Football kicks CBS, NBC to top of weekly ratings

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - CBS won Christmas week in total viewers, while "NBC Sunday Night Football" was the top program during the period.

According to Nielsen Media Research data issued Thursday for the rerun-heavy week ended December 30, CBS averaged 8.5 million viewers, 300,000 more than NBC.

But NBC won the race for adults 18-49, a demographic coveted by advertisers, averaging a 2.7 rating/8 share. CBS and Fox were tied at 2.2/7; Fox ranked third in total viewers with 6 million. ABC, the only network without the NFL on its schedule, trailed the competition with 5.2 million viewers and a 1.6/5 among adults 18-49.

"NBC Sunday Night Football," featuring the Tennessee Titans vs. the Indianapolis Colts, pulled in 15.8 million total viewers, and led adults 18-49 with a 5.9/15 score.

Another NFL game, Saturday's face-off between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, took both the No. 2 and 3 spots because of its unprecedented three-way national simulcast on CBS, NBC and the NFL Network.

The game drew 15.7 million viewers (5.3/15 in 18-49) on CBS, and 13.2 million viewers (4.7/13) on NBC. In total, a combined 34.5 million fans watched the Patriots pull out a come-from-behind victory against the Giants to end their regular season at 16-0.

The top nonsports draws of the week were repeats of CBS' newsmagazine "60 Minutes" in total viewers (12.4 million) and Fox's "Family Guy" in adults 18-49 (3.2/8).

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter