TV Ratings : Seven’s the Lucky Number for ABC

The Academy Awards, which drew 50% of the national audience, and Barbara Walters’ Oscar-night special, which drew 31%, powered ABC to an easy victory in last week’s TV ratings, the A. C. Nielsen research firm reported Tuesday. But ABC’s rare weekly victory in a season dominated by CBS was more overwhelming as it placed seven shows in the Top 10, including “Roseanne,” “20/20,” “Home Improvement,” “Full House” and the new series “Room for Two.” NBC had only one show in the Top 10, “Unsolved Mysteries.”

ABC averaged a 14 rating for the week, CBS had a 12.7 and NBC 10.8. (Each rating point equals 921,000 homes. The full ratings list is on F11.) CBS’ eagerly awaited semifinal matchup between Indiana and Duke, which eventually won the NCAA basketball tournament, was a strong No. 10, attracting 30% of the viewers.

* “Dateline NBC,” with Jane Pauley and Stone Phillips anchoring the latest in the network’s long-fruitless attempt to establish a prime-time news magazine, got off to a healthy start, with its premiere No. 31, earning 23% of the audience.

Points Share 1. “64th Annual Academy Awards Show” (ABC) 29.8 50 2. “Roseanne” (ABC) 23.6 36 3. “60 Minutes” (CBS) 20.3 38 4. “Barbara Walters Special” (ABC) 19.3 31 5. “20/20” (ABC) 19.2 35 * “Dateline NBC” (NBC) 12.9 23