TV Ratings: Sugar Bowl telecast leads FOX to Friday win

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson

Credit: Dave Martin/AP

Fast National ratings for Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.

Utah capped off an undefeated season by beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. While the Utes probably won't get a national championship out of their season, FOX got a Friday night ratings win, which isn't quite the same thing.

FOX scored a dominant 3.8 rating in the 18-49 demo, topping ABC's 1.8 rating and normal Friday winner CBS' 1.7 rating. NBC was fourth with a 1.3 rating and The CW's 0.6 rating trailed.

Overall, FOX averaged just over 11.9 million viewers and a 6.9 rating/12 share. CBS was a distant second with a 4.7/8, followed by ABC and NBC with a 3.5/6. The CW's 0.9/2 was, as per usual, in last.

FOX's Sugar Bowl coverage swept its available primetime hours, starting at 8 p.m. with a 6.3/11. NBC's "Deal or No Deal" was second with a 4.4/7, nipping "Ghost Whisperer" on CBS. ABC's "Wife Swap" was fourth with a 3.0/5. The CW aired "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" for a 0.9/2.

At 9 p.m. FOX's football was up to a 7.4/12, beating the 4.7/8 for another episode of "Ghost Whisperer." ABC's "Supernanny" took third, beating the 2.9/5 for a new "Lipstick Jungle" on NBC. The CW's comedies trailed.

With FOX's 10 p.m. figures not counting in the standings, CBS moved into first with a 5.0/9 for "Numb3rs." ABC's "20/20" too second with a 4.3/7, beating "Dateline NBC."

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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.