ABC lied about LOST's 20 million viewers

I couldn't help noticing ABC's promos for LOST, crowing that 20 million people tuned in for the season premiere. 20 million would be quite a figure for a 5th season premiere. Is it true? A quick search proved otherwise:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/01/in-season-5-los.html

So how did ABC come up with 20 million? Perhaps they used some questionable arithmetic. Maybe they came up with 20 million by adding the totals of the three hours of Jan 21.

Suppose...

X would be the total audience for the 8 PM special.
Y would be the total audience for the 9 PM hour.
Z would be the total audience for the 10 PM hour.

X + Y + Z = 20 million

Is this how ABC computed 20 million? By counting the same people three times? Those rascals!

 

How many viewers did it lose between the first and second episodes ?

Both episodes were mediocre at best, especially considering Lost typically has a strong opener to every season.

 

Does it factor in DVR and internet stuff? Perhaps therein lies the rub.

 

LOST is the most DVR/TIVO show in America from what I've heard and the website viewings were a record high too.

 

The season premiere was replayed on Saturday night in my area. Perhaps folks tuned in for that as well?

 

I would guess they either added orig airing plus Sat night rerun, or they added the clip show's ratings to the premiere's ratings. Either way, dirty pool.

 

Repeat viewings shouldn't count but it wouldn't surprise me if they counted that as "viewers for the premiere episode."

 

Since it is one of the most time-shifted shows they may also be counting season 5 dvd viewings as well.

 

I think "the rub" also includes the huge dead gap from the end of the fourth season to the start of the fifth.

Unlike ye olden days, when most shows aired 24 or so episodes spread out over many months with a summer break and a return in September, the shorter Lost seasons that start in January and air without repeats results in a huge off-season.

People can't keep track of a complicated show like Lost, particularly when they are asked to wait about 9 months between seasons.

Thankfully, even low ratings won't get Lost cancelled.

 

I blame Benjamin Linus.

 

All true. My statement was more taking into account how ABC almost doubled the viewership numbers in their 20 Million claim, though.

You're right about the reasons for declining viewership, I think. Also that I don't give a shit because it's ending no matter what on its own terms.

I just wonder what sources they were compiling their numbers from though. For instance, I read over at DarkUFO that there were 2 Million downloads for the premiere on BitTorrent. Probably not something ABC is bragging about, but I think it lends some legitimacy to their claim. More than the stated 11 Million pairs of eyeballs saw Lost last week.

 

They definately factored in the DVR views.

 

Networks do this all the time.

For example, if episode one and two of a series each got 25 million viewers the promo would say "50 MILLION VIEWERS....."

 

Yeah, how do they know how many people are in my living room watching.

 

[John Locke] "DON'T TELL US HOW MANY VIEWERS WE CAN COUNT![/John Locke]

 

They should just say 100 million people watched it! I mean, why tell a small lie when a big one will do?