TV Ratings: CBS, NBC split Sunday games

NFL overrun helps CBS grab the largest audience, but Chargers-Broncos woos young viewers

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Dec 29, 2008 4:49 PM

LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers

Credit: Chris Park/AP

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.

A Sunday night NFL game with playoff implications helped NBC to a demographic crown, but CBS rode overrun from an earlier game to an overall win.

In the key 18-49 demo, NBC averaged a 4.0 rating, better than the 2.6 rating for FOX or CBS' 2.5 rating. ABC's 1.6 rating trailed, beating only the 0.3 rating for The CW.

Overall, though, CBS averaged 11.2 million viewers and a 7.0 rating/12 share for the night. NBC was a close second with a 6.6/11. ABC's 4.0/7 and the 3.7/6 for FOX followed. The CW's 0.8/1 wasn't a factor.

CBS began the night in first with the end of one Week 17 NFL game (Jets-Dolphins?) and the start of "60 Minutes," which averaged a 10.0/17. FOX, which had the end of another game, finished second with a 5.0/9. NBC's NFL pregame was third, beating the 2.9/5 first hour for ABC's "Sound of Music" and a 0.6/1 for "Jericho" on The CW.

NBC moved into first in the 8 p.m. hour with a 7.2/12 for the start of the game between the Chargers and Broncos. CBS was second with the end of "60 Minutes" and the start of "Million Dollar Password" averaging a 7.0/11. ABC's movie was third, bettering the 2.9/5 for episodes of "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" on FOX. The CW aired "Revenge of the Pink Panther" for some reason.

At 9 p.m., NBC's football was up to a 7.8/13. CBS stayed second with "Million Dollar Password" and "Cold Case." ABC's "Sound of Music" was up to a 4.7/8. FOX's "Family Guy" and "American Dad" averaged a 3.1/5. The CW's movie left the lights on.

NBC closed the night with a 6.8/12 for the conclusion of what ended up being a rout for the Charges. CBS' "Cold Case" and "The Unit" averaged 4.8/8, while ABC's movie closed with a 4.5/8.

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

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.