The Academy Awards were ABC’s million dollar baby on Sunday night,
Overall, ABC averaged a 20.1 rating/30 share, far better than second place NBC’s 6.3/9. FOX dusted off the always reliable “Independence Day” for a 5.6/8. CBS spent a rare Sunday in fourth with a 4.7/7. The WB was last with a 1.3/2.
ABC also got big numbers among adults 18-49, doing an 11.7 rating in the demographic that’s as essential to advertisers as Clint Eastwood was to “Million Dollar Baby.” FOX was second in the key demo with a 3.9 rating, followed by NBC’s 3.0 rating. CBS was well back in fourth with a 1.9 rating, followed by the 0.7 rating for The WB.
ABC swept the night, beginning at 7 p.m. with the 10.8/17 for “The Barbara Walters Special.” CBS was second with “60 Minutes,” which had a 6.1/10 to beat “Dateline NBC.” FOX was fourth with “Independence Day,” still topping the 1.6/3 for the first of three “Summerland” repeats on The WB.
The countdown to the Oscars and the beginning of the official telecast gave ABC a 22.9/33 to win the 8 p.m. hour. FOX moved up to second with the 5.8/9 for “Independence Day.” CBS was third with the 5.6/8 for “Cold Case.” NBC was fourth with “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” which had a 4.8/7, better than the totals for another “Summerland” episode on The WB.
The first full hour of the Oscars did a 24.7/35 for ABC. NBC was in second with the 6.9/10 for “Law & Order.” FOX was third with the 6.0/9 for its movie. CBS’ first hour of “Collateral Damage” had a 3.6/5. The WB stayed fifth with “Summerland.”
The Oscars closed with a 22.2/35 for ABC. NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” was second with a 7.6/12. CBS trailed with its movie.
Credit: Zap2It
