NBC held the ratings crown for a ninth consecutive week, but its margin of victory was shrinking. CBS, boosted by baseball's All-Star game, was second by a tenth of a rating point.
The American League beat the National League 2-0 in the mid-season classic in a game distinguished by nine hits, nine walks and an episode of "Rescue 911" broadcast during a 68-minute rain delay in the seventh inning.The game averaged an 18.5 rating and a 33 share, according to ratings released Tuesday by the A.C. Nielsen Co. A rating point represents 921,000 households. A share is the percentage of all TV sets in use tuned to a show in its time period.
The All-Star game was CBS' first showcase event in the network's $1.1 billion deal with major league baseball, and 17 million households tuned in.
Its 18.5 rating was fractionally higher than NBC's 18.2 rating last year. The best All-Star ratings in recent years were the 20.5 ratings and 36 shares ABC won in 1988 and NBC in '85.
Overall, NBC narrowly won the week of July 9, its ninth consecutive weekly ratings victory and its 40th in the past 43 weeks, with a 9.8 rating and a 19 share. CBS was one-tenth of a rating point back at 9.7 and a 19 share.
ABC came in third at 9.1, with an 18 share. The Fox Broadcasting Co. had a 6.2 rating and a 12 share.
"The numbers are very close all over the place," said analyst David Marans of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. "Among adults 25 to 54 it was a virtual tie for the three networks. You can't get closer than that."
A rerun of NBC's "Cheers" was the top-rated entertainment show, in second place with a 16.2 average. Fox's "The Simpsons" was third at 14.5.
Rounding out the top 10 were fourth-ranked "The Cosby Show," with a 14.4 rating; No. 5 "Roseanne" at 14.0; NBC's "Sunday Night Movie," the Canadian miniseries "Love & Hate: A Marriage Made in Hell" was No. 6, at 13.9.
NBC's "A Different World" and the All-Star pregame show tied for seventh at 13.6; CBS' "Designing Women" was ninth at 13.3 and "60 Minutes" was tenth with a 13.2 rating.
- Here are the prime-time TV ratings as compiled by the A.C. Nielsen Co. for the week of July 9-15. 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 92.1 million TV homes.
1. "Major League Baseball All Star Game 1," CBS, 18.5, 17.0 million homes.
2. "Cheers," NBC, 16.2, 14.9 million homes.
3. "Simpsons," FOX, 14.5, 13.4 million homes.
4. "The Cosby Show," NBC, 14.4, 13.3 million homes.
5. "Roseanne," ABC, 14.0, 12.9 million homes.
6. "Love & Hate: A Marriage Made in Hell," Part 1 - "NBC Sunday Movie," 13.9, 12.8 million homes.
7. "Major League Baseball All Star Pregame," CBS, 13.6, 12.5 million homes.
7. "A Different World," NBC, 13.6, 12.5 million homes.
9. "Designing Women," CBS, 13.3, 12.2 million homes.
10. "60 Minutes," CBS, 13.2, 12.2 million homes.
11. "America's Funniest Home Videos," ABC, 13.1, 12.1 million homes.
11. "Empty Nest," NBC, 13.1, 12.1 million homes.
13. "Murphy Brown," CBS, 13.0, 12.0 million homes.
14. "Unsolved Mysteries," NBC, 12.6, 11.6 million homes.
14. "Married . . . With Children," FOX, 12.6, 11.6 million homes.
16. "Golden Girls," NBC, 12.3, 11.3 million homes.
16. "Grand," NBC, 12.3, 11.3 million homes.
18. "Wonder Years" ABC, 12.2, 11.2 million homes.
19. "Primetime Pets Preview," CBS, 11.9, 11.0 million homes.
20. "Who's the Boss?", ABC, 11.6, 10.7 million homes.
21. "20-20," ABC, 11.5.
21. "Doogie Howser, M.D.," ABC, 11.5.
23. "Coach," ABC, 11.4.
23. "In Living Color," FOX, 11.4.
25. "Just The Ten Of Us," ABC, 11.3.
26. "Murder, She Wrote," CBS, 11.1.
27. "Family Matters," ABC, 10.9.
27. "Perfect Strangers," ABC, 10.9.
29. "Full House," ABC, 10.5.
29. "Bourne Identity," Part 2 - "ABC Monday Movie," 10.5.
31. "Major Dad," CBS, 10.4.
32. "Hunter," NBC, 10.3.
32. "Dear John," NBC, 10.3.
34. "Growing Pains," ABC, 10.1.
34. "His & Hers Special," CBS, 10.1.
36. "Poor Little Rich Girl," Part 2 - "NBC Tuesday Movie," 10.0.
37. "The Gambler III," Part 1 - "CBS Sunday Movie," CBS, 9.9.
38. "Head of the Class," ABC, 9.8.
39. "Rescue: 911 Special," CBS, 9.7.
39. "Night Court," NBC, 9.7.
41. "Quantum Leap," NBC, 9.6.
42. "Turner & Hooch," NBC, 9.5.
42. "Macgyver," ABC, 9.5.
42. "L.A. Law," NBC, 9.5 .
45. "Primetime Live," ABC, 9.4.
46. "Northern Exposure," CBS, 9.2.
46. "Poor Little Rich Girl," Part 1 - "NBC Monday Movie," 9.2.
48. "Jake and the Fatman," CBS, 8.6.
48. "thirtysomething," ABC, 8.6.
50. "Poochinski," NBC, 8.5.
50. "The Man With the Golden Gun," - "ABC Sunday Movie," 8.5.
52. (100) "America's Most Wanted," FOX, 8.3.
52. "48 Hours," CBS, 8.3.
54. "Young Riders," ABC, 7.9.
55. "Father Dowling Mysteries," ABC, 7.8.
56. (110) "Brewster Place," ABC, 7.5.
57. "Amen," NBC, 7.3.
57. (118) "Bret Maverick," NBC, 7.3.
57. "Midnight Caller," NBC, 7.3.
60. "Primetime Pets," CBS, 7.1.
61. "ABC Mystery Movie," ABC, 7.0.
62. (112) "American Harvest" - "CBS Friday Movie," CBS, 6.7.
63. "China Beach," ABC, 6.4.
64. (130) "Super Jeopardy," ABC, 6.3.
64. (121) "Yellow Rose," NBC, 6.3.
66. "227," NBC, 6.2.
67. (129) "Cops," FOX, 6.0.
68. (105) "Paradise," CBS, 5.9.
68. (136) "Booker," FOX, 5.9.
70. (133) "Monopoly," ABC, 5.6.
71. (132) "Totally Hidden Video," FOX, 5.5.
71. "This is America: Charlie Brown," CBS, 5.5.
71. (132) "Totally Hidden Video," FOX, 5.5.
73. (115) "Life Goes On," ABC, 5.3.
73. "Newhart," CBS, 5.3.
75. (135) "Normal Life," CBS, 5.1.
75. "Wiseguy," CBS, 5.1.
77. (126) "Tour of Duty," CBS, 4.9.