NBC and CBS battled it out atop the Nielsen sheets on Sunday, where football was naturally dominant.
For CBS, “60 Minutes” and “Madam Secretary” hauled in strong viewer totals on the heels of a late-running NFL doubleheader. By the time “The Good Wife” came on, however, the numbers fell back down to Earth a bit. Still, the network was first in total viewers on Sunday, thanks in large part that that sports overrun. Though due to the nature of live sports, numbers for the networks housing football are approximate.
NBC finished first in the demo, however, thanks to its own pro football property. NBC earned a 5.6 rating/16 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic. It was second in viewers with an average of 14.3 million, according to preliminary numbers. At 7 p.m. Part 1 of “Football Night in America” got a 1.6/5 and 5.3 million viewers. At 7:30, Part 2 had a 2.2/7 and 6 million viewers. Part 3 at 8 earned a 5.0/15 and 13.1 million viewers.
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CBS was second in ratings with a 3.8/11 and first in viewers with 17.4 million. The NFL overrun at 7 scored the following night-highs: an 8.3/27 and 27.3 million total viewers. At 8, the “60 Minutes” premiere earned a 3.6/10 and 18.2 million viewers. “Madam Secretary” at 9 debuted to a 1.9/5 and 14.3 million viewers. “Good Wife” premiered at 10 to a 1.3/4 and 10 million viewers.
Fox was third in ratings with a 1.2/4 and fourth in viewers with 2.7 million. Following reruns, “American Dad” at 9:30 received a 1.4/4 and 3 million viewers.
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Univision was fourth in ratings with a 0.7/2 and fifth in viewers with 2.1 million.
ABC was fifth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and third in total viewers with 3.1 million, airing entirely repeats.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.4/1 and in total viewers with one million.