Audiences failed to get wrapped up in news coverage of the country's military action Sunday as overall primetime viewing of the Big Three networks was way down vs. a week ago. According to preliminary
Nielsen numbers, two-hour news specials from 7 to 9 Sunday night combined for about 30 million viewers on ABC, CBS and NBC. One week earlier, on the first Sunday of the season, the same networks
combined for 38.3 million. These low turnouts also affected the ratings for the rookie dramas that followed the news specials, with ABC's "Alias," and NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "UC:
Undercover" all dropping sharply from their premieres. "Alias" (preliminary 10.7 million viewers, 4.4 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49) was down 29% in the coveted demographic vs. its premiere; "Law &
Order: CI" (preliminary 11.1 million, 3.4/7) was off by 24%; and "UC" (preliminary 8.2 million, 3.4/8) was down by 26%.