‘Blind Faith’ Keeps NBC on Top 85th Week

NBC had faith--the first half of the miniseries “Blind Faith” on Sunday night--to help it stay on top for the 85th week out of the last 86, it was reported today.

An interesting thing happened to the networks on the way to the ratings war on Sunday--during the two-hour movie window, they had a combined audience share of 78%, considerably higher than the 69% they usually average.

Two of the three competing shows--”Blind Faith” on NBC (ranking 8th in the listings) and the terrifying “Miracle Landing” on CBS (24th)--were based on real happenings. The theatrical film “Robocop” (23rd) was the ABC entry.

Two other docudramas were less widely watched. The second installment of CBS’ miniseries, “Family Of Spies,” tied for 36th on Tuesday, which is pretty good for CBS on a Tuesday. NBC’s “Murder in Mississippi” came in 50th, which is not good for an NBC Monday movie.

There were two new series bowing in last week--”Elvis” on ABC and “The Bradys” on CBS.

“Elvis,” in its special premiere slot following “Roseanne,” tied for 20th--a considerable drop from its third-place lead-in. When “Elvis” moved into its regular Sunday slot, it dropped to 47th, down precipitously from its lead-in, “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” which again made the top 10.

NBC won the ratings race for the week ending Feb. 11 with a 14.7 rating and a 24 share, according to the A. C. Nielsen Co. ABC took second place with a 13.2 rating and a 21 share, while CBS was third with a 12.5 rating and a 20 share.

The 21-week-old season-to-date ratings show NBC with a 14.8 rating and a 25 share, ABC with a 13.0 rating and a 22 share, and CBS with a 12.3 rating and a 20 share.

TV RATINGS

Here are the ratings for national prime-time television last week (Feb. 5-11), as compiled by the A. C. Nielsen Co.

Program (Network) Rating

1. The Cosby Show (NBC) 22.9

2. Cheers (NBC) 22.8

3. Roseanne (ABC) 22.5

4. A Different World (NBC) 21.9

5. Funniest Home Videos (ABC) 21.4

6. Golden Girls (NBC) 20.3

7. Wonder Years (ABC) 20.1

8. “Blind Faith,” Part 1 (NBC) 19.9

9. Who’s the Boss? (ABC) 18.9

10. 60 Minutes (CBS) 18.7