Summer is no scorcher for networks

This is one summer the network executives won’t be sorry to see end.

Despite broadcasters’ endless promises of “year-round programming” that can stave off inroads from basic cable, the networks are wrapping up one of their least memorable summers in recent history, at least in terms of ratings.

The most-watched original series was NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” an amateur contest hosted by Regis Philbin, which averaged 10.9 million viewers over nine airings, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.

If that figure sounds a little low for a market leader, it is.

Compare it with ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” the reality competition that became a surprise hit a year ago, averaging 16.8 million total viewers.

Indeed, since ABC’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” became a sleeper hit during the summer of 1999, the hot months have typically delivered at least one new show that did so well it got promoted to the regular season. Successful summer alumni include Fox’s “American Idol,” CBS’ “Survivor” and, of course, “Dancing.”

But networks are suffering a Mojave-like drought this year. Among the casualties: NBC’s drama “Windfall” (5.4 million), ABC’s “Master of Champions” (5 million) and “How to Get the Guy” (3.7 million), and CBS’ “Tuesday Night Book Club” (4.6 million). Then there was ABC’s “The One: Making a Music Star,” an “Idol”-”Big Brother” hybrid that set network records for low ratings, averaging 2.8 million viewers.

Among the ad-friendly demographic of viewers ages 18 to 49, Fox did somewhat better; its reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” led the category with a 3.9 rating/11 share (9.6 million total). But even that was way down compared with last year’s “Dancing,” which logged a 5.1 rating/15 share.

Of course, networks don’t devote nearly as much attention to the summer as they do the regular September-May season. But the bad news for the broadcasters was that during their summer of discontent, basic cable just got stronger.

Take, for example, TNT’s cop drama “The Closer,” which hit a basic cable record when 8.2 million viewers showed up for its second-season premiere back in June.

Channel Island is a blog about the television industry. For the latest posting, go to latimes.com/channelisland. Contact reporter Scott Collins at channelisland@latimes.com.