'SNF' ends
the season with a win
Fall's No. 1 show boosts NBC to first on Sunday
By Toni Fitzgerald
Jan 5, 2010
The final "Sunday Night Football" game of the season boosted NBC to yet another Sunday win, though it got stronger-than-usual competition from ABC and Fox.
NBC averaged a 4.6 adults 18-49 rating and 11 share, according to Nielsen overnights, including a 5.3 rating from 8 to 11 p.m. for the primetime portion of the game.
Note that ratings for "SNF" are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data. The game lasted well past 11 p.m.
Sunday's Cincinnati Bengals-New York Jets matchup was down from the previous week, but it capped a strong season overall for "SNF," the fall's No. 1 program.
Still, Fox and ABC offered some solid competition. Fox was second behind NBC with a 3.8/9, with three of its four animated programs showing gains versus their most recent outings thanks largely to a strong NFL lead-in.
"The Simpsons" was Fox's highest-rated non-sports show, leading up to next Sunday's 20th anniversary special, drawing a 4.0 rating, up 25 percent from its most recent episode. Lead-out "The Cleveland Show" drew a 3.3, up 10 percent from its most recent outing. "Family Guy" was also up from its last outing last month.
ABC had its best Sunday average in more than a year, drawing a 3.7/9 for the night, as "Desperate Housewives" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" both hit season highs.
"Housewives," which concluded a cliffhanger about an airplane crash, averaged a 5.2 at 9 p.m., tying its best rating since December 2008. "Videos" averaged a 2.7 at 7 p.m., its best number since February 2009.
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-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
With NBC, Fox and ABC well out ahead, CBS placed fourth with a 2.2/5 for the night, followed by Univision in fifth at 0.8/2.
At 7 p.m., Fox led with a 4.5 for NFL overrun and "The OT." CBS was second with a 3.4 for NFL overrun and the start of "60 Minutes," followed by ABC with a 2.7 for "Videos," NBC with a 2.4 for "Football Night in America" and Univision at 0.8.
At 8 p.m., NBC pulled ahead with a 5.3 for "SNF," followed by Fox with a 3.6 for "Simpsons" and "Cleveland." ABC was third with a 3.3 for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," CBS fourth with a 2.0 for the conclusion of "Minutes" and start of an "NCIS" rerun, and Univision fifth at 0.8.
At 9 p.m., NBC led again with a 5.8 for football, followed by "Housewives" at 5.2. Fox's "Family Guy" (3.9) and "American Dad" (2.8) were third with a 3.4 rating, followed by CBS's "NCIS" rerun conclusion and the start of a repeat of "Cold Case" at 1.7. Univision was fifth at 0.8.
At 10 p.m., NBC's "SNF" led again with a 4.9, followed by ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" with an above-average 3.6. CBS was third at 1.6 for the end of the "Case" repeat and the start of another "Case" repeat. Univision was fourth at 0.8.
NBC also won the night among households, averaging a 7.5/12. ABC was second at 7.0/11, CBS third at 6.6/10, Fox fourth at 5.2/8, and Univision fifth at 1.2/2.
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