TV Ratings: Eagles' win helps NBC soar past AMAs on Sunday

NBC wins overall and in the demo, but ABC and CBS are both competitive

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Nov 23, 2009 11:45 AM

Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles

Credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP

Fast National ratings for Sunday, November 22, 2009.

ABC got a strong performance from the American Music Awards on Sunday night, but the AMAs were no match for NBC's Sunday Night Football showdown between the Bears and Eagles.

Actually, the AMAs were more-than-a-match for NBC's football, at the end of the evening, but not overall. ABC boasts that this was the most watched AMAs telecast since 2002 and that it delivered its best 18-49 audience since 2004.

Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 4.8 rating for the night, nipping the 4.5 rating for ABC in the key demographic. CBS was well back in third with a 3.2 rating, followed by the 2.7 rating for FOX.

Overall, NBC averaged an estimated 12.94 million viewers to go with an 8.0 rating/13 share. CBS was a close second with a 7.8/12 and nearly 12.7 million viewers. ABC's 7.3/12 and 12.14 million viewers was enough for third. FOX was a distant fourth with a 3.2/5.

CBS started the night in first with NFL overrun and "60 Minutes," which posted an 11.2/19 for the 7 p.m. hour. NBC's "Football Night in America" was second with a 4.9/8. ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was third. On FOX, "Brothers" (1.7/3) and a repeat of "The Simpsons" (2.4/4) finished fourth.

NBC moved into first at 8 p.m. with an 8.5/13 for the start of the Bears-Eagles game, which also won the hour with a 5.1 rating in the demo. CBS was second with a 7.9/12 for the end of "60 Minutes" and the start of "The Amazing Race." ABC's AMAs telecast was just a sliver behind in third overall and finished second in the 18-49 demo. On FOX, "The Simpsons" and "The Cleveland Show" averaged a 3.8/6 and finished fourth.

The football game delivered a 9.5/14 in the 9 p.m. hour for NBC. ABC's AMA telecast was second overall with a 9.3/14, but ABC actually won the hour in total viewers and also averaged a 6.1 rating to win the 18-49 demographic. CBS was third with the 6.2/10 for the end of "The Amazing Race" and the start of "Cold Case." FOX's "Family Guy" and "Americans Dad" fell very slightly from their lead-in.

NBC remained in first at 10 p.m. with the 9.1/15 for the football game, beating ABC in total viewers this time. ABC's AMAs broadcast came in second with an 8.7/15, but won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 5.7 rating. CBS trailed with the end of "Cold Case" and the start of "Three Rivers." [Note: Because of NFL overrun, it's difficult to determine the results of NBC's time period switch of "Three Rivers" and "Cold Case," but on the surface, it appears to have at least benefitted "Cold Case."

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.