TV Ratings: CBS, ABC split Sunday

CBS is led by '60 Minutes' and 'Amazing Race,' while ABC's 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Brothers & Sisters' are strong

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Mar 9, 2009 10:45 AM

Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman of 'Desperate Housewives'

Credit: Ron Tom/ABC

Fast National ratings for March 8, 2009.

CBS drew the most viewers on Sunday night, but thanks to "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters," ABC's viewers were younger.

ABC won the key 18-49 demographic with a 3.3 rating, topping the 2.6 rating for CBS. ABC's 2.4 rating and the 2.3 rating for FOX were close behind. The CW's 0.2 rating was a little bit funny.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 11.33 million viewers and a 7.0 rating/12 share. ABC's 6.5/11 was close behind. NBC finished a distant third with a 3.9/6, still topping the 2.8/5 for FOX and The CW's 0.6/1.

CBS started the night in first with an 8.5/15 for "60 Minutes." ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was second with a 4.2/8, beating a "Saturday Night Live" special focusing on game show parodies and FOX's "Hole in the Wall." On The CW, a repeat of "Jericho" had a 0.5/1.

"The Amazing Race" won the 8 p.m. hour for CBS with a 6.2/10, nipping ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." A second "Saturday Night Live" special, this one doing commercial parodies, was third with a 3.7/6, beating the 3.1/5 averaged by "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" on FOX. The CW's telecast of the movie "Easy Money" trailed.

ABC moved into first at 9 p.m. with "Desperate Housewives" delivering an 8.7/13. CBS' "Cold Case" had a 7.7/12 for second. NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" had a 4.4/7 for third, beating the 3.6/6 for "Family Guy" and "American Dad" on FOX. The CW's movie was last.

At 10 p.m. ABC had a 7.1/12 for "Brothers & Sisters," winning the hour. CBS' "The Unit" finished second, just ahead of the 5.2/8 second hour for "Celebrity Apprentice."

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.