Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: EVERYONE'S A WINNER THIS TIME Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 15:00:28 EST Message-ID: Lines: 89 \SE E;LIFE;NIELSEN TOP 20 \SS (WS) \HD EVERYONE'S A WINNER THIS TIME \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS ABC will take first place in the November ratings sweeps, but three other networks say they're winners too. Displaying admirable optimism, representatives of CBS, NBC and Fox each put on a happy face to assess this important Nielsen ratings period, which ended Wednesday. The numbers on which each spokesman put his particular spin are used by the networks to establish advertising rates and bragging rights. Coming in second to ABC's 13.3 rating and 21 share, CBS claimed a preliminary 12.8 rating and 20 share. One ratings point equals 931,000 of the total 93.1 million-household Nielsen "universe," while a share point is the percentage of homes tuned in. But CBS gave itself credit for not mounting quite the sweeps campaign its rivals did. "Ninety percent (of the sweeps results) reflected our regular schedule," said David Poltrack, senior vice president for planning and research. He offered figures that showed ABC and NBC employed more ratings-boosting pre-emptions and specials, a common sweeps technique. Third-place overall with an 11.8 rating and 19 share, NBC stood by its strategy to target 18-to-49-year-old viewers. Yet the network's own figures showed an 8 percent erosion in that segment since the November '91 sweeps. "We feel we're moving in the right direction (this season)," insisted John Damiano, vice president for media and audience research. "We see improvement where maybe somebody else doesn't." Prime-time ratings as compiled by the A.C. Nielsen Co. for Nov. 16-22. Top 20 listings include the week's ranking, with full season-to-date ranking in parentheses, rating for the week, and total homes. An "X" in parentheses denotes one-time-only presentation. A rating measures the percentage of the nation's 93.1 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 931,000 households. 1. (X) The Jacksons: American Dream, Part 2, ABC, 23.9, 22.3 million homes. 2. (3) 60 Minutes, CBS, 23.7, 22.1 million homes. 3. (1) Roseanne, ABC, 22.4, 20.9 million homes. 4. (5) Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 19.4, 18.1 million homes. 5. (4) Coach, ABC, 19.3, 18.0 million homes. 6. (2) Murphy Brown, CBS, 18.2, 16.9 million homes. 7. (7) Monday Night Football, ABC, 17.5, 16.3 million homes. 8. (9) Home Improvement, ABC, 17.4, 16.2 million homes. 9. (10) Full House, ABC, 16.7, 15.5 million homes. 10. (21) Primetime Live, ABC, 16.6, 15.4 million homes. 10. (6) Cheers, NBC, 16.6, 15.4 million homes. 12. (25) Deadly Matrimony, Part 1 - NBC Sunday Movie, 16.1, 15.0 million homes. 13. (14) Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, ABC, 15.5, 14.4 million homes. 14. (23) Overkill - CBS Tuesday Movie, 15.4, 14.3 million homes. 14. (22) A Child Lost Forever - NBC Monday Movie, 15.4, 14.3 million homes. 16. (19) Rescue: 911, CBS, 15.2, 14.2 million homes. 17. (8) Northern Exposure, CBS, 15.1, 14.1 million homes. 18. (13) Evening Shade, CBS, 14.7, 13.7 million homes. 19. (27) Simpsons, Fox, 14.6, 13.6 million homes. 19. (19) Fresh Prince of Bel Air, NBC, 14.6, 13.6 million homes. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM