NBC has captured another primetime frame in the key young-adults demo while "CSI"-powered CBS again led in total viewers in a week littered with repeats.
Overall, there was lots of holiday togetherness among the nets, as depressed viewing levels produced a sesh that was extremely competitive in most key categories. NBC, for example, won for the 12th time in 14 weeks this season in adults 18-49 (3.0/9), but was only three ticks ahead of fourth-place Fox (2.7/8).
And three-tenths of a ratings point separated first-place Fox from third-place ABC in adults 18-34, as well as first-place CBS and third-place ABC in adults 25-54.
It was only in total viewers that the final full week of the calendar year wasn't close: CBS topped runner-up NBC by a comfy 22%.
The Eye net's "CSI" was easily the week's most-watched primetime program (21.24 million for a repeat episode), although a late-afternoon Sunday NFL game on Fox (primarily Packers-Jets) led among all dayparts with a whopping 25.08 million.
"CSI" was also the No. 1 program in adults 18-49 (7.4/20), while an additional repeat seg airing prior to it on Thursday placed fourth (5.3/16). CBS dominated Thursday overall, with a repeat of "Without a Trace" taking advantage of its huge "CSI" lead-in to top NBC's "ER" repeat in adults 18-49 (4.3/12 to 4.1/12).
CBS also did well on Christmas night, winning among total viewers and adults 25-54 with repeats of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Richard Thomas/Beau Bridges telepic "The Christmas Secret."
NBC won on Christmas Eve with a rebroadcast of "It's a Wonderful Life," and crushed its competish on Friday with a two-hour "Dateline" (3.6/12 in adults 18-49) and a repeat "Law & Order: SVU" (4.2/14).
A repeat of the net's Thursday laffer "Friends" was the week's top-rated comedy in adults 18-49 (6.4/19), ranking third among all programs.
ABC, which was second in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, led among viewers under 50. "Monday Night Football" (Steelers-Buccaneers) ranked No. 2 in adults 18-49 (6.9/20) and the net's inaugural NBA primetime game (Kings-Lakers) drew the largest aud for a Christmas night pro basketball game in five years (7.5 million).
ABC also was a solid second on Sunday in total viewers with 1965 classic "The Sound of Music" (11.46m, 3.4/9 in A18-49).
Sunday was a good night all around for movies, as Fox grabbed big numbers for a repeat of "Die Hard With a Vengeance" (4.3/11 in adults 18-49) and CBS topped its season average on the night with a second airing of "You've Got Mail" (3.2/8).
Fox also scored a routine victory in adults 18-49 on Saturday with its reality staples "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted."
Week also marked the beginning of college football bowl season, with the largest auds tuning in for a pair of ESPN contests: 5.76 million for Saturday's Alamo Bowl (Colorado-Wisconsin) and 5.13 million for Friday's Holiday Bowl (Kansas State-Arizona State).
ESPN was primetime's top-rated basic cable net in both adults 18-49 (1.8 rating) and total viewers (4.03 million) -- placing ahead of weblets UPN and the WB.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com