TV Ratings: CBS and NBC split Christmas Eve

Jimmy Stewart in 'It's a Wonderful Life'

Credit: NBC Photo

Fast National ratings for December 24, 2008.

Twas the night before Christmas and nobody was really watching TV.

The younger viewers, before going to bed with visions of sugarplums and whatnot, focused mostly on NBC, which won the 18-48 demo with a 1.6 rating. CBS and ABC followed with 1.2 ratings, while FOX's 1.0 rating and the 0.6 rating for The CW trailed.

Older viewers, finishing their present wrapping and enjoying one last glass of nog, preferred CBS, which won the night overall with 5.6 million viewers on average and a 3.6 rating/8 share. NBC was second with a 3.0/7, followed by FOX and ABC with a matching 2.5/8. The CW's 0.9/2 was last, naturally.

FOX started the night in first with a 2.7/6 for "Bones" in the 8 p.m. hour. NBC's broadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life" was second with a 2.6/6 and actually won the hour in the 18-49 demo. ABC's airing of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was third with a 2.4/6, beating "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" on CBS. The CW aired "The Flight Before XMax," but not a creature was watching, not even a mouse.

CBS moved into first at 9 p.m. with "Criminal Minds," which did a 4.1/9, because nothing says Christmas Eve like "Criminal Minds." NBC's holiday classic again finished second on the hour with a 2.9/6. ABC's movie and another episode of "Bones" on FOX tied for third. The CW got a 0.7/2 from "The Story of Santa Claus."

The night's highest ratings went to "CSI: NY," which had a 4.6/10 in the 10 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC's "It's a Wonderful Life" was up to a 3.5/8, while ABC's movie was third.

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