Adult Swim draws more young men than ESPN and MTV

|Zach| · 03-01-2007, 04:21 PM

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/02/adult_swim.html

It's now a month past that ill-conceived Aqua Teen Hunger Force (pictured) marketing ploy-slash-terrorism hoax in Boston, and the ratings are in. ATHF's home base, the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim broke all sorts of cable records in February among young and male viewers. Moreover, it extended its streak as the top cable channel among men aged 18-24 to 23 months — yep, more cereal-eating, pot-smoking, dorm-living homebodies watch Adult Swim than tune in to outlets like ESPN or MTV. Dude!

Man. Oh, man. The spin machine would have you believe that this achievement is largely the product of Family Guy and Futurama marathons and of Nielsen Media Research's recent decision to include college students in its count. But is that all there is to it? Isn't it possible that the ATHF stunt sparked interest in a show and network that many people hadn't heard about? (I admit to having been one of them — it's been years since I didn't inhale/was in college/had no life).

To be fair and fully disclose: Turner Broadcasting, which owns the Cartoon Network (and is a part of EW.com parent Time Warner), paid a $2 million fine of sorts, and the channel's honcho resigned. But does all this still leave a bad taste in your mouth? And what do the higher ratings mean for the marketing mavens of the future, who may be looking at the Boston thing with a certain twisted admiration?

Stewie · 03-01-2007, 04:23 PM

I'm 41 and I watch that more than ESPN. Of course, I'm an insomniac, but it sure helps when Futurama, Family Guy, and ATHF are on in the middle of the night. I'm not into the anime stuff though.

**the Talking Can** · 03-01-2007, 04:23 PM

ATHF is the last thing I see before falling asleep at night....sweet dreams...

Direckshun · 03-01-2007, 04:24 PM

But not as many as Paris Hilton. ZING

jiveturkey · 03-01-2007, 04:28 PM

Some of the best shows on TV.

If they included farms where reeruns are allowed to roam freely MTV would have been on top. Maybe next year MTV.

Direckshun · 03-01-2007, 04:26 PM

Futurama ftw btw.

ChiefsCountry · 03-01-2007, 04:28 PM

I tune in to get Family Guy thats about it. The other shows I couldnt really get into.

**noa** · 03-01-2007, 04:30 PM

ESPN is too frustrating with the Coors this and Budweiser that and stupid movie promos tied to sports and over-hyping of everything. They are just another corporate tool. The only shows I like are College Gamenight, NFL Live (although I hate Sean Salisbury), and Baseball Tonight. I can't watch Sportscenter any more (I'd rather just go to ESPN.com), and I've always hated their reality shows and Around the Horn.

Adult Swim keeps it real, except I'm not into the whole anime thing.

boogblaster · 03-01-2007, 04:32 PM

ESPN isn't what it was ...

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-01-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogblaster

ESPN isn't what it was ...

early to mid 90's were awesome, but then Sportscenter went to shit with other guys trying to out do each other with generic "signature" catch phrases

ChiefsCountry · 03-01-2007, 04:33 PM

I only watch ESPN anymore just to catch live games, all the rest of the shows you can get all of that stuff on the internet.

BIG_DADDY · 03-01-2007, 04:36 PM

I'll remember to flip on ESPN the next time I get the urge to watch some sausage eating contest.

BIG_DADDY · 03-01-2007, 04:42 PM

ESPN's problem is they want to get paid for everything. With the new league specific channels available now there is no longer a reason to tune in with rare exceptions like X-Games. The fact that these idiots continue to ostracize MMA while forcing me to watch coverage of womens sports is just one more reason to find another channel to get my information from.

Fish · 03-01-2007, 04:38 PM

I haven't watched MTV since Beavis and Butthead went off the air....

BIG_DADDY · 03-01-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I haven't watched MTV since Beavis and Butthead went off the air....

