TV Ratings: Familiar Sunday, as CBS and FOX split

'60 Minutes' draws the biggest overall audiences, but FOX animation is tops 18-49

By Daniel Fienberg Monday, Jul 20, 2009 11:36 AM

Stewie of 'Family Guy'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Sunday, July 19, 2009.

In what continues to be the pattern for the summer, CBS won Sunday night overall, but FOX snuck in and claimed the sluggish evening in the key demographic.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 1.4 rating, nipping the 1.3 rating for CBS and only slightly ahead of the 1.1 rating for NBC or ABC's 1.0 rating. The CW's 0.4 rating trailed in the key demographic.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 6.3 million viewers to go with a 4.1 rating/8 share. NBC was well back in second with a 3.1/6, which topped the 2.4/4 for ABC. FOX's 1.8/3 was fourth, leaving The CW in fifth with a 0.8/1.

CBS kicked things off in first with "60 Minutes" delivering a 4.8/10 in the 7 p.m. hour. NBC's "Great American Road Trip" was second, edging the 2.9/6 for ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos," which actually won the hour in the 18-49 demo. FOX's "Til Death" and "American Dad" still beat the 0.3/1 for a series finale of "Valentine" on The CW.

"Big Brother 11" dropped to a 3.5/7, but still helped CBS win the 8 p.m. hour, also claiming the 18-49 demo. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was second overall with a 3.2/6. NBC's "Merlin" had a 2.6/5 for third, beating FOX's "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill." The CW's Random Movie of the Week was "The Thomas Crown Affair," which had a 0.9/2.

CBS stayed in first at 9 p.m. with the 4.1/7 for "Cold Case." The NBC telefilm "Meteor" had a 3.0/5 for second. FOX won the hour in the 18-49 demographic with "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons," finishing third overall with a 2.4/4. ABC's "Desperate Housewives" repeat and The CW's movie trailed.

"Without a Trace" closed the night in first for CBS with a 4.0/7. NBC's "Meteor" had a 3.5/6 overall and won the hour with a 1.4 in the 18-49 demo. ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" was well back in 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.

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.