Tonight the closest November sweeps in three years wraps up, but when it’s done, there will likely be the same old winner.
ABC has won the past two sweeps easily after tying with CBS in 2005. With a slight lead entering the final two days, ABC will likely hang on for a victory, thanks to two big sweeps-ending stunts.
There hasn’t been a lot of stunting in this sweeps, yet an ABC victory would be thanks to several of the biggest. The network’s “American Music Awards” on Sunday drew their best rating in four years, averaging a 5.1, and the “CMA Awards” the previous week averaged a 5.0.
And ABC has two stunts yet to be tallied. As of Monday night, the most recent numbers available from Nielsen, ABC had a 0.1 advantage over CBS.
CBS would seem to have the advantage on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Season to date, CBS leads ABC on those nights by 13 and 20 percent, respectively, and it finished 11 percent ahead of ABC on Monday night.
But this is not a typical week. Last night ABC aired the two-hour “Dancing with the Stars” finale, which should draw big numbers even though it will likely be down from last year’s fall ender, which averaged a strong 6.4 rating.
This year “Stars” hasn’t come anywhere close to that, with Monday’s penultimate episode averaging a 4.8 rating. If the show tops that, its chances of winning sweeps shoot up.
On Wednesday, ABC has another potential ratings juggernaut, the just-announced Barbara Walters interview with president elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
The Obamas’ first post-election interview, which aired a week and a half ago on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” averaged a 6.4 18-49 rating and became the season’s most-watched primetime program with more than 25 million viewers.
The Walters special will replace the low-rated “Dirty Sexy Money” at 10 p.m., guaranteeing the network a boost over the previous week, when it finished behind CBS on the night.
ABC has forecast that it will finish sweeps at a 3.2, while CBS will average a 3.1. CBS predicts that the two networks will end in a tie at a 3.1 apiece. Either way, both will be down from last year, when ABC averaged a 3.7 and CBS a 3.4.
NBC will finish third with a 2.9 average through Monday, with Fox fourth at a 2.7. Univision will edge the CW for fifth with a 1.5 to the latter’s 1.0, with all three English-language networks seeing declines from last year.
***
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 23:
Among adults 18-49, ABC was first with a 3.2 average rating and an 8 share, followed by CBS and Fox at 3.0/8, NBC at 2.6/7, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 1.0/3, MyNetworkTV at 0.7/2, Telemundo at 0.6/2, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 18-34, ABC was first with a 2.7 average rating and an 8 share, followed by Fox at 2.6/8, NBC at 2.3/7, CBS at 2.0/6, Univision at 1.6/5, CW at 1.3/4, Telemundo at 0.7/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.6/2, Telefutura at 0.3/1, and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Among adults 25-54, CBS was first with a 4.0 rating and 10 share, followed by ABC at 3.6/9, Fox at 3.5/8, NBC at 3.0/7, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 0.9/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.7/2, Telemundo at 0.6/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1, Ion at 0.2/0 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 6.2; Tie-2. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” and Fox’s “House” 5.6; 4. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” 5.3; 5. ABC’s “American Music Awards” 5.1.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 19.63 million; 2. CBS’s “CSI” 18.45 million; 3. CBS’s “NCIS” 17.99 million; 4. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars Results” 17.59 million; 5. CBS’s “Criminal Minds” 16.33 million.
Top five Live+7 English-language Big Five shows (households, week ended Nov. 9): 1. CBS’s “CSI” 12.2; 2. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 11.7; Tie-3. CBS’s “60 Minutes” and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” 11.6; 5. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 11.0.