That program ruled!!!! huh, huh, huhhhhhhhhh

03-01-2007, 04:21 PM	Topic Starter
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5276768	Adult Swim draws more young men than ESPN and MTV http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/02/adult_swim.html It's now a month past that ill-conceived Aqua Teen Hunger Force (pictured) marketing ploy-slash-terrorism hoax in Boston, and the ratings are in. ATHF's home base, the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim broke all sorts of cable records in February among young and male viewers. Moreover, it extended its streak as the top cable channel among men aged 18-24 to 23 months — yep, more cereal-eating, pot-smoking, dorm-living homebodies watch Adult Swim than tune in to outlets like ESPN or MTV. Dude! Man. Oh, man. The spin machine would have you believe that this achievement is largely the product of Family Guy and Futurama marathons and of Nielsen Media Research's recent decision to include college students in its count. But is that all there is to it? Isn't it possible that the ATHF stunt sparked interest in a show and network that many people hadn't heard about? (I admit to having been one of them — it's been years since I didn't inhale/was in college/had no life). To be fair and fully disclose: Turner Broadcasting, which owns the Cartoon Network (and is a part of EW.com parent Time Warner), paid a $2 million fine of sorts, and the channel's honcho resigned. But does all this still leave a bad taste in your mouth? And what do the higher ratings mean for the marketing mavens of the future, who may be looking at the Boston thing with a certain twisted admiration?
Posts: 53,446

03-01-2007, 04:23 PM	#2
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1839901	I'm 41 and I watch that more than ESPN. Of course, I'm an insomniac, but it sure helps when Futurama, Family Guy, and ATHF are on in the middle of the night. I'm not into the anime stuff though.
Posts: 13,619

03-01-2007, 04:23 PM	#3
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	ATHF is the last thing I see before falling asleep at night....sweet dreams... __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

03-01-2007, 04:24 PM	#4
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4313447	But not as many as Paris Hilton. ZING
Posts: 59,285

03-01-2007, 04:28 PM	#5
jiveturkey Captain Kick Ass Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $9305197	Some of the best shows on TV. If they included farms where reeruns are allowed to roam freely MTV would have been on top. Maybe next year MTV.
Posts: 5,781

03-01-2007, 04:26 PM	#6
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4313447	Futurama ftw btw.
Posts: 59,285

03-01-2007, 04:28 PM	#7
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2248752	I tune in to get Family Guy thats about it. The other shows I couldnt really get into.
Posts: 49,649

03-01-2007, 04:30 PM	#8
noa Band Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $1525453	ESPN is too frustrating with the Coors this and Budweiser that and stupid movie promos tied to sports and over-hyping of everything. They are just another corporate tool. The only shows I like are College Gamenight, NFL Live (although I hate Sean Salisbury), and Baseball Tonight. I can't watch Sportscenter any more (I'd rather just go to ESPN.com), and I've always hated their reality shows and Around the Horn. Adult Swim keeps it real, except I'm not into the whole anime thing. __________________ Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes, well, he eats you.
Posts: 8,302

03-01-2007, 04:32 PM	#9
boogblaster MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Verdigris Valley Campsite Casino cash: $10004900	ESPN isn't what it was ... __________________ WR or S please
Posts: 10,305

03-01-2007, 04:33 PM	#11
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2248752	I only watch ESPN anymore just to catch live games, all the rest of the shows you can get all of that stuff on the internet.
Posts: 49,649

03-01-2007, 04:36 PM	#12
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5028410	I'll remember to flip on ESPN the next time I get the urge to watch some sausage eating contest. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,384

03-01-2007, 04:42 PM	#13
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5028410	ESPN's problem is they want to get paid for everything. With the new league specific channels available now there is no longer a reason to tune in with rare exceptions like X-Games. The fact that these idiots continue to ostracize MMA while forcing me to watch coverage of womens sports is just one more reason to find another channel to get my information from. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,384

03-01-2007, 04:38 PM	#14
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2208919	I haven't watched MTV since Beavis and Butthead went off the air.... __________________
Posts: 47,541