ABC reclaimed its usual Sunday night lead from NBC last night, despite week-to-week ratings declines for its two scripted programs. Meanwhile, the CW’s new Sunday night lineup, programmed by outside company MRC, got off to a disappointing start.
ABC averaged a 4.1 adults 18-49 rating and 10 share for the evening, according to Nielsen overnights, with NBC a close second at 4.0/10. As a reminder, NBC’s ratings are approximate due to the live nature of its football coverage; overnights measure timeslot, not actual time period, data and football ran past 11 p.m.
Both networks were off from their premiere week ratings, when NBC averaged a 5.2/13 on the night and ABC drew a 4.4/11.
ABC’s 9 p.m. comedy “Desperate Housewives” was once again the night’s top-rated show, though it was off 17 percent from last week’s 7.0, to a 5.8. “Brothers & Sisters” at 10 p.m. also dipped, down 15 percent from a 4.7 to a 4.0.
The night’s biggest disappointment, however, came on the CW as its new shows combined for a mere 0.4 rating among both 18-49s and the network’s target 18-34s.
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. Twenty-eight percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
For the night among 18-49s, CBS placed third at 3.8/9, Fox fourth at 3.0/8, Univision fifth at 1.1/3 and CW sixth at 0.4/1.
At 7 p.m. CBS led with a 5.6 for NFL football overrun and the beginning of “60 Minutes,” followed by ABC with a 2.7 for “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” NBC was third with a 2.2 for “Football Night in America,” Fox fourth with a 1.6 for an hour of “King of the Hill” repeats, Univision fifth with a 0.9 for “Show de los Sueños: Sangre de mi Sangre” and CW sixth with a 0.3 for the debut of “In Harm’s Way.”
NBC took the lead at 8 p.m. with a 4.5 for NFL pregame and the start of its “Sunday Night Football” game between Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, with ABC second with a 3.8 for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” CBS was third with a 3.7 for the end of “60 Minutes” and the start of “The Amazing Race,” Fox fourth with a 3.5 for “The Simpsons” (3.6) and “King of the Hill” (3.3), Univision fifth with a 1.2 for another hour of “Sueños” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for the bow of “Valentine.”
At 9 p.m. ABC was first with a 5.8 for “Housewives,” with NBC second with a 5.0 for more football. Fox was third with a 3.9 for “Family Guy” (4.3) and “American Dad” (3.5), CBS fourth with a 2.9 for the end of “Race” and beginning of “Cold Case,” Univision fifth with a 1.3 for another hour of “Sueños” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for the premiere of “Easy Money.”
NBC regained the lead at 10 p.m. with a 4.5 for football, followed by ABC with a 4.0 for “Sisters.” CBS was third with a 2.9 for the finish of “Cold Case” and start “The Unit” and Univision fourth with a 1.2 for the last half hour of ‘Sueños” and an episode of “Hora Pico.”
CBS was first for the night among households with an 8.4 average overnight rating and a 13 share. ABC was second at 7.4/12, NBC third at 6.7/11, Fox fourth at 3.5/6, Univision fifth at 1.5/2 and CW sixth at 0.6/1.