Top five Live+7 English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, week ended Nov. 9): 1. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” 7.4; 2. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 6.7; 3. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.5; 4. CBS’s “CSI” 6.4; 5. Fox’s “House” 5.8.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 23 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.6
|
8690
|
12
|
4.2
|
12040
|
10
|
3.0
|
4020
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
6.4
|
7360
|
10
|
3.5
|
10110
|
9
|
3.2
|
4170
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.1
|
5880
|
8
|
2.9
|
8440
|
7
|
3.0
|
3980
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
4.5
|
5150
|
7
|
2.4
|
7090
|
6
|
2.6
|
3430
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2260
|
3
|
1.3
|
3870
|
3
|
1.5
|
1940
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.5
|
1700
|
2
|
0.8
|
2230
|
2
|
1.0
|
1360
|
3
|
|
MNT
|
1.2
|
1350
|
2
|
0.7
|
1930
|
2
|
0.7
|
890
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.7
|
760
|
1
|
0.5
|
1360
|
1
|
0.6
|
790
|
2
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
670
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
540
|
0
|
0.1
|
200
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
220
|
0
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 145
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 23 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
7.6
|
8650
|
12
|
4.1
|
12010
|
10
|
3.3
|
4380
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
6.8
|
7800
|
11
|
3.7
|
10620
|
9
|
3.3
|
4370
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
5.0
|
5760
|
8
|
2.8
|
8180
|
7
|
3.0
|
3990
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
5.0
|
5680
|
8
|
2.7
|
7920
|
7
|
3.0
|
3950
|
8
|
|
UNI
|
2.0
|
2270
|
3
|
1.4
|
3940
|
3
|
1.6
|
2060
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.6
|
1890
|
3
|
0.9
|
2490
|
2
|
1.1
|
1520
|
3
|
|
MNT
|
1.0
|
1180
|
2
|
0.6
|
1620
|
1
|
0.6
|
750
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
690
|
1
|
0.4
|
1140
|
1
|
0.5
|
650
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
550
|
0
|
0.1
|
180
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
0.2
|
630
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 145
million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average of pre-TSV and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 23 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
12.5
|
18
|
14322
|
1
|
6.8
|
19631
|
|
2
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
11.4
|
17
|
13065
|
4
|
6.1
|
17590
|
|
3
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
11.3
|
17
|
12927
|
2
|
6.4
|
18446
|
|
4
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
10.9
|
17
|
12476
|
3
|
6.2
|
17990
|
|
5
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
10.2
|
16
|
11721
|
5
|
5.6
|
16334
|
|
6
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
17
|
11515
|
8
|
5.3
|
15464
|
|
6
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
10.1
|
15
|
11547
|
6
|
5.5
|
15913
|
|
8
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
9.8
|
15
|
11222
|
6
|
5.5
|
15844
|
|
9
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
9.5
|
15
|
10835
|
9
|
5.2
|
15168
|
|
10
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
9.3
|
15
|
10645
|
11
|
5.1
|
14887
|
|
10
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
9.3
|
13
|
10657
|
9
|
5.2
|
15184
|
|
12
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
9.2
|
16
|
10565
|
12
|
4.9
|
14119
|
|
13
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
7.9
|
12
|
9102
|
13
|
4.6
|
13263
|
|
14
|
WITHOUT A TRACE
|
CBS
|
7.8
|
13
|
8952
|
19
|
4.1
|
11850
|
|
15
|
DANCING W/STARS RECAP #5(S)
|
ABC
|
7.7
|
12
|
8809
|
20
|
4.0
|
11604
|
|
16
|
COLD CASE
|
CBS
|
7.6
|
11
|
8697
|
15
|
4.2
|
12147
|
|
17
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
7.5
|
12
|
8632
|
15
|
4.2
|
12060
|
|
17
|
SURVIVOR:
GABON
|
CBS
|
7.5
|
12
|
8590
|
14
|
4.3
|
12502
|
|
19
|
MENTALIST, THE-FRIDAY-SP(S)
|
CBS
|
7.4
|
13
|
8486
|
20
|
4.0
|
11543
|
|
20
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S)
|
ABC
|
7.2
|
11
|
8270
|
15
|
4.2
|
12203
|
|
21
|
GHOST WHISPERER
|
CBS
|
7.1
|
12
|
8127
|
22
|
3.9
|
11282
|
|
21
|
NUMB3RS
|
CBS
|
7.1
|
13
|
8148
|
22
|
3.9
|
11295
|
|
23
|
24: REDEMPTION PREQUEL(S)
|
FOX
|
7.0
|
10
|
8012
|
15
|
4.2
|
12121
|
|
24
|
ELEVENTH HOUR
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
12
|
7874
|
24
|
3.7
|
10584
|
|
25
|
SAMANTHA WHO?
