With 24 million viewers tuning in to The Game itself and another 17 million watching the "Pre-Kickoff" telecast, Monday Night Football gave NBC its second consecutive ratings victory among the key 18-49 demographic last week, according to Nielsen Research. The network didn't have a single scripted show in Nielsen's top 25 and only The Biggest Loser and the short series The Sing-Off in that list. Every other show in the top 25 was broadcast by CBS, which again came out ahead among total adults. Among the nightly newscasts, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams once again retained the top spot with 9.66 million viewers. ABC World News with Diane Sawyer placed second with 8.28 million viewers, while the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric placed third with 6.22 million. For the week, CBS once again prevailed among total adults with a 6.7 average rating and an 11 share. NBC followed with a 5.1/9. ABC placed third with a 2.9/5, barely edging out Fox, with a 2.8/5. Meanwhile, Nielsen said that ESPN's Monday Night Football beat everything in primetime -- broadcast or cable -- Monday when it attracted 17.1 million viewers. The result was particularly impressive given the fact that it ended with a lop-sided 40-14 victory by the Chicago Bears over the Minnesota Vikings.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research 1. Sunday Night Football, NBC, 14/23; 2. NCIS, CBS, 12.2/20; 3. 60 Minutes, CBS, 11.2/19; 4. Sunday Night Football Pre-Kickoff, NBC, 9.9/16; 5. NCIS Los Angeles , CBS, 10.3/16; 6. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 8.5/13; 7. Criminal Minds, CBS, 8.4/14; 8. Survivor Nicaragua (Sunday Finale), CBS, 7.3/12; 9. The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 7.9/13; 10. Survivor Nicaragua (Wednesday), CBS, 7/12.

22/12/2010