NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

NBC, CBS fight for ratings dominance

NEW YORK

Score one week for NBC in what’s becoming an intriguing battle with CBS for dominance in the television ratings this season.

NBC’s victory in the most recent measurements provided by the Nielsen company means it has won bragging rights for three weeks so far this fall, with CBS also winning three weeks. Fox won the week during the World Series.

For the season as a whole, CBS is averaging 9.1 million viewers in prime time, compared with NBC’s 8.9 million, which is the closest NBC has been in 17 years, Nielsen said.

NBC’s ability to stick close with its rival will be tested after the football season. The Sunday night game between division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia this weekend reached 20 million viewers, far more than the next most-watched event, also a pro football game.

For the week of Nov. 5-11, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Dallas at Philadelphia, NBC, 20.1 million; NFL Football: Carolina at Pittsburgh, Fox, 14.8 million; “NFL Pregame,” NBC, 13.63 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 12.85 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 12.71 million; NFL Football: Tennessee at Dallas, ESPN, 12.04 million; “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 11 million; “Football Night in America,” NBC, 10.14 million; “NFL Pregame,” Fox, 9.72 million; “NFL Post-Game,” Fox, 9.32 million.

Associated Press