The Sked: SUNDAY RATINGS October 30 & Sweep Update

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>A very good night for network television last night as three of four broadcast networks were up substantially over this night last year.  NBC averaged a 6.7 Adult 18-49 rating in the fast nationals Sunday night, and we are giving that a preliminary official national adjustment up to a 7.5 rating (well over the 6.0 official national rating for last year).  CBS had the NFL late afternoon game over-run and took full advantage of it with the 60 Minutes interview of Bernie Madoff’s wife and son.  CBS averaged a 3.7 rating for the night (up from a 2.4 last year).  With Once Upon a Time working well, ABC averaged a 2.5 for the night (up from 2.2 last year).  FOX was the only down network, averaging a 2.7 last night (compared to a 5.3 last year with the late afternoon NFL game and the World Series).  Updated sweep standings follow.  Note that NBC is in second place four nights in, but the best time to judge relative placement of the networks is 7 nights and 14 nights into the sweep period.

           NOVEMBER SWEEP SCORECARD
          2011 vs 2010 Through Day 4 of 28

                 2011    2010
          FOX     4.9     3.8     +30%
          CBS     2.3     2.2     + 6%
          ABC     2.2     2.3     – 4%
          NBC     3.1     2.7     +13% 

ABC had a very good rating from week two of Once Upon a Time (3.9 fast national rating, compared to a 4.0 premiere last week). Desperate Housewives (3.1) and Pan Am (1.9) were each up a tenth of a rating point from last week.

CBS enjoyed a 9.1 rating from 7:00-7:30 (New England at Pittsburgh), and 60 Minutes (airing 30 minutes late) averaged a 4.2 rating.  The show was very well programmed with two segments featuring Bernie Madoff’s estranged wife and son and a segment about a Boston University linebacker’s battle with cancer.  Amazing Race did a solid 2.9, while Good Wife and CSI Miami drifted down to a 2.0 each.

NBC’s football game (Dallas at Philadelphia) featured great markets and teams but a horribly lopsided game.  But the play on the field mattered less than the teams involved or the point spread that had to be covered: the game portion of NBC’s night averaged an 8.2 in the fast nationals, which is certain to go up to a high-8 at the very least.  Last year’s football game on this night averaged a 7.3 in the official nationals.

FOX’s “Animation Domination” tagline really only applies to the 8:00 half hour last night.  The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” turned in a solid 4.0 rating, while Allen Gregory premiered immediately following at only a 2.4.  Family Guy bounced back to a 3.2 (good but not great for it), and Cleveland Show finished the night with a soft 2.3.