consistent in their entertainment, and he's done about half the amount of show's Kenny has, and his humor doesn't consist of a bunch of one liners cutting down other cast members, or reminding everyone how "beautiful/awesome/great" he is... One specific time I found Kenny interesting/entertaining was on Duel 1 when Tina didn't call his name during the elimination order. He said something like "I thought she and I were friends" or something like that. At that point he seemed genuine, and not desperate for camera time. I also think his feelings were legit hurt, which then reflected how he played the game from then on out. Hell he even voted his own team into an Exile in FM1... Sorry for the rant. But the series did great before Kenny, I'm sure it can after he is long gone.[/QUOTE] agreed, I miss the cast memebers like Timmy, etc. Don't get me wrong I like Johnny, Kenny, and Evan, but they all seem fake at times. I think Johnny seems the most real at times and not acting for camera, but that could be because he was on real world. Kenny and Evan weren't/ I say take away some of these fresh meat weird people and just have road rules/real world people.

[QUOTE=McFly High;269708]That's pretty good. I don't know what else mtv is looking for. Not alot of shows on MTV are doing well rating wise anyways. Aren't the challenges one of their higher rated shows anyways. Teen Mom, Jersey Shore...what else? I don't really watch MTV like that.[/QUOTE] I'm kind of inclined to agree with this. This challenge has been picking up steam from that past couple. The challenges have never really been MTV's #1 show. Right now Teen Mom and Jersey Shore are beating them. In the past it was The Hills, Laguna Beach, The Newlyweds, The Osbournes, etc. We can hope that ratings go up from here, but I wouldn't expect too much more.

[QUOTE=Euroslavia;269784]I don't know if perhaps I misunderstood this, but during Katie's podcast, she asked Cara Maria what challenge she would like to see next. They discussed that and then Katie mentioned that there "Was going to be another show".[/QUOTE] You misunderstood her, she was asking CM what type of challenge would she want (i.e Ruins 2, Duel 3) then she added "if there were going to be another one".

I think the challenges will be renewed just based on how contestants talk about it.

[QUOTE=jesses_girl;269803]You misunderstood her, she was asking CM what type of challenge would she want (i.e Ruins 2, Duel 3) then she added "if there were going to be another one".[/QUOTE] Ah, I swear I heard her say differently. My bad. Thank you.

I've been looking into ratings for the past couple of years now and those ratings are definitely renewable but there's a lot of things to take into account. Like maybe MTV didn't plan on renewing it and already are planning on putting a new different show in the Wednesday timeslot. Even though I'm 75% sure the challenges should be renewed, but you never know.

[QUOTE=LaneV95;269832]I've been looking into ratings for the past couple of years now and those ratings are definitely renewable but there's a lot of things to take into account. Like maybe MTV didn't plan on renewing it and already are planning on putting a new different show in the Wednesday timeslot. Even though I'm 75% sure the challenges should be renewed, but you never know.[/QUOTE] They just gave Teen Wolf the go ahead for a second season and they have been pushing that show on viewers over Rivals. Not sure it proves anything, but it may be evidence of something.

[QUOTE=TSPKM2;269809]I think the challenges will be renewed just based on how contestants talk about it.[/QUOTE]Katie and Cara Maria both said they have heard nothing about the challenge being renewed on their web chat today, which has me quite nervous.

[QUOTE=DCLJulia;269699]maybe they would get better ratings if they stopped bringing in all the same people. I mean instead of Kenny, and others who were never one Real World/Road Rules etc bring in some of the newer people or a least try.[/QUOTE] I'm sure they don't call in random people, if they ask Kenny every season it is because he's popular. And now that he does the Jersey Shore aftershow more people will know him, so if they're zapping channels and see Kenny come by during a challenge, they might watch it, you never know.

I have this gut feeling that the show might be canceled but I hope I am wrong

[QUOTE=Skeet;269876]I'm sure they don't call in random people, if they ask Kenny every season it is because he's popular. And now that he does the Jersey Shore aftershow more people will know him, so if they're zapping channels and see Kenny come by during a challenge, they might watch it, you never know.[/QUOTE] Well, I don't mean random. People, just no more people that haven't been on real world or road rules. Well we are in luck maybe with him doing jersey shore after show he will be more famous and not come on again

I'm sure there are other factors and I may have biased tunnel vision but to me there's one distinct different between this season and the seasons over the last two years: the amount of JEK airtime. JEK are just supporting players this season and rightfully so. They may have great one liners but you can't build a storyline around them. The only JEK storyline I think is memorable is the Kenny/Wes/Johanna triangle. I think the increase in ratings is due to the fact that the producers have build up storylines viewers can sink their teeth into: Cara Maria and Laurel, CT and Adam, the rookies.

I think the increase in ratings is because it follows on a popular season of the RW, is on when the newest season of Jersey Shore is on, and because there is little else new on this summer that hits the same demographic.

