Fox tops February sweeps; NBC finishes in fourth spot
February ended with double milestones in television: the first-ever sweeps month victory for Fox, and the first-ever fourth-place finish for once-mighty NBC.
Sweeps are held four months a year, when Nielsen Media Research ratings are closely watched to set local advertising rates.
Fox’s first sweeps month win since the network began prime-time broadcasting in 1987 is slightly deceptive. Take the Super Bowl out of the equation, and Fox would finish third behind CBS and ABC, Nielsen said. Still, it shows the continued strength of “American Idol” and the development of a promising drama in “House.”
It’s a more alarming outcome for NBC, which has particularly struggled on Thursdays, a night it once dominated. NBC’s viewership in February was down 15 percent compared to February 2004, Nielsen said.
NBC said the competition is closer than this month’s ratings make it appear. Take away events like the Super Bowl, Grammys and Academy Awards from its competitors, and NBC would finish second among total viewers, the network said.
Fueled by the Oscars, ABC was a clear winner last week with an average of 14 million viewers (8.9 rating, 14 share). Fox was second with 12.1 million viewers (7.3, 11), followed by CBS at 11.8 million (7.6, 12), NBC at 10.1 million (6.7, 11), the WB at 3.5 million (2.4, 4), and UPN at 3.3 million (2.1, 3).
A ratings point represents 1,096,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation’s estimated 109.6 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
The top 10 shows for the week ending Sunday: “Academy Awards,” ABC, 42.1 million viewers; “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 28.3 million; “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 28.1 million; “Oscar Countdown,” ABC, 27.7 million; “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 26.7 million; “American Idol” special (Monday), Fox, 23.5 million; “Survivor: Palau,” CBS, 21.6 million; “Without a Trace,” CBS, 21.4 million; “Lost,” ABC, 19.5 million; “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 19.5 million.