Broadcast TV Ratings for Sunday, March 11, 2007

With ABC resting two of its dramas, CBS comes out on top among households and viewers led by stronger than average performances by Cold Case and Without a Trace.  Fox though was able to come out on top among adults 18-49, thanks to strong ratings for their comedies and an hour of NASCAR coverage.

CBS finished in first place for the evening with an 8.2/14 household rating and 13.15 million total viewers but had to settle for second place among adults 18-49 with a 3.4/9 rating.

• Last Week
  • 8.1/13 HH Rating [#2]
  • 12.91M Viewers [#2]
  • 3.3/8 A18-49 Rating [#2]

• 7:00 p.m.: 60 Minutes (6.6/12 HH rating, 10.08M viewers, 2.0/7 A18-49 rating) started off the evening for CBS and was down somewhat from last week, losing nearly 3M total viewers (2.91M), 21% of its total household audience and 20% of its adult 18-49 demo.  Not sure what triggered the steep losses.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 8.4/14 to 6.6/12
    • Viewers – 12.99M to 10.08M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.5/7 to 2.0/7
• 8:00 p.m.: The Amazing Race: All-Stars (5.9/10 HH rating, 10.00M viewers, 3.3/9 A18-49 rating) was also down some from last week, though definitely not as severely as its lead-in.  Speaking of lead-ins, growth of 65% in the key demo (despite the week-to-week loss) is significant and very promising.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 6.3/10 to 5.9/10
    • Viewers – 10.74M to 10.00M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.7/9 to 3.3/9
• 9:00 p.m.: Without a new edition of Desperate Housewives to face off against, Cold Case (9.4/15 HH rating, 15.31M viewers, 4.1/10 A18-49 rating) shined.  Increasing a strong 2.11M viewers, 13% among households and 24% among adults 18-49.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 8.3/12 to 9.4/15
    • Viewers – 13.20M to 15.31M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.3/8 to 4.1/10
• 10:00 p.m.: Without a Trace (10.8/18 HH rating, 17.21M viewers, 4.4/12 A18-49 rating) also benefited greatly (perhaps because of reduced competition in the hour), growing upon its lead-in and increasing an impressive 2.51M viewers, 12.5% among households and 13% among adults 18-49.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 9.6/16 to 10.8/18
    • Viewers – 14.70M to 17.21M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.9/10 to 4.4/12

ABC followed in second place for the evening with a 5.5/9 household rating and 8.76 million total viewers but was third among adults 18-49 with a 2.9/8 rating.

• Last Week:
  • 8.5/13 HH Rating [#1]
  • 13.59M Viewers [#1]
  • 5.1/13 A18-49 Rating [#1]

• 7:00 p.m.: America’s Funniest Home Videos (4.7/8 HH rating, 7.96M viewers, 2.3/7 A18-49 rating) began the evening for ABC down week-to-week.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 5.7/10 to 4.7/8
    • Viewers – 9.68M to 7.96M
    • Adults 18-49 – 2.9/9 to 2.3/7
• 8:00 p.m.: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (7.9/13 HH rating, 13.71M viewers, 4.9/13 A18-49 rating) also declined from the week prior, but still drew a solid overall audience, first place for the hour.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 8.6/13 to 7.9/13
    • Viewers – 14.63M to 13.71M
    • Adults 18-49 – 5.3/13 to 4.9/13
• Repeats of Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters ended the evening for ABC, with on par repeat performances.
• 9:00: A repeat of Desperate Housewives (5.3/9 HH rating, 7.88M viewers, 2.9/7 A18-49 rating).
• 10:00: A repeat of Brothers & Sisters (4.0/7 HH rating, 5.46M viewers, 1.8/5 A18-49 rating).

Fox followed in fourth place for the evening with a 5.1/8 household rating and 8.57 million total viewers but was a stronger third among adults 18-49 with a 3.9/11 rating.

• Last Week:
  • 3.9/6 HH Rating [#4]
  • 6.48M Viewers [#4]
  • 3.1/8 A18-49 Rating [#3]

