Beatles Show Helps Abc Grab TV Ratings Victory

The first installment of “The Beatles Anthology” helped lift ABC to first place in the weekly Nielsen ratings, but it failed to outpace even “The Single Guy” as the week’s top show, according to figures released Tuesday.

NBC, while holding its lead in the key November sweeps, was edged out of first place for the week of Nov. 13-19 by the opening chapter Sunday of ABC’s heavily promoted, three-part Beatles special.

Fab Four nostalgia didn’t make for a truly spectacular showing overall. The first Beatles program ranked sixth for the week - bested by “The Single Guy,” the weakest link in NBC’s killer Thursday night lineup.

But with three other programs in the Top 10, the “Anthology” helped ABC come out ahead,

The remaining Beatles installment airs tonight, making for a Beatles-“ER” showdown this week. NBC will offer an “ER” rerun.

For the week, ABC had an 11.7 average rating and 19 share, while NBC posted an 11.5 rating and 18 share. CBS was third with a 10.0 rating, 16 share.

Fox Broadcasting Co., which programs 15 of the 22 prime-time hours, had a 7.6 rating, 12 share.