Jalopnik: ratings

NBC Cuts Top Gear USA Due To Knight Rider Failure

Andrew Didorosi — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:17:13 EST

Due to the failure of Knight Rider and expected production costs, NBC has decided to pass on Top Gear USA. The BBC's shopping the US rendition of the hit show to interested cable outlets.

Although the Top Gear website's claiming they took a pass on the Peacock, our sources at both NBC and the BBC tell us the brightly-colored feathered network passed on an opportunity to tie up the show after the failure of the new Knight Rider series and expected high production costs associated with the show.

So, rather than tie up the franchise with a deal or an extension, they've cut Top Gear USA free to search for a new home. Top Gear's website claims interested parties are available on cable and to expect a deal shortly. We remain hopeful they'll be able to find a backer with enough money on hand to really do the show right.

[Top Gear USA]

Top Gear Australia's Ratings Slump Despite Holden Vs. Ford Shootout

Mark Arnold — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:43:00 EDT

If we lived down under, we would have tuned in to SBS on Monday at 7:30 to watch the Top Gear Australia shootout between the iconic Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon...but we don't. Watch the clip and judge for yourself, but we think that even though it may not be quite as polished as the UK original, this segment wasn't all that bad. So why did the ratings for this second episode drop off significantly from the series premiere's, even though they were actually expected to go up?

About 674,000 viewers watched episode 2, which was about 250,000 fewer than the first episode. Even worse, it was the least-watched show in its time slot, and only the 26th most-watched show of the whole night. Nonetheless, everyone feels the new Top Gear still has potential to improve. After all, the first season with Clarkson at the helm of the BBC show wasn't amazing either. [TheAge, YouTube] (Thanks Brett!)

Breaking! DaimlerChrysler Gets The Thumbs Up-Grade From Dresdner Kleinwort

Ray Wert — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:31:16 EDT

Ja, the London and Frankfurt based investment bank has given a big thumbs up to DaimlerChrysler and moved them from the "Add" to "Buy" category. But at the same time, the article on the news is somewhat interesting:

"The target price has been reduced from 52 to 49...the analysts mention that...although Chrysler is likely to post losses in 2Q and 3Q, the volatility in its inventory appears temporary, the analysts say. Chrysler is poised to benefit from its new Minivan and Jeep models from 4Q onwards, Dresdner Kleinwort adds. Chrysler's implicit current value does not reflect the unit's potential, according to the analysts."

So wait — they're going to lose money over the next two quarters, have some inventory volatility and you've lowered the price target — but models they've yet to release will make them money and we should consider investing? This makes sense how?

DaimlerChrysler upgraded to "buy" [newratings.com]

Breaking! Banc Of America Gushes Love All Over GM, Ups Rating To "Neutral"

Ray Wert — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 10:18:08 EDT

While the parties involved talk about whether they'll talk, Banc of America's taking a big step forward and raising their rating on General Motors from "sell" to "neutral." The investment bank's dropping all their chips on black and praying a GM/Renault-Nissan partnership will take place. Well...it's really their clients chips...so we guess it's not that big a risk for them. Anyway, it worked — GM's up $0.53 on the news.

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Gain; GM, Citigroup Climb in Europe [Bloomberg]

Related:
Deustche Bank: Sell Deine GM! [internal]

Lincoln Tops Dealer Service Satisfaction List

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 17:56:54 EDT

Honest Abe would surely give his namesake auto brand a crisp five-spot for its customer- service performance. According to JD Power and Associates (yes, them again), Lincoln owners who brought their new cars in for service within the first three years topped the list of most satisfied with their dealer service experience. It's the first time a domestic brand has won top honors two years in a row. And you know Lincoln owners know from whence they speak, considering many of them own Navigators. (Just to be fair, the LT and Town Car have much more solid reputations. Mom, stop looking over my shoulder.)

Lincoln dealers No. 1 in service [The Detroit News]