Fox projected to win November sweeps

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - For the first time in the network's history, Fox is projected to win the November sweeps -- and win big.

Thanks to a suspenseful World Series and the network's most stable fall lineup to date, Fox is averaging a 3.6 adult demographic rating for the month.

Not only is the network expected to retain its lead, but Fox projects that it will close the deal by the largest November sweeps victory margin in five years.

Fox is also up 20 percent from its November 2008 sweeps period and is the only network to post a gain. ABC is in second place with 3.1. CBS is a close third with 3.0, NBC is fourth with 2.6, and the CW has a 1.2. ABC is expected to come out on top if sports programing is excluded from the mix.

Aside from baseball, Fox's strengths this November were Sunday nights, where the network's animated lineup has been bolstered by the top-rated new scripted fall series ("Cleveland"), the performance of "House" on Mondays and the new pairing of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Glee" on Wednesdays.

Although Fox doesn't win the ratings race on most nights -- on Thursdays and Tuesdays, it's usually in third or fourth place -- the network has shown more consistency this fall, with competitive numbers.