Charlie Rose Show ratings unchanged when network accidentally airs footage of empty set.

NEW YORK - PBS Producers inadvertantly aired several episodes of the Charlie Rose Show when the set was empty. The low cost show is considered by many to be an unusually boring broadcast characterized by low energy, no background, and a colorless set design. Recent Neilson ratings indicated no change in the show's viewership after PBS left the cameras rolling and accidentally aired several half-hour episodes featuring a completely empty set. Focus group testing revealed viewers could not discern any difference between the empty set and the normal configuration of the motionless host and boring guest. This surprise finding prompted PBS producers to improve the show's appeal with options such as a CNN style news ticker which will initially appear in gray for budget reasons.