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[12/17/18 - 08:26 AM]
Sunday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC, "Sunday Night Football" Take Top Honors
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/16/18):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

NBC (7:30-11pm) (14.811 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) continued its reign on Sunday with its mix of "Football Night in America #1" (5.987 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6), "Football Night in America #2" (10.170 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (13.675 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.1, #3) and "Sunday Night Football" (15.967 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #2).

Second place then went to CBS (11.145 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) with its lineup of "NFL Overrun" (25.726 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.3, #1), "60 Minutes" (14.159 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), "God Friended Me" (8.419 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (6.843 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9) and a repeat "FBI" (4.592 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10).

Next up was FOX (4.189 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) and its telecast of "2018 Miss Universe" (4.189 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.197 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up its annual broadcast of "The Sound of Music" (4.197 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10).

And finally, The CW (0.625 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night with its special "iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018" (0.684 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) and "Discontinued" (0.445 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.1, #13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+166.67% - 60 Minutes
+52.63% - Football Night in America #2
+37.50% - God Friended Me
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-6.67% - Football Night in America #1
-6.82% - Football Night in America #3
-7.55% - Sunday Night Football

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - God Friended Me (vs. Wisdom of the Crowd)
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-3.33% - Football Night in America #2
-4.65% - Football Night in America #3
-5.77% - Sunday Night Football
-14.29% - 60 Minutes
-17.65% - Football Night in America #1
-26.67% - 2018 Miss Universe (vs. A Christmas Story Live!)


Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/17/17):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

NBC (15.393 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) was still the network to beat on Sunday with its usual mix of "Football Night in America #1" (6.238 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6), "Football Night in America #2" (10.018 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4), "Football Night in America #3" (13.977 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #3) and "Sunday Night Football" (16.751 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.2, #2).

CBS (11.579 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then was the silver draw with its combination of "NFL Overrun" (27.974 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.9, #1), "60 Minutes" (15.004 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), "Wisdom of the Crowd" (7.331 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #8), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.035 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9) and "Madam Secretary" (5.920 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11).

Next up was FOX (4.481 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with its presentation of "A Christmas Story Live!" (4.481 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7).

And finally, ABC (4.538 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) rounded out the night with its annual telecast of "The Sound of Music" (4.538 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+154.55% - 60 Minutes
+76.47% - Football Night in America #2
+57.14% - Wisdom of the Crowd
+26.47% - Football Night in America #3
+21.43% - Football Night in America #1
+12.50% - NCIS: Los Angeles
+6.12% - Sunday Night Football
0.00% - Madam Secretary

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+150.00% - A Christmas Story Live! (vs. Various)
0.00% - 60 Minutes
-18.18% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. Madam Secretary)
-18.92% - Football Night in America #2
-19.05% - Football Night in America #1
-21.43% - Wisdom of the Crowd (vs. NCIS: Los Angeles)
-21.82% - Football Night in America #3
-22.22% - Madam Secretary (vs. Elementary)
-25.71% - Sunday Night Football

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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