• 7:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.: An hour of NASCAR Overrun (6.4/12 HH rating, 11.06M viewers, 4.3/14 A18-49 rating) helped push FOX towards a A18-49 win for the evening.  The racing coverage was first for the hour in that key demo, as well as among total viewers.
• 8:00 & 8:30 p.m.: The Simpsons (5.3/8 HH rating, 8.98M viewers, 4.2/12 A18-49 rating) was followed by The Winner (4.1/6 HH rating, 6.81M viewers, 3.4/9 A18-49 rating) provided solid returns for the network, especially among the key A18-49 rating.  The Winner performed okay in its second week dipping only in the single digits and remaining solid in terms of retention (strongest among adults 18-49 with 81% retention in that demo).
  • Week-to-week numbers (The Simpsons):
    • Households – 5.3/8 to 5.3/8
    • Viewers – 9.09M to 8.98M
    • Adults 18-49 – 4.2/11 to 4.2/12
  • Week-to-week numbers (The Winner):
    • Households – 4.3/7 to 4.1/6
    • Viewers – 7.10M to 6.81M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.5/8 to 3.4/9
• 9:00 & 9:30 p.m.: Family Guy (4.8/7 HH rating, 7.88M viewers, 4.1/10 A18-49 rating) led into another new episode of The Winner (3.6/6 HH rating, 5.64M viewers, 2.9/7 A18-49 rating) provided a solid hour for Fox.  I do question why Fox is so quick to burn off all these episodes of The Winner.
  • Week-to-week numbers (Family Guy):
    • Households – 5.2/8 to 4.8/7
    • Viewers – 8.52M to 7.88M
    • Adults 18-49 – 4.4/10 to 4.1/10
  • Week-to-week numbers (The Winner):
    • Households – 3.8/6 to 3.6/6
    • Viewers – 6.07M to 5.64M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.1/7 to 2.9/7

NBC finished in third place for the evening with a 5.1/8 household rating and 8.07 million total viewers, but was a weaker fourth among adults 18-49 with a 2.4/7 rating.

• Last Week:
  • 4.8/8 HH Rating [#3]
  • 7.47M Viewers [#3]
  • 2.4/6 A18-49 Rating [#4]

• 7:00 p.m.: Dateline NBC (3.8/7 HH rating, 5.59M viewers, 1.2/4 A18-49 rating) again failed to provide a solid enough opening for the evening for NBC.  The loss in adult 18-49 viewers week-to-week is most concerning (29%).
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 4.1/7 to 3.8/7
    • Viewers – 5.82M to 5.59M
    • Adults 18-49 – 1.7/5 to 1.2/4
• 8:00 p.m.: Grease: You’re the One That I Want (4.1/7 HH rating, 6.46M viewers, 1.7/5 A18-49 rating) remained flat from the week prior as this reality competition comes to a close next week.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households -4.2/6 to 4.1/7
    • Viewers – 6.21M to 6.46M
    • A18-49 – 1.8/5 to 1.7/5
• 9:00 p.m.: Deal or No Deal (7.6/12 HH rating, 12.67M viewers, 3.7/9 A18-49 rating) continues to be one of NBC’s most solid performers, growing nicely from the week prior and providing a good lead-in for The Apprentice.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 6.7/10 to 7.6/12
    • Viewers – 10.99M to 12.67M
    • Adults 18-49 – 3.3/7 to 3.7/9
• 10:00 p.m.: The Apprentice: Los Angeles (4.9/8 HH rating, 7.59M viewers, 2.7/7 A18-49 rating) is benefiting from its new Deal or No Deal lead-in.  The show was up 1.03M viewers and 14% among total households week-to-week.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 4.3/7 to 4.9/8
    • Viewers – 6.56M to 7.59M
    • A18-49 – 2.7/7 to 2.7/7

The CW was left then in fifth place with a 1.3/2 household rating, 1.85 million total viewers and a 0.7/2 rating among adults 18-49.

• Last Week:
  • 1.6/3 HH Rating [#5]
  • 2.31M Viewers [#5]
  • 0.9/2 A18-49 Rating [#5]

• The CW programmed repeats for the entire evening.
• 7:00 p.m.: A repeat of the series premiere of Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll (1.1/2 HH rating, 1.45M viewers, 0.6/2 A18-49 rating) failed to show any promise for the network in terms of repeat performances.  The CW would be better served to just continue airing repeats of Reba.
  • Week-to-week time slot numbers (vs. an hour of Reba Repeats):
    • Households – 1.7/3 to 1.1/2
    • Viewers – 2.52M to 1.45M
    • Adults 18-49 – 0.9/3 to 0.6/2
• 8:00 p.m.: A repeat of 7th Heaven (1.3/2 HH rating, 1.78M viewers, 0.6/2 A18-49 rating) was weak.
• 9:00 p.m.: And an encore of America’s Next Top Model (1.6/3 HH rating, 2.31M viewers, 1.0/2 A18-49 rating) ended another terribly low rated Sunday night.
  • Week-to-week numbers:
    • Households – 1.6/2 to 1.6/3
    • Viewers – 2.21M to 2.31M
    • Adults 18-49 – 0.9/2 to 1.0/2

Note: Fast Nationals are used when comparing week-to-week numbers, while Final Nationals are used when comparing year-to-year/episode-to-episode numbers, unless otherwise specified.

Source: Fast/Final National Ratings Data from Nielsen Media Research and PIFeedback.com