DVRs help erase decline in TV ratings

TV viewers' stalling tactics signal a brighter ratings picture for the first week of the new season. Nielsen data for premiere week, out for the week ending Sept. 29, shows 12 network series gained at least 4 million viewers between their original air dates and seven days later, from delayed viewing on digital video recorders or on-demand features of cable systems.

During 2012’s premiere week, only two shows achieved that lift. Though growth among homes with DVRs has slowed -- 48% now have them -- delayed-viewing activity is "significantly higher" than 2012, says CBS research chief David Poltrack. The gains are steepest among older folks slower to adopt the technology. "The world has definitely changed." The gains in catch-up viewing spells relief for programmers, because it erases year-to-year declines for all four major networks based solely on same-day viewing.