How glued are viewers’ eyes to the TV screen? 2024 Summer Drama “Attention Rate Rankings”

“Unexpected highs and lows” are clearly defined!

Over a month has passed since the start of the summer dramas. In the ranking based on the investigation of how well viewers are watching the TV screen, called “Attention Rate,” unexpected highs and lows are clearly visible! Works featuring popular actors like Ren Meguro (27) from “Snow Man” and Kazunari Ninomiya (41) from “Arashi” have been surpassed, with late-night shows dominating the top spots.

The subjects include the first episodes of 33 dramas from private key stations that started in July (including some that began in June). The investigation was conducted by the TV viewing data analysis company “REVISION” (hereafter referred to as Company R). Based on Company R’s data, the top 30 attention rates for the summer dramas are ranked in the table on pages 29-30. Before discussing individual works and overall trends, I would like to explain the method of measuring attention, which is completely different from viewer ratings. This is explained by Saori Yasutake, the PR/Marketing representative of Company R.

“Attention is measured by how glued viewers’ eyes are to the TV screen. Sensors are installed on televisions in general households to measure whether viewers’ body structure is facing the screen. If 70 out of 100 people in front of the TV are watching the screen, the attention rate is 70%. When viewers are engaged in other tasks while watching, known as ‘background watching,’ they often aren’t looking at the TV screen, so even if the ratings are high, the attention rate doesn’t increase. The ratings listed in the table were also researched independently by our company. Currently, we have approximately 2,600 households (about 6,300 people) participating in the Kanto and Kansai regions.”

Let’s take a look at the individual rankings.

1st place: “I Will Live-Stream Your Revenge!” (TV Asahi)
2nd place: “Mass-Produced Riko” (TV Tokyo)

The top two spots are both occupied by late-night dramas. While the ratings are low, at under 1%, their attention rates overwhelmingly surpass others. Yasutake continues.

“‘I Will Live-Stream Your Revenge!’ features former announcer and comedian Shinji Nishimura (40) from the duo ‘Cotton,’ who dramatically punishes societal evils while live-commentating. ‘Mass-Produced Riko’ follows Yuuki Yoda (24) from ‘Nogizaka46’ as she takes over her deceased grandfather’s model-making. Both shows air in the late-night slot, with ‘I Will Live-Stream Your Revenge!’ starting as late as 3am Many other stations air shopping programs, so viewers flipping through channels are likely drawn to these easily understandable contents. Perhaps they resonate with late-night commuters like salarymen and students, which is evident in the high male attention rates, placing them at 2nd and 4th. The popular idol Yoda’s leading role in ‘Mass-Produced Riko’ has garnered overwhelming support from young men under 24.”

“Sense of Continuity from the Previous Work”

In third place is “Mountain Doctor,” starring Yosuke Sugino (28) on Fuji TV. Taichi Aoyagi from Company R’s Customer Success team provides an explanation.

“Typically, there is a gap of about 2-3 weeks between the end of a previous season’s drama and the start of new ones. However, this time, due to the impact of the Paris Olympics, many new shows aired immediately with little delay, creating a strong sense of continuity from the previous work. ‘Mountain Doctor’ benefited from this. Many female viewers who were captivated by the previous season’s ‘Unmet: A Neurosurgeon’s Diary’ (starring Hana Sugisaki) continued to watch the same time slot (with female attention ranking at 3rd). Although ‘Mountain Doctor’ is also a medical drama, its focus on mountain medicine, which is rarely covered, added a freshness.”

In fourth place is “GO HOME,” starring Fuka Koshiba (27), and in fifth place is “Geeks,” featuring three lead actresses, both of which are police dramas.

“Even though they are police dramas, the content is not heavy; the light and straightforward stories likely contribute to their high attention rates. For example, in ‘Geeks,’ when Mayu Matsuoka (29), Minami Tanaka (37), and Karen Takizawa (32) are having a chat, the case is resolved before you know it. This relaxed viewing experience is well-received,” says Yasutake.

Interestingly, while “Black Pean 2” (TBS, attention rate 8th) and “The Beginning of the Sea” (Fuji TV, 12th) hold the top two spots in viewer ratings, they seem to be struggling a bit. Each stars popular actors Kazunari Ninomiya and Ren Meguro, focusing on themes of cardiac surgery and fatherhood. Entertainment reporter Masako Hasegawa analyzes the two works.

“Nowadays, ‘fast viewing,’ where dramas are watched at 2-3 times the normal speed, is trending. One-episode stories and quick, thrilling developments resonate well with viewers. On the other hand, ‘Black Pean 2’ has many foreshadowing elements and a complex narrative, while ‘The Beginning of the Sea’ involves interpreting emotional nuances from Meguro’s lines, which may be challenging for some viewers to follow.”

It seems that attention rates can greatly differ based on whether the developments are light or heavy, not just the themes themselves.

From the September 20, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY.’