Fox preems make mark
NBC, CBS back atop Nielsens
And don't count out scrappy ABC, which may not have won a night in adults 18-49 but was second on six nights (all but Thursday).
According to Nielsen, NBC prevailed in adults 18-49 for the fifth time in six weeks this season, taking the Oct. 28-Nov. 3 frame by 17% over runner-up Fox (4.8 vs. 4.1). NBC and Fox each won three nights, CBS one.
Week included the opening four nights of the November sweep.
For the season, NBC's advantage over the second-place net in 18-49 (4.9 to CBS' 4.1) is the same as a year ago, when it led over Fox (5.1 to 4.3).
The Eye, which leads the season in total viewers through six weeks and has moved up to second in 18-49, was back on top for the week in viewers and tied with ABC for third in 18-49. CBS and the WB remain the only nets to be up year-to-year in key demographics.
NBC had six of the week's top 10 programs in adults 18-49, led by No. 1 "Friends" (11.8/32). CBS had nine of the top 20 shows in total viewers, powered by "CSI" (28.95 million) -- the most-watched entertainment program for the fourth-straight week.
Fox had six of the week's top 20 programs in adults 18-49, thanks to the strong season premieres of "The Simpsons" (No. 6 at 8.1/19) and "24" (No. 14 at 6.5/16). Net, which had aired mostly baseball for the early part of the season, also returned to its usual first-place position among viewers 12-34.
ABC matched its best 18-49 score of the season (3.9/10) and drew its largest weekly aud, excluding the week of the Academy Awards, since January (10.35 million). Alphabet, led by "The Bachelor," "Monday Night Football" and its comedies, was also the only net up vs. the same week a year ago.
(Week 6 last year included three World Series games on Fox and the Emmy Awards on CBS).
The WB (with repeats of "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls") was flat or up slightly in various demos vs. the same week a year ago, while UPN (with a repeat "Buffy") was down by about 15% across the board.
Sunday
Fox's all-comedy lineup produced a victory in 18-49, 18-34 and other demos, while NBC's new dramas held up well and ABC did solid but not spectacular ratings for its "Home Alone 4" made-for (Daily Variety, Nov. 5).
HBO's "The Sopranos" continues to make life difficult for all the nets at 9, averaging 10.97 million viewers and winning its hour in adults 18-49 (5.9/13), adults 25-54 (6.3/13) and adults 18-34 (6.0/15).
CBS' "60 Minutes," with a report on an apartheid germ program in South Africa, hit season lows (12.69m, 2.6/7 in A18-49), falling behind NBC's "Dateline" (7.98m, 2.4/6) among viewers under 50.
Saturday
Neither of the network preem movies -- ABC's "Gladiator" (2.7/8 in A18-49) nor NBC's "Bone Collector" (2.4/7) -- did much, leaving Fox to take the night with a 2.8/8 for "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted." The CBS drama lineup tied with Fox for the 25-54 lead (2.9/8).
ESPN drew a strong 4.72 million for its Florida-Georgia college football game, and TLC grabbed 4.51 million for "Trading Spaces."
Friday
"Home Videos" again won the 8 p.m. hour in 18-49 (3.4/12) with ABC's best score there since March. Opening night of the two-part theatrical preem of "Gladiator" didn't do much in 18-49 (2.7/8) but did win from 9 to 11 in male demos and teens.
The WB's "Reba" won its 9 p.m. slot in femmes 12-34 (2.7/9), matching a season high, while lead-out "Greetings From Tucson" scored best-yet ratings in the demo (2.4/9).
Thursday
NBC's "Friends" (24.46m, 11.5/32), although sent to firstrun season lows in part due to Halloween festivities, still beat its combined ABC-CBS-Fox competish in most demos. NBC won the night by 28% over CBS in 18-49.
CBS led in total viewers for a third- straight Thursday and for the first time on a sweep Thursday with its regular sked since May 2001.
Eye's rookie drama "Without a Trace" may be getting trounced by NBC's "ER," but its 5.3/14 in 18-49 was higher than the week's score for NBC's "West Wing" (5.1/12) or ABC's "The Practice" (4.6/12).
Wednesday
ABC's "The Bachelor" earned its best 18-49 rating ever (7.3/18), topping NBC's "West Wing" (5.1/12) by a best-yet 43%. Competing reality series "Amazing Race 3" on CBS fell to a season low (3.1/8) but was still the net's strongest performer of the night.
The WB's once-promising "Birds of Prey" continued its descent to mediocrity, with its fifth-place 2.0/5 in 18-34 repping a 60% drop from its preem (5.0/14). The same hour saw the return of Fox's "Fastlane" stall with a 3.3/8 in 18-49.
Tuesday
Season preem of "24" and the return of "That '70s Show" lifted Fox to victory in all under-55 demos, but ABC's comedy block held up well, with all shows near or above season averages (Daily Variety, Oct. 31).
NBC's "Frasier" placed second to "24" at 9 in adults 18-49 (5.0/12) with its lowest firstrun rating ever. Its lead-in "In-Laws" was also down (2.6/7), getting barreled over by the other comedies in its 8:30 slot: Fox's special "That '70s Show" (6.3/16) and ABC's "According to Jim" (5.4/14).
ABC's "NYPD Blue" (14.62m, 5.9/16) hit season highs.
Monday
UPN's comedies drew the net's best 18-34 average on a Monday (2.7/4) in more than six years, with "Girlfriends" (3.0/8) and "Half and Half" (2.6/7) hitting series highs.
CBS won for a sixth-straight Monday in 18-49 and total viewers, and NBC did well with a two-hour "Third Watch" (4.7/11 in 18-49) and a season high for "Fear Factor" (5.4/14).
