TV Ratings: Tim Tebow works his magic on CBS' Sunday ratings, as NBC's 'Firm' is soft
'Once Upon a Time' returns strong for ABC
Tim Tebow
Credit: AP
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An AFC Wild Card thriller between the Broncos and Steelers ran into Sunday primetime in a major way for CBS, lifting the network to a dominating ratings win, at least in preliminary figures.
Meanwhile, add "The Firm" to the list of shows that won't resurrect NBC's ratings fortunes, as the John Grisham drama's two-hour premiere fell flat.
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 7.1 rating, easily tops in the key demographic. ABC's 2.3 rating, FOX's 1.9 rating and the 1.3 rating for NBC followed.
Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 22.64 million viewers and a 13.2 rating/20 share. ABC Was a distant second with 7.23 million viewers and a 4.4/7, just beating the 6.25 million viewers and 4.1/6 for NBC. FOX trailed with a 2.3/3 and 4.04 million viewers.
7 p.m. - The end of CBS' football game averaged a whopping 41.89 million viewers and a 14.8 rating among adults 18-49 for the 7 p.m. hour, obviously leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" was second with 5.78 million viewers and a 1.4 key demo rating, beating the 5.01 million and 0.9 key demo rating for NBC's "Dateline." On FOX, repeats of "Bob's Burgers" and "The Cleveland Show" averaged 2.08 million viewers and a 0.8 key demo rating.
8 p.m. - A little bit more NFL overrun and "60 Minutes" kept CBS in first for the 8 p.m. hour with 25.23 million viewers and a 7.9 rating among adults 18-49. Reversing a recent decline, ABC's "Once Upon a Time" returned strong with 10.33 million viewers and a 3.7 key demo rating despite the stiff competition. NBC's "Dateline" averaged 7.42 million viewers and a 1.5 key demo rating in its second hour. On FOX, new episodes of "The Simpsons" and "The Cleveland Show" averaged 4.74 million viewers and a 2.2 key demo rating.
9 p.m. - CBS stayed in first for the 9 p.m. hour with 12.68 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49 for "60 Minutes" and "The Good Wife." ABC's "Desperate Housewives" averaged 8.79 million viewers and a 3.0 key demo rating. NBC's "The Firm" started its sneak preview with 6.78 million viewers and a 1.5 key demo rating. FOX's new "Family Guy" (6.035 million viewers and a 3.0 key demo) and "American Dad" (4.59 million viewers and a 2.1 key demo rating) followed.
10 p.m. - "The Good Wife" and "CSI: Miami" closed primetime in first for CBS with 10.76 million viewers and a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49. NBC's "The Firm" slipped to 5.79 million viewers and a 1.3 key demo rating, beating ABC's "Pan Am," which mustered only a 4.035 million viewers and a 1.3 key demo.
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.
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.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupKeeping It Real
January 9, 2012 at 1:47PM EST Reply to CommentThose are insane but well-deserved numbers for the instant-classic Broncos game! I remember when American Idol used to get demos in the 14.8 range, now they typically do half or less than half of that.
gladly
January 9, 2012 at 2:05PM EST Reply to CommentWill ratings for Downton Abbey be released? I'm just curious how the second series premiere did, possibly in relation to regular network programming and other PBS successes. No, not for any good reason. Just curiosity.
Keeping It Real I'm wondering about that too. I haven't seen such a well written AND easily accessible primetime soap since the early years of Grey's Anatomy.
January 9, 2012 at 2:49PM ESTGuest796
April 16, 2012 at 3:13PM EST - via iPad Reply to CommentTebow!