• by Ken Liebeskind , April 10, 2002

NBC and CBS battled it out again for first place in the Nielsens, with NBC winning in perhaps the closest race ever. Both networks had 14 shares with NBC's household slightly above CBS's at 8.3 versus 8.2. Meanwhile, ABC trailed badly again at 9/5.5, followed by Fox with 7/4.3.

NBC's E.R. led the week with a 28/10.6 and 28.5 million viewers. CBS was next with CSI and the NCAA college basketball championship game. Among the other top shows were Friends (NBC), Survivor (CBS), Law and Order (NBC), Prelude to a Championship, part of college basketball (CBS), West Wing (NBC), Law & Order (NBC) and Will and Grace (NBC).

NBC and CBS had the top 18 shows. One ABC show - The Practice - and two from Fox – The Simpsons and Malcom in the Middle - rounded out the top 25.

Cable winners for the most recent week were WWF (TNN), NCAA Women's basketball (ESPN), Osbournes (MTV) and Real World (MTV). WWF's top rating was 4.6 household with 4.8 million viewers.

Syndicated winners for the most recent week were Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Friends, Seinfeld and Entertainment Tonight, with Wheel getting a 9.6 household and 10 million viewers.

CBS college basketball games were the top two sports shows for the most recent week, followed by NBA basketball (NBC), WWF Smackdown (UPN) and Shell Houston Open golf (ABC). The college basketball championship game scored a 21/11.3.

In other TV news, CBS and the Writers Guild of America announced a tentative contract agreement, which avoids a strike that would have hurt CBS programs. A three-year contract, calling for annual three percent pay jumps, has been forwarded to guild members, including writers, editors and other personnel.

Also, ABC reached an agreement with Nightline host Ted Koppel to keep the show in its late-night time slot for at least two more years. The move comes after ABC tried to lure David Letterman away from CBS into Koppel's slot. After that move failed, Koppel demanded assurances that his show is safe.