'Tonight' edges 'Nightline' in Nielsens
"Tonight" averaged a 5.3 rating, 15 share from 11:35 p.m. to 12:05 a.m. and a 4.6/14 overall, ending a nine-week win streak by the ABC news show, which posted a 5.2/15. NBC also led among adults 18-49 with a 3 rating to a 2.7 for "Nightline." CBS' "Crime Time" delivered a 2.8/10.
Status quo reigned elsewhere, as CBS' daytime dominance notched its 215th weekly win with a 5.5/21 to ABC's 4.8/18 and NBC's 2.8/10. ABC as usual was on top among women 18-49, averaging a 3.7 rating to CBS' 3.0 and a 1.7 for NBC.
"The Young and the Restless" (8.1/30) was the top-rated show, though ABC notes that all of its afternoon soaps are up marginally compared to the corresponding period last year.
ABC's "Good Morning America" (4.6/20) ran its growing win streak over "Today" (4.1/18) to 23 weeks, also leading among adults 18-49 with a 2 rating to a 1.7 for the NBC breakfastcast. "CBS This Morning" brought up the rear with a 2.9/13 and 1 rating in the key-adult demographic, respectively. Weekend editions of "Today" pulled a 3.0/11 and 2.6/16.
The Fox Children's Network led the way in Saturday-morning from 8 a.m. to noon with a 5.4 rating among kids age 2-11 and 2.9/10 in households, compared to a 4.7 and 2.8/10 for CBS and ABC's 4.4 and 2.5/9 by the same standard. Coverage for all four services was low due to preemptions brought about by the verdict in the Rodney King civil rights trial, resulting in depressed ratings.
NBC ranked first among teens, its target demographic, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., while CBS' "Garfield and Friends" was the top-rated show both in terms of households and children. Fox and ABC remain tightly bunched in their among kids since last September, meanwhile, with, in order, a 5.8, 5.5 and 5.1 average rating.
ABC also reports that its weekly late night show "ABC in Concert" has now outperformed "Friday Night Videos" 14 of the last 16 weeks.
