• by Paul Gough , January 1, 2003

CBS perennial The Young and the Restless won the daytime ratings for the 729th straight week, according to Nielsen Media Research ratings for the week ended Dec. 20.

It also led in total household rating with a 3.7 and a 13 share, compared to ABC’s 2.9 rating and 10 share and NBC’s 2.7 rating and 10 share. All are down from the same week last year. CBS leads as well in total household numbers for the season, with a 3.6 rating and a 13 share (but down 10% from last year), ABC had a 2.9 rating and an 11 share (down 6%) and NBC had a 2.7 rating and a 10 share (down 4% from last year).

Among women 18-49, NBC is number one with a 2.3 rating and a 15 share (up 5% from the same week last year). ABC had a 2 rating and a 13 share, down 9% and CBS had a 1.8 rating and a 12 share, down 10 percent. Among women 18-49, NBC registered a 3.1 rating and a 19 share (up 15%), ABC and CBS were tied with 1.7 ratings and 11 shares, both down 6% from the same week last year.

CBS had the top four programs and six of the top 10 in household demographics and five of the top 10 among women 18-49 and women 25-54. The Young and the Restless was tied for first place in women 18-49 with NBC’s Days of Our Lives and in women 25-54 with ABC’s General Hospital.

In the morning news programs, NBC’s Today led again with a 4.9 rating and an 18 share, compared to ABC’s Good Morning America with a 3.7 rating and a 14 share and The CBS Early Show with a 2.3 rating and an 8 share. In Saturday morning programming from 7 a.m. to noon on Dec. 21, The WB and NBC tied for first with a 2 rating and The WB’s 7 share and NBC’s 6 share. ABC earned a 1.4 rating and a 5 share and CBS had a 1.1 rating and a 4 share. Fox trailed with a 0.9 rating and a 3 share.

The WB was tops Dec. 21 with children 2-11, with a 3.5 rating and a 15 share. ABC followed with a 1.7 rating and an 8 share, and CBS had a 1.6 rating and a 7 share. Fox had a 1.2 rating and a 5 share, while NBC had a 0.9 rating and a 3 share. Among children 2-5, CBS led with a 2.2 rating and an 11 share while The WB had a 2 rating and a 9 share. ABC (1.1 rating/5 share), Fox (1 rating and 5 share) and NBC (0.8 rating and 3 share) trailed.

The top 13 regularly scheduled network daytime programs for the week ended Dec. 22 were:

1. The Young and the Restless (CBS), 4.9 rating and 18 share.
2. The Price is Right II (CBS), 4.4 rating and 17 share.
3. The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS), 3.8 rating and 13 share.
4. The Price is Right I (CBS), 3.6 rating and 15 share.
5. Days of Our Lives (NBC), 3.3 rating and 12 share.
6. General Hospital (ABC), 3.3 rating and 11 share.
7. As The World Turns (CBS), 3.2 rating and 11 share.
8. All My Children (ABC), 3.2 rating and 11 share.
9. One Life To Live (ABC), 3.1 rating an 11 share.
10. Guiding Light (CBS), 2.5 rating and 8 share.
11. The View (ABC), 2.3 rating and 9 share.
12. Passions (NBC), 2.1 rating and 7 share.
13. Port Charles (ABC), 1.8 rating and 7 share.