Sports, political contests dominate TV ratings

November 4, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

LOS ANGELES

Nothing beats athletes clashing on the field for impressive TV ratings, but the skirmishes of CNBC’s Republican debate came close.

NFL programming and baseball’s World Series dominated last week’s ratings, taking seven of the top 20 spots, the Nielsen company said Tuesday.

Viewers also were drawn to the debate with leading GOP presidential candidates. It was the week’s top-ranked cable show with an audience of 14 million – a record for CNBC – and was among TV’s top 10 overall despite competition from Game 2 between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.

Here are Nielsen’s top programs for Oct. 26-Nov. 1: 1. NBC Sunday Night Football: Green Bay at Denver, NBC, 23 million; 2. “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 18 million; 3. “The OT,” Fox, 17.9 million; 4. NFL Football: Miami at New England, CBS, 17.5 million; 5. World Series Game 5, Fox, 17.3 million; 6. “NCIS,” CBS, 16.8 million; 7. World Series Game 5 preshow, Fox, 16.6 million; 8. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 16.3 million; 9. World Series Game 1, Fox, 14.9 million; and 10. Republican presidential debate, CNBC, 14 million.

HBO signs Stewart to exclusive 4-year pact

NEW YORK

Fresh from “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart has signed on with HBO in an exclusive four-year production pact.

HBO said Tuesday the partnership will start with short-form digital content to be showcased on HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms. His first project will entail timely short-form digital content created with pioneering digital technology, HBO said. It will be refreshed on HBO Now multiple times throughout the day.

Additional projects will be announced as they are confirmed.

Stewart was host of Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” for more than 15 years before stepping down this summer.

Fire damages singer Mathis’ LA home

LOS ANGELES

A fire has damaged singer Johnny Mathis’ longtime home in the Hollywood Hills.

The 80-year-old had just flown back to Los Angeles to learn that his home of 56 years caught fire Monday. Fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey said a vegetation fire spread to the mansion.

Mathis told reporters that the blaze caused extensive damage and that only a few mementos were spared.

But he says it’s most important that nobody got hurt, adding that “we can always replace things.” The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Associated Press