TV Ratings : ‘PrimeTime Live,’ ‘Roseanne’ Share the Top Spot

With the bulk of entertainment programs in reruns, television viewers turned their attention elsewhere in prime time last week, lifting three newsmagazines and three NBA playoff games into the Nielsen Top 10. But most people turned away from the three major networks altogether: ABC, CBS and NBC combined to attract only 49% of the prime-time audience, according to figures released Tuesday by the A.C. Nielsen Co.

ABC had the four highest-rated programs of the week, with a “PrimeTime Live” installment hosted by Sam Donaldson and a “Roseanne” repeat tying for No. 1 in the household rankings. It was the first time in its nearly six-year history that “PrimeTime Live” has finished that high.

CBS’ telecast of the Tony Awards on Sunday finished with identical ratings to last year, attracting 14% of the available viewers and ranking 43rd among the week’s 92 prime-time programs.

Meanwhile, “Thunder Alley,” which has been canceled by ABC, finished No. 10 for the week nationally and No. 6 locally. A spokesman for the comedy series said Tuesday that the producers are in negotiations to move the show to another network or cable outlet.

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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.

Program Network Rating 1. Home Improvement KABC 17.1 2. 60 Minutes KCBS 16.6 3. The Simpsons KTTV 14.0 4. Married ... With Children KTTV 13.8 5. 20/20 KABC 13.0 -- Thunder Alley KABC 13.0 -- Grace Under Fire KABC 13.0 8. Roseanne KABC 12.7 9. The Critic KTTV 11.9 10. Murphy Brown KCBS 11.5

Weekly Averages NBC: 9.2 ABC: 8.9 CBS: 8.5 FOX: 5.1 UPN 2.7 WB: 1.8

Season to Date ABC: 11.8 NBC: 11.4 CBS: 10.7 FOX: 7.4 UPN: 3.9 WB: 1.8 Source: A. C. Nielsen Co.