‘AMERIKA’ HELPS, BUT ABC STILL 3RD

Sunday’s closing chapter of ABC’s “Amerika” drew a 30% share of the national audience, A. C. Nielsen Co. estimates showed Tuesday, giving the miniseries an average 28.5% share of the prime-time audience over the seven nights it was on the air.

The controversial program averaged an 18.8 rating in prime time, or just over 16.4 million homes. That wasn’t enough to get ABC out of third place in last week’s ratings, but ABC officials said they were nonetheless heartened.

“I would call them good, although I wouldn’t call them great,” said ABC research chief Marvin Mord. He said the “Amerika” ratings were 25% higher than usually achieved by the regular programs that the $41-million miniseries displaced last week on all nights but Saturday.

According to Nielsen figures, NBC, which is expected to win its second consecutive prime-time season, won last week’s ratings race with a 18.2 ratings average, followed by CBS with a 16.6. ABC was a close third with a 16.4.

Each ratings point represents 874,000 homes.