• by Paul Gough , January 8, 2003

Football – and lots of it – led ABC to its first primetime households ratings victory of the 2002-03 season according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

ABC’s 9.5 rating and 16 share outdistanced its competitors and even outpaced its average for the same week a year ago, when it received an 8.1 rating and a 13 share. CBS, this year’s total-households season winner so far came in second place with a 7.1 rating and a 12 share. NBC, which is leading by a half-rating point in the 18-49 demographic so far this season, came in third in total households with a 6.1 rating and a 10 share.

Fox followed with a 5.6 rating and a 9 share. The WB received a 2.1 rating and a 3 share, close to UPN’s 2 rating and 3 share and ahead of Pax’s 0.8 rating and 1 share.

In adults 18-49, ABC remained on top with a 5.8 rating and a 16 share. Fox came in second this week, with a 3.9 rating and an 11 share. NBC, which ran mostly reruns in the time period, had a 3.4 rating and a 9 share. CBS came in fourth with a 3.1 rating and an 8 share. The WB and UPN had 1.4 ratings and 4 shares; Pax’s 18-49 rating was 0.3 and its share was 1.

In total households, Friday night’s Fiesta Bowl between Miami and Ohio State received a 17.2 rating and a 29 share, one of seven programs to receive more than a 20 share for the week ended Sunday. One of two repeats of CSI, both on Thursday, was the only non-football program to receive a 20-plus share.

ABC had five programs in the top 10, all football-related. Fox’s NFC wildcare postgame show – following a wild finish in the San Francisco/New York game – also placed in the top five. A repeat of CSI was the week’s top-rated regularly scheduled program.

The top 10 programs for the week ended Jan. 5 are:

1. Fiesta Bowl (ABC), 17.2 rating and 29 share.
2. AFC/NFC Playoff Game/Atlanta at Green Bay (ABC), 16 rating and 27 share.
3. CSI (CBS), 14 rating and 21 share.
4. AFC/NFC Showcase (ABC), 13.6 rating and 25 share.
5. NFC Wildcard Postgame (Fox), 13.5 rating and 21 share.
6. Fiesta Bowl pregame (ABC), 11.9 rating and 21 share.
7. CSI Special (CBS), 11.4 rating and 18 share.
8. Rose Bowl (ABC), 11.3 rating and 20 share.
9. Friends (NBC), 10 rating and 16 share.
10. Without A Trace (CBS), 9.9 rating and 17 share.

Nielsen estimates 106.7 million television households in the United States. A single national household ratings point represents 1% or 1.067 million households.