Cover Page Send to a Friend Print Version Contact Us Advertise Post a Free Classified

ABC edges CBS
with finale of 'Dancing'

Averages a 3.9 in 18-49s, 0.1 ahead of CBS

By Toni Fitzgerald
Nov 25, 2009

Donny Osmond tangoed away with the title and ABC won the night as "Dancing with the Stars" aired its finale, though it was down from the same night last year.

"Stars'" results show averaged a season-high 4.3 adults 18-49 rating from 9 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off 16 percent from a 5.1 last year.

"Stars" has seen declines all season, but it remains one of the top shows on television, especially among total viewers, where it averaged 19.2 million last night. Last year's finale averaged 20.7 million.

The show peaked with a 4.7 18-49 rating at 10:30 p.m. as Osmond upset judges favorite Mya for the victory. Reality star Kelly Osbourne, like Osmond an audience favorite all season, finished third.

That was enough to boost ABC past CBS for the night by a very narrow margin.

ABC averaged a 3.9 18-49 rating for the night and an 11 share. CBS was second at 3.8/11, NBC third at 2.9/8, Fox fourth at 2.1/6, Univision fifth at 1.4/4 and CW sixth at 0.5/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-three percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

CBS was first at 8 p.m. with a 4.4 for “NCIS,” followed by NBC with a 3.2 for “The Biggest Loser.” ABC was third with a 3.1 for “V,” Fox fourth with a 2.2 for “So You Think You Can Dance,” Univision fifth with a 1.3 for “El Nombre del Amor” and CW sixth with a 0.5 for a repeat of “90210.”

At 9 p.m. CBS was first again with a 4.3 for “NCIS: Los Angeles,” its second-best rating ever thanks to an "NCIS" character's crossover. ABC moved to second with a 3.9 for “Stars.” NBC was third with a 3.7 for more “Loser,” Fox fourth with a 2.0 for more “Dance,” Univision fifth with a 1.8 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for a “Melrose Place” rerun.

ABC took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 4.6 for more “Stars,” with CBS second with a 2.8 for “The Good Wife.” NBC was third with a 1.9 for “The Jay Leno Show,” tying its second-highest rating in seven weeks, and Univision fourth with a 1.1 for “Aqui y Ahora.”

CBS led the night among households with a 10.3 average overnight rating and a 17 share. ABC was second at 9.8/16, NBC third at 4.7/8, Fox fourth at 3.3/5, Univision fifth at 1.9/3 and CW sixth at 0.7/1.

Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.	© 2010 Media Life Magazine

Latest headlines CBS Monday shows see Super Bowl lift Super Bowl most-watched show ever More tough times at the newsstand Another Super Bowl record: The most ads But ad-wise, a pretty timid Super Bowl And all the rest of the Super Bowl leftovers Siriusly: Fox wants Howard Stern for 'Idol' 'Past Life,' whodunit with bad karma Brooklyn Decker gets SI cover Star Kalatzan becomes managing director at Mediaedge:cia Iain Tait becomes interactive ECD at Wieden+Kennedy Cortney Pellettieri becomes entertainment editor at Good Housekeeping Michael Mueller becomes VP of client development at Univision David Eun becomes president at AOL Media Nora Gervais becomes NY sales director at Navigate Boomer Media Angelo D'Agostino becomes VP of human resources at Tremor Media