TV Ratings : ABC Outscores the Competition

ABC’s regular schedule proved far stronger than NBC’s pro basketball divisional playoffs in last week’s ratings, the A.C. Nielsen research firm reported Tuesday. With five series in the Top 10, ABC won the week with a 10.8 rating. CBS was second with a 10 and NBC came in last with a 9.

With the summer TV season coming on, the Big Three saw their total viewing level drop off to only 53% of the national audience. NBC said a number of its shows were preempted not only for the four basketball games, but also for the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon and a Billy Graham TV special. But even the highest-rated game ranked only No. 20.

* CBS’ annual Tony Awards special, honoring the best of Broadway, fared poorly, ranking No. 50 among 91 shows, with an 8.9 rating and only 16% of the audience.

Points Share 1. “Roseanne” (ABC) 20.2 32 2. “Home Improvement” (ABC) 18.3 30 3. “60 Minutes” (CBS) 17.5 35 4. “20/20” (ABC) 17.4 32 5. “Coach” (ABC) 17.4 28 * “46th Annual Tony Awards” (CBS) 8.9 16

Complete list, F9

(Each rating point represents 921,000 homes.

Share is the percentage of viewing audience.)