TV Ratings: NBC's 'Kings' fails to rule as ABC, CBS split Sunday

Ian McShane and Chris Egan of 'Kings'

Credit: NBC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, March 15, 2009.

As is so often the case, ABC won Sunday night comfortably in the key 18-49 demographic, but CBS controlled the evening overall, while the series premiere of NBC's "Kings" did little to shake things up.

In the all-important demographic, ABC averaged a 3.5 rating, topping the 2.7 rating for CBS and FOX's 2.2 rating. NBC finished fourth in the demo with a 1.8 rating, beating the 0.2 rating for The CW.

CBS won overall, averaging an estimated 11.72 million viewers to go with a 7.1 rating/12 share. ABC's 6.5/11 was a respectable second. NBC finished a distant third with a 3.7/6. FOX's 2.8/5 was good for fourth, while The CW's 0.7/1 trailed.

In the 8 p.m. hour CBS' "60 Minutes" was dominant with an 8.0/14. ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" took second with a 4.3/8, beating "Datline NBC" and FOX's "Hole in the Wall." The CW's "Jericho" repeat did a 0.4/1.

CBS held onto first at 8 p.m. with a 6.0/10 for "The Amazing Race," which nipped the 5.7/9 for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The first hour of "Kings" on NBC had a 4.1/7, beating the 3.3/5 for FOX's "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" (though the FOX comedies beat the NBC drama in the 18-49 demo). The CW trailed with an airing of "Moonstruck."

ABC moved into first at 9 p.m. with a 9.0/14 for "Desperate Housewives." CBS' "Cold Case" was a solid second, more than doubling the 3.8/6 for FOX's "Family Guy" and "American Dad." NBC's "Kings" dropped to a 3.6/6 in its second hour, still handling The CW's movie.

"Brothers & Sisters" had a 7.1/12 in the 10 p.m. hour to keep ABC on top. CBS' "The Unit" was a close second with a 6.7/11. NBC' "Celebrity Apprentice" had a 4.3/7 for 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.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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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.