Miss Universe is Dying

We have to admit that Miss Universe is slowly losing its prime and is diving at the ratings game.

Here is a report Tony Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine:

Miss Universe Stumbles with Viewers in USA
By Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine
Jul 14, 2008

Miss USA wasn’t the only one to stumble last night. NBC’s “Miss Universe” pageant took a fall as well, down 9 percent from last year and likely earning its lowest-rating ever, though it still won its timeslot.

“Universe” averaged a 4.1 household rating from 9 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off from last year’s previous all-time low, a 4.5. Among viewers 18-49, the year-to-year dip was even steeper, 20 percent, from a 2.5 to a 2.0.

But a decline was probably to be expected after the pageant was moved from late May to early July, when TV viewing levels are well off from the end of May sweeps. That left “Universe” without a strong promotional platform, on a night where the networks have been posting low ratings throughout the summer.

The show wasn’t helped by its very low-rated lead-ins, a Jim Cramer special at 7 p.m. that drew a mere 0.4 and a repeat of “America’s Got Talent” that averaged a 1.1 at 8 p.m.

Still, “Universe” won its two-hour timeslot in households, barely outdrawing CBS’s 3.8. It was also tops in total viewers (6.6 million), adults 25-54 and women 18-49.

Miss Venezuela took the crown in the Donald Trump-owned pageant, but it was Miss USA, Crystle Stewart, who attracted much of the attention today. She tripped during the evening gown competition, marking the second straight year a Miss USA has done so.