|
ABC
|
6.8
|
10
|
7781
|
27
|
3.5
|
10229
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending November 23 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
6.2
|
8182
|
|
2
|
HOUSE
|
FOX
|
5.6
|
7376
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
5.6
|
7400
|
|
4
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
6940
|
|
5
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S)
|
ABC
|
5.1
|
6681
|
|
6
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
5.0
|
6536
|
|
7
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
4.5
|
6001
|
|
8
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
5776
|
|
9
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.3
|
5676
|
|
9
|
OFFICE
|
NBC
|
4.3
|
5666
|
|
11
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
5570
|
|
11
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
5561
|
|
13
|
FRINGE
|
FOX
|
4.1
|
5353
|
|
14
|
24: REDEMPTION PREQUEL(S)
|
FOX
|
4.0
|
5312
|
|
14
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
4.0
|
5276
|
|
14
|
SURVIVOR:
GABON
|
CBS
|
4.0
|
5267
|
|
17
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4977
|
|
17
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
5029
|
|
19
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
4944
|
|
20
|
HEROES
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
4757
|
|
20
|
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
ABC
|
3.6
|
4813
|
|
22
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4619
|
|
22
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4615
|
|
22
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
3.5
|
4622
|
|
25
|
30 ROCK
|
NBC
|
3.4
|
4500
|
|
25
|
E.R.
|
NBC
|
3.4
|
4479
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
LATIN GRAMMY 08 11/13(S)-11/13/2008
|
UNI
|
25.1
|
5702
|
|
2
|
FUEGO EN LA SANGRE M-F
|
UNI
|
21.7
|
5108
|
|
3
|
NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS 11/13(S)-11/13/2008
|
UNI
|
20.4
|
4268
|
|
4
|
CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL M-F
|
UNI
|
19.0
|
4473
|
|
5
|
QUERIDA ENEMIGA M-F
|
UNI
|
18.3
|
3982
|
|
6
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
17.0
|
3596
|
|
7
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
15.0
|
3121
|
|
8
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
14.8
|
2957
|
|
9
|
LO Q NO VIO L GRAMMY11/14(S)-11/14/2008
|
UNI
|
13.9
|
2904
|
|
10
|
SHOW SUENOS:AMIGOS
AL SUN
|
UNI
|
13.4
|
2816
|
|
11
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
12.5
|
2621
|
|
12
|
HORA PICO SUN
|
UNI
|
10.0
|
2283
|
|
13
|
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 11/12(S)-11/12/2008
|
TEL
|
9.0
|
2006
|
|
13
|
CEL HISPA:VINA MAR2 11/15(S)-11/15/2008
|
UNI
|
9.0
|
1703
|
|
15
|
SN SENOS NO HAY PARAISO M-F
|
TEL
|
7.9
|
1812
|
|
16
|
ROSTRO DE ANALIA M-F
|
TEL
|
6.4
|
1387
|
|
17
|
DONA BARBARA M-F
|
TEL
|
5.4
|
1160
|
|
18
|
JUNTO AL TRI 11/12(S)-11/12/2008
|
TEL
|
4.4
|
961
|
|
19
|
FUTBOL ESTELAR
|
TEL
|
4.1
|
819
|
|
20
|
RUMBO PREGAME 11/12(S)-11/12/2008
|
TEL
|
4.0
|
831
|
|
21
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
TF
|
3.8
|
881
|
|
22
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
TF
|
3.7
|
887
|
|
22
|
12 CORAZONES M-F
|
TEL
|
3.7
|
824
|
|
22
|
CINE MILLONARIO
|
TEL
|
3.7
|
901
|
|
25
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
3.6
|
846
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 16 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
7.3
|
1325
|
|
2
|
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
1056
|
|
3
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
876
|
|
4
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
5.0
|
949
|
|
5
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
4.8
|
882
|
|
6
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
4.5
|
791
|
|
7
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
4.2
|
889
|
|
8
|
AMERICAN DAD
|
FOX
|
4.1
|
779
|
|
9
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
4.0
|
694
|
|
9
|
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM
|
ABC
|
4.0
|
669
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending November 16
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
22.6
|
4729
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
16.2
|
3228
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
10.8
|
2039
|
|
4
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
9.7
|
1802
|
|
4
|
CSI:
MIAMI
|
CBS
|
9.7
|
1764
|
|
6
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
1942
|
|
7
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
9.4
|
1749
|
|
8
|
COLD CASE
|
CBS
|
9.1
|
1665
|
|
9
|
UNIT, THE
|
CBS
|
8.9
|
1747
|
|
10
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
1539
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on November 16
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
CBS NFL NATIONAL
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
12.1
|
23
|
13870
|
19690
|
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
DALLAS
AT
WASHINGTON
|
11.6
|
18
|
13290
|
19272
|
|
3 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-SINGLE
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
10.7
|
23
|
12223
|
17616
|
|
4 |
CBS NFL REGIONAL
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES
|
8.1
|
17
|
9238
|
12351
|
|
5 |
