TV Ratings: 'Chuck' up, but FOX football dominates Sunday

Cardinals-Packers overall boosts FOX's 'Simpsons' celebration on Sunday

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Jan 11, 2010 11:49 AM

Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals

Credit: AP

Fast National ratings for Sunday, January 10, 2010.

The end of an NFL playoff classic between Arizona and Green Bay helped boost FOX to a night of dominant ratings, while NBC's return of "Chuck" did strong demo numbers.

Among adults 18-49, FOX won the night with an 8.0 rating. ABC was a distant second with a 3.3 rating, followed by NBC's 2.2 rating. CBS trailed in the key demographic with a 1.6 rating.

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 20.04 million viewers to go with a 10.9 rating/ 17 share. ABC's 6.4/10 was a distant second, nipping the 5.9/9 for CBS. NBC's 4.1/6 was fourth.

FOX started the night in first with the 18.3/28 for the thrilling conclusion to the Cardinals-Packers game, also doing an 11.7 rating in the key demographic. CBS was second with a 6.4/10 for "60 Minutes." ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was third with a 4.0/6. NBC's "Dateline" trailed.

In the 8 p.m. hour, FOX's football and the 450th episode of "The Simpsons" did a 9.3/14, with a 7.6 demo rating. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" had a 6.0/9 for second. NBC's "Dateline" was up to third with a 4.9/7, topping CBS' repeat of "NCIS: Los Angeles."

ABC moved into first at 9 p.m. with an 8.8/13 for "Desperate Housewives."

CBS' "Cold Case" was second for the hour. FOX's 20th anniversary "Simpsons" documentary and "The Cleveland Show" did a 5.3/8 for third overall, but won the key demo with a 4.8 rating. The first hour of the NBC "Chuck" premiere had a 4.2/6 overall, with 7.695 million viewers and a strong 3.0 rating in the demo.

"Brothers & Sisters" kept ABC in first at 10 p.m. with a 6.9/11 and a 3.5 demo rating. CBS' "Criminal Minds" repeat was second overall and third in the demo. In its second hour, "Chuck" fell slightly to a 4.0/7 overall and a 2.9 demo rating.

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

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.