Overnights
Weak Wednesday for broadcast, again
By Toni Fitzgerald
Mar 27, 2008 - 11:43:06 AM

With reruns and reality shows dotting their schedules, the Big Three had another somewhat grim Wednesday.

ABC, CBS and NBC combined for just a 5.6 rating and 15 share last night, according to Nielsen overnights, 21 percent behind Fox’s winning 6.8/19. All three were down from the previous week, but none have performed particularly well on Wednesdays of late.

The Big Three’s schedules are still dotted with programming left over from the recent writers’ strike. Though ABC had a full slate of originals, taking second for the night with a 2.0/5, only one of its programs rated above a 2.2, the 8 p.m. “Wife Swap.”

CBS had reruns and some more strike fodder, 8 p.m.’s “Big Brother,” which managed a mere 2.1 airing opposite mostly weak competition.

NBC’s two hours of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” repeats mustered just a 1.6 rating from 8 to 10 p.m., finishing behind the CW and Univision in the 8 p.m. hour.

But new episodes will soon be coming to the rescue for CBS and NBC. “Criminal Minds” and “CSI: NY” return next week, when NBC also has a fresh “Deal or No Deal.”

Meanwhile, Fox dominated the night among viewers 18-49 with the aforementioned 6.8 average overnight rating and 19 share, followed distantly by ABC at 2.0/5. CBS, NBC and Univision all tied for third at 1.8/5 and CW was sixth at 1.2/3.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox was first with a 3.9 for “The Moment of Truth,” with ABC second with a 2.3 for “Swap.” Univision was third with a 2.2 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” CBS fourth with a 2.1 for “Brother,” CW fifth with a 1.7 for “America’s Next Top Model” and NBC sixth with a 1.5 for a repeat of “L&O: CI.”
 
At 9 p.m. Fox was first again with a 9.7 for “American Idol,” while ABC remained second with a 2.2 for “Supernanny.” Univision was third with a 1.9 for “Pasion,” NBC fourth with a 1.6 for another “L&O: CI” rerun, CBS fifth with a 1.5 for a repeat of “Criminal Minds” and CW sixth with a 0.8 for a repeat of “The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious.”
 
NBC took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 2.4 for “Law & Order,” followed by CBS with a 1.8 for a “CSI: NY” rerun. ABC was third with a 1.5 for “Men in Trees” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Fox also finished first for the night among households with a 10.8 average overnight rating and an 18 share. NBC was second at 4.9/8, CBS third at 4.5/7, ABC fourth at 4.1/7, Univision fifth at 2.1/4 and CW sixth at 1.9/3.