WEDDING WINS RATINGS

An estimated 50 million to 55 million American households watched television coverage of the royal wedding in London Wednesday morning.

All three major American commercial-TV networks broadcast live the 45-minute Westminster Abbey wedding ceremony of the former Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, fourth in line to rule the United Kingdom.

The wedding was also carried in the United States on Cable News Network, Lifetime cable network, Spanish International Network and Independent Network News.

Based on A.C. Nielsen Co. overnight ratings from 12 major cities, ABC’s “Good Morning America” broadcast got a 31% share of the viewing audience against “Today” on NBC with a 30% share. The “CBS Morning News” was a distant third with a 14% share.

In Los Angeles, however, NBC’s “Today” show led ABC by nine-tenths of a rating point--a 7.4 rating and 26% share versus a 6.5 rating and 23% share. CBS had a 4 rating and a 14% share here. Each rating point represents about 43,800 homes in Los Angeles.

According to NBC, overall viewing of the morning programs was up substantially for the wedding coverage. In the 12 cities rated, the “Today” audience was up 120% from last week. CBS was up 110% and ABC increased 77%.