TV Ratings : Simpson Case Helps Magazines Sink a Ratings Basket

Game 7 of the NBA Finals drew a large audience, but it was the network newsmagazines that came out the big winners last week, courtesy of the case surrounding the murders of football legend O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife and a friend, according to A.C. Nielsen Co. results released Tuesday.

ABC’s “Turning Point,” anchored by Barbara Walters, focused on the celebrated case and was the No. 1-rated program, the first time since it premiered a few months ago. Audiences hungry for Simpson-related development and analysis also tuned in ABC’s “20/20” (No. 5), “Primetime Live” (No. 8) and NBC’s “Dateline NBC” (No. 12).

Even a repeat of a study of domestic violence on CBS’ “48 Hours” (No. 14) drew a sizable audience with its new introduction loosely linking the show to the Simpson murders.

Meanwhile, CBS’ “Greyhounds,” an unsold pilot starring Dennis Weaver, Robert Guillaume and Pat Morita as retirees fighting crime, scored respectable numbers in its outing last Friday night (No. 23), but it remained uncertain whether there was enough interest to eventually warrant a permanent spot on the network’s prime-time schedule.

Southland Ratings Here are A.C. Nielsen’s Top 10 prime-time programs in the Los Angeles area during the same week. Each rating point equals 50,064 households.

Sta- Rat- Program tion ing 1.Turning Point KABC 19.0 2.Roseanne KABC 18.0 3.Grace Under Fire KABC 15.9 4.Home Improvement KABC 15.5 5.”NBA Finals” Post Game KNBC 15.3 6.Coach KABC 14.7 7.20/20 KABC 14.6 8.60 Minutes KCBS 14.2 9.Frasier KNBC 13.7 10.Seinfeld KNBC 13.2

Weekly Averages ABC: 10.0 CBS: 9.4 NBC: 8.1 FOX: 5.3