[QUOTE=eggs78;269910]I'm sure there are other factors and I may have biased tunnel vision but to me there's one distinct different between this season and the seasons over the last two years: the amount of JEK airtime. JEK are just supporting players this season and rightfully so. They may have great one liners but you can't build a storyline around them. The only JEK storyline I think is memorable is the Kenny/Wes/Johanna triangle. I think the increase in ratings is due to the fact that the producers have build up storylines viewers can sink their teeth into: Cara Maria and Laurel, CT and Adam, the rookies.[/QUOTE] I'm not sure if that was a conscious decision of production. They clearly like JEK (mostly Evan and Kenny it seems from what they've said of the discussions they have with production) or else they wouldn't keep inviting them back. On this challenge Evan wanted to go home, Kenny said he hated it and moped the whole time, and Johnny was still Johnny just not as obnoxious about it. Had they given production something to work with I'm sure they would've rather centered something around them, who have proven popularity (or notoriety) among fans, rather than someone like Mandi. Johnny said on Derrick's podcast that there was no need for any of them to act out or be ***** to anyone because they had the game locked from day one. The people that tend to make waves and go crazy are those that are upset about their standing in the game, and none of them were.

The ratings spikes coincide with the Miz hosting the Aftershows (ep.6 - 1.2 A18-49; ep.8 - 1.3 A18-49), and falling back (ep.7 - 0.9 A18-49) when there is no Aftershow. Obviously correlation is not causation, but it's one possible explanation or contributing factor. Maybe he is pulling in a small fraction of his pro wrestling audience to the challenges?

Or they just do an aftershow for the good episodes?

[QUOTE=JL81790;269918]I'm not sure if that was a conscious decision of production. [/QUOTE] Whether it's a conscious decision or not, I don't think it's a coincidence that the ratings have increased for that one season where JEK airtime dropped. [QUOTE=JL81790;269918] Had they given production something to work with I'm sure they would've rather centered something around them, who have proven popularity (or notoriety) among fans, rather than someone like Mandi.[/QUOTE] See I don't think they're popular. The fact that ratings are increasing instead of dropping now that we see less of them is proof that the audience is tired of them. I think production made the mistake of trying to shove them down people's throats these past two years which has led to the predicament the show is in now. [QUOTE=Skeet;269931]Or they just do an aftershow for the good episodes?[/QUOTE] I agree. It really does matter who hosts the aftershow. The ratings are due to well-edited episodes centered around great storylines instead of JEK one-liners.

[QUOTE=eggs78;269949]Whether it's a conscious decision or not, I don't think it's a coincidence that the ratings have increased for that one season where JEK airtime dropped. See I don't think they're popular. The fact that ratings are increasing instead of dropping now that we see less of them is proof that the audience is tired of them. I think production made the mistake of trying to shove them down people's throats these past two years which has led to the predicament the show is in now..[/QUOTE] I think this is your bias talking. I think for every anti-JEK person out there you'll find a pro JEK person. If no one wanted to see them they wouldn't be asking them back EVERY time. MTV and Bunim Murray aren't in it to just put up their personal favorites in each challenge so there has to be some large fan base for those three that they keep being asked. And if its the case that people are only watching for the fact that different people are the focal point, then they aren't watching for the challenge itself. I say this because this challenge more than any other was tailored for JEK to win. Almost every strong ally that they've had in the past four seasons aside from Derrick is on this challenge. I could've predicted the final three female teams upon seeing the cast list (I won't comment on the male side because I've read spoilers and this is not the thread for that). In terms of the challenge itself this has probably been the most monotonous one in a LONG time. The only shocks have been how long J/J and MikeRoy stayed. I personally am not watching just to see people ***** and moan that I've never seen ***** and moan before. If anything, I'd rather watch the people I know and like ***** and moan than someone who's been a "background character" like Mandi until now.

There are way toooooo many variables to attribute a ratings increase or decrease to any one thing or five things really absent some major event/scandal.

Possibly relevant: MTV canceled The Hard Times of RJ Berger today. I know a lot of people here questioned its renewal after a poorly rated first season.

I disagree with a lot of the comments here. I really get tired of seeing JEK... no that's not right. I actual do enjoy seeing them. I get tired of seeing them run every show they get on. Regardless of how much they **** me off people LOVE them. Go to MTV.com and look at he comments. JEK has a huge portion of female viewers watching. My favorite challenge in a long time was Cutthroat becasue of the concept. JEK was nowhere to be seen on there. They only had Johnny and that show did poorly. Brad and Tori were pretty much the villains and people didn't tune in. I think the concept of Rivals has a lot of people interested. Long time fans of the show get some favorites and new fans from the latest Real World get to see Leroy, Mike, and Adam. Personally I felt like this season was centered around CT and Adam and they have a lot of history long time viewers know about. I don't know what makes people watch these things and what makes them not watch. For me, it's all about the crazy competitions and people pulling of miracles. I love seeing empires like JEK crumble or people getting laid out in a physical challenge. At the end of the day I enjoy seeing these familiar faces throw down and compete. My biggest problem with Rivals is the actual challenges. A lot of them don't even require team work. I don't know if any of them required any head to head situations. That really bums me out. My dream challenge would be one where there is no voting, at least not in the sine where votes can be manipulated like they always are. As far as challenges go, I want most of them to be a direct competition. I'm tired of all this water stuff

[QUOTE=jr588;270019]Possibly relevant: MTV canceled The Hard Times of RJ Berger today. I know a lot of people here questioned its renewal after a poorly rated first season.[/QUOTE] If they announced that they cancelled RJ Berger but didn't mention The Challenge, that almost certainly means no decision has been made. MTV historically has announced cancellations in bunches.