TV Ratings: Colts-Chargers action keeps NBC on top on Sunday

CBS gets OK overall numbers for 'November Christmas'

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Nov 29, 2010 11:45 AM

It was that kind of Sunday for Colts' QB Peyton Manning.

Credit: AP

Fast National ratings for Sunday, November 28, 2010.

The San Diego Chargers routed the Indianapolis Colts in a sloppy Sunday Night Football game, helping NBC hold onto its position atop the night's ratings race in all key measures.

Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 4.9 rating, topping FOX's football-aided 4.3 rating in the coveted demographic. CBS was a distant third with a 2.3 rating, while ABC's repeats could generate only a 1.4 rating for fourth.

Overall, NBC averaged an estimated 13.54 million viewers and an 8.2 rating/13 share. CBS was a close second with an estimated 12.5 million viewers and a 7.6/12. FOX's 10.36 million viewers and 5.9/9 were enough for third, with ABC's 3.3/5 and 5.5 million viewers finishing fourth.

7 p.m. -- FOX's NFL overrun and animation repeats ruled the 7 p.m. hour with 16.37 million viewers and a 6.3 rating in the key demo. CBS' "60 Minutes" was second overall with 12.405 million viewers, but third with a 2.1 demo rating. NBC finished third with the 7.9 million viewers for "Football Night in America," coming in a distant second in the demo. ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was fourth with 7.67 million viewers.

8 p.m. -- The start of the Colts-Chargers game gave NBC 13.95 million viewers and a 5.1 demo rating to win the 8 p.m. hour. CBS was second overall with the 10.915 million viewers for "The Amazing Race," third with a 3.1 demo rating. FOX's "The Simpsons" and "The Cleveland show" finished third overall with 8.435 million viewers and second in the demo with a 3.8 rating. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" took fourth with 6.44 million viewers.

9 p.m. -- NBC's football held onto first in the 9 p.m. hour with an estimated 16.52 million viewers and a 6.2 demo rating. CBS got OK numbers for the telefilm "November Christmas," which averaged 12.92 million viewers, but only a 2.1 demo rating. FOX's "Family Guy" repeat and a new "American Dad" finished third with 6.28 million viewers and second in the demo with a 2.9 rating. ABC's "Desperate Housewives" managed only 4.58 million viewers in fourth.

10 p.m. -- Sunday Night Football wrapped up its primetime sweep for NBC with 14.77 million viewers and a 5.7 demo rating. CBS' "November Christmas" improved to 13.77 million viewers, but stayed with its 2.1 demo rating. ABC's repeat of "Brothers & Sisters" was a distant third.

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.

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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.