Big Three’s Numbers Plunge

The three major broadcast networks registered their second lowest share of prime-time audience in history last week during the Democrats’ convention, beating only the week of the Republican conference two weeks earlier.

Ratings data released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research put the combined audience share for ABC, CBS and NBC at 39% for the week--compared to 36% for the GOP’s convention week. A heavy schedule of entertainment reruns also contributed to the networks’ poor showing.

By contrast, Fox, which over the last two weeks has begun new episodes of four of its series, was No. 1 for the week among viewers aged 18 to 49, the demographic group most prized by advertisers.

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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.

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Program Station Rating 1. New York Undercover KTTV 14.4 2. Seinfeld KNBC 13.2 3. Living Single KTTV 12.7 4. The Single Guy KNBC 11.8 5. 20/20 KABC 11.7 6. Beverly Hills, 90210 KTTV 11.2 7. Friends KNBC 10.9 8. “Distinguished Gentlemen” KNBC 10.3 9. Roseanne KABC 10.0 -- Home Improvement KABC 10.0

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Weekly Averages

CBS: 7.4

NBC: 6.7

ABC: 6.1

FOX: 5.9

UPN: 3.5

WB: 2.6

Season to Date

NBC: 11.5

ABC: 9.5

CBS: 8.9

FOX: 6.5

UPN: 2.8

WB: 2.4

Note: This version of the TV ratings will appear until the fall season begins.

Source: A. C. Nielsen