Football scores with viewers

Football scores with viewers

NEW YORK

Football games (and football chatter) ruled in the ratings arena last week, according to the Nielsen company.

That meant cable’s ESPN ruled in audience over all the broadcast networks. In prime-time overall for the week, it averaged 8.64 million viewers, nearly 2 million more than broadcast front-runner CBS. ESPN claimed 13 of the top 20 slots with its football coverage and adjoining pigskin punditry.

For the week of Dec. 28-Jan. 3, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Minnesota vs. Green Bay, NBC, 24.29 million; College Football Semifinal: Michigan State vs. Alabama, ESPN, 18.55 million; College Football Studio (Thursday), ESPN, 18.09 million; “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 17.75 million; College Football Studio (Thursday), ESPN, 16.76 million; NFL Football: Cincinnati vs. Denver, ESPN, 15.81 million; College Football Semifinal: Oklahoma vs. Clemson, ESPN, 15.64 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 15.36 million; Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa, ESPN, 13.55 million; College Football Studio (Friday), ESPN, 13.22 million.

Prince starts nursery school

LONDON

The heir to the heir to the heir to the British throne has taken a big step up the educational ladder.

Kensington Palace said Prince George started nursery school Wednesday, a milestone for the young future king.

Prince William and his wife, Kate, marked the occasion by releasing two photographs of 21/2 -year-old George outside the school building. Kate took the photos showing George in a blue jacket with a backpack.

The royal couple earlier had announced he would be attending Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, 110 miles north of London.

Charges against Cosby rejected

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles County prosecutors declined Wednesday to charge Bill Cosby with sexually abusing two teenagers in 1965 and 2008, citing time limits and a lack of evidence. The decision comes about a week after Cosby, 78, was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004 inside his home near Philadelphia – the first criminal case brought against him out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America’s Dad. His lawyers have called the charges in that case unjustified and said they expected Cosby to be exonerated.

An email to Cosby attorney Monique Pressley seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.

Associated Press