‘60 Minutes’ helps keep CBS at the top

CBS won the prime-time television rankings race for the 13th time in the season’s 14 weeks in part due to a strong showing by “60 Minutes,” which was the week’s second most-watched show.

“60 Minutes” began 53 minutes later than scheduled in the Eastern and Central time zones but averaged 15.74 million viewers, thanks in part to the strong lead-in from CBS’ NFL coverage, including the New York Jets ending the Indianapolis Colts’ bid for an undefeated season.

Only NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins averaged more viewers among prime-time television shows broadcast from Dec. 21 through Sunday, according to figures released Tuesday by the Nielsen Co.

In a week with little original programming and customarily low viewership because of the Christmas holiday, CBS averaged 9.11 million viewers for its prime-time programming, with eight of the 10 most-watched shows.

Univision was the top-rated Spanish-language network.

NBC was second overall but edged CBS by 50,000 viewers to finish first among 18- to 49-year-olds, the group that NBC, ABC and Fox target and advertisers covet. NBC was also first among viewers ages 12 to 17 and 18 to 34, while CBS led among viewers ages 25 to 54 and 55 and older.

The Dec. 21 conclusion of NBC’s four-episode a cappella singing competition series, “The Sing-Off,” was 15th for the week with 7.28 million viewers.