Fast National ratings for Sunday, March 18, 2012.
Although we’re a week past the spring time-change, primetime ratings remained somewhat depressed on Sunday night, including viewership drops for ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” and “GCB.” That all resulted in an easy overall win for CBS and a slim win among young viewers.
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.3 rating, nipping the 2.2 rating for ABC and FOX’s 2.0 rating in the key demographic. NBC was fourth with a 1.4 key demo rating.
Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 8.72 million viewers and a 6.2 rating/10 share for Sunday night, comfortably beating the 7.46 million viewers and 4.6/8 for ABC. NBC averaged a 4.2/7 and 6.42 million viewers for third, while FOX’s 2.4/4 and 4.28 million viewers were good for fourth overall.
[Univision averaged 3.08 million viewers and a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 for Sunday night.]
7 p.m. – More than 40 minutes of NCAA Tournament overrun for much of the country, plus “60 Minutes” gave CBS an easy 7 p.m. hour win with just under 10 million viewers and a 2.5 rating among adults 18-49. NBC’s “Deadline” averaged 6.18 million viewers and a 1.1 key demo rating, compared to the 6.12 million viewers and 1.3 key demo rating for ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” FOX was fourth overall and third in the key demo with a “Simpsons” repeat (2.53 million viewers and a 1.0 key demo rating) and a new “The Cleveland Show” (3.27 million viewers and a 1.5 key demo).
8 p.m. – CBS stayed in first overall with the 10.58 million viewers for “The Amazing Race” (and a big chunk of “60 Minutes” for much of the country), but slipped to second with a 2.6 rating among adults 18-49. ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” slipped to 8.585, but actually ticked up from last week in the key demo with a 2.9 rating. NBC’s “Harry’s Law” averaged 7.62 million viewers for third, but finished fourth with a 1.1 key demo rating. FOX was fourth overall and third in the key demo with “The Simpsons” (5.235 million and a 2.4 key demo rating) and “Bob’s Burgers” (4.39 million and a 2.1 key demo).
9 p.m. – “The Good Wife” (and “The Amazing Race” for much of the country) averaged 9.2 million viewers to win the 9 p.m. hour, coming in third with a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” averaged 8.99 million viewers for second and tied for first on the hour with a 2.5 key demo rating. NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” averaged 5.21 million viewers and a 1.6 key demo rating. FOX was tied for first in the demo and finished fourth overall with “Family Guy” (5.68 million viewers and a 2.8 key demo) and “American Dad” (4.64 million viewers and a 2.2 key demo).
10 p.m. – CBS closed primetime in first overall, but third in the key demo with “CSI: Miami” (and “The Good Wife” for much of the country) averaging 9.09 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” was second with 6.37 million viewers and tied for first with a 2.0 key demo rating. ABC’s “GCB” dropped to 6.28 million and a 2.0 key demo rating. [One could theoretically surmise that “Celebrity Apprentice” was hurt in the 9 p.m. hour by the presence of “Amazing Race” overrun, while probably “Good Wife” overflowing into the 10 p.m. hour hurt “GCB,” but that would just be speculation.]
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, particularly in the case of live events.