Ratings December 4

Election story drives up ratings for evening news

BY DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- The dramatic presidential election story continues to drive up ratings for the network evening news programs, cementing the dominance of NBC's top-rated ``Nightly News.''

An average of four million more people have watched the NBC, ABC and CBS news programs each evening since the election, compared to the first 10 months of the year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's heartening news for Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather -- whose shows have been in a longtime ratings decline due to lifestyle changes and the availability of cable news.

``A lot of this is happening late in the day, very close to when we go on the air,'' said Jonathan Wald, executive producer of ``Nightly News.'' ``This gives us a chance to pull it all together and distill it for the evening news viewer.''

Viewership for NBC and the ``CBS Evening News'' are up 16 percent since the election. For second-place ABC ``World News Tonight,'' ratings are up 11 percent, Nielsen said.

NBC's ``Nightly News'' has averaged 1.1 million more viewers per night since the election than ABC's broadcast, widening the gap between two networks that have been remarkably competitive in recent years.

Wald's not shy about touting his broadcast: ``I think NBC has owned this election story,'' he said.

Last week, NBC's ``Nightly News'' averaged 11.2 million viewers (8.1 rating, 15 share), ABC had 9.9 million viewers (7.5, 14) and CBS had 9.4 million viewers (6.8, 13).

In prime-time last week, NBC's ``ER'' dominated, its 28 million viewers 7 million more than any other show. But CBS, despite having only one show among Nielsen's top 10, won the week.

CBS averaged 12.3 million viewers in prime-time (8.4 rating, 14 share), ABC averaged 12.1 million (8.2, 13), NBC averaged 11.7 million (8.0, 13) and Fox had 9.6 million (6.1, 10). UPN averaged 3.9 million viewers (2.7, 4), the WB had 3.5 million (2.4, 4) and Pax TV averaged 1.5 million (1.0, 2).

Prime-time ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research for December 4 to December 10. Top 20 listings include the week's ranking and rating for the week, with season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An ``X'' in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation. The rating is the percentage of the nation's estimated 100.8 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 1,008,000 households.

(1) 1. ``ER,'' NBC, 19.0, 19.4 million homes.
(4) 2. ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Tuesday,'' ABC, 14.6, 14.9 million homes.
(3) 3. ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Wednesday,'' ABC, 14.1, 14.4 million homes.
(2) 4. ``Friends,'' NBC, 13.6, 13.9 million homes.
(10) 5. (X) ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Thursday,'' ABC, 13.1, 13.4 million homes.
(7) 6. ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Sunday,'' ABC, 12.8, 13.1 million homes.
(14) 7. ``Just Shoot Me,'' NBC, 12.7, 13.0 million homes.
(12) 8. ``The Practice,'' ABC, 12.6, 12.9 million homes.
(10) 9. ``Will & Grace,'' NBC, 12.0, 12.3 million homes.
(6) 10. ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS, 11.7, 12.0 million homes.
(17) 11. ''60 Minutes,'' CBS, 11.3, 11.6 million homes.
(27) 12. ``CBS Sunday Movie: The Runaway-Hallmark,'' CBS, 10.9, 11.1 million homes.
(19) 12. ``Touched by an Angel,'' CBS, 10.9, 11.1 million homes.
(4) 14. ``Frasier,'' NBC, 10.8, 11.0 million homes.
(15) 15. ``Becker,'' CBS, 10.7, 10.9 million homes.
(16) 16. ``Judging Amy,'' CBS, 10.5, 10.7 million homes.
(12) 16. ``Law & Order,'' NBC, 10.5, 10.7 million homes.
(21) 18. ``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,'' CBS, 10.2, 10.4 million homes.
(8) 18. ``Fox NFL Sunday: Various Teams and Times,'' Fox, 10.2, 10.5 million homes.
(8) 18. ``West Wing,'' NBC, 10.2, 10.4 million homes.
-------------
21. ``The Drew Carey Show,'' ABC, 10.0
22. ``Cursed,'' NBC, 9.9
22. ``Malcolm in the Middle,'' Fox, 9.9
22. ``NFL Monday Night Football,'' ABC, 9.9
25. ``The Simpsons,'' Fox, 9.7
26. ``King Of Queens,'' CBS, 9.5
27. ``CBS Wednesday Movie: One Special Night,'' CBS, 9.2
28. ``Third Watch,'' NBC, 9.1
29. ''60 Minutes II,'' CBS, 8.9
29. ``Ally McBeal,'' Fox, 8.9
31. ``Yes, Dear,'' CBS, 8.8
32. ``NFL Monday Showcase,'' ABC, 8.7
33. ``The District,'' CBS, 8.6
33. (X) ``Shooting War,'' ABC, 8.6
35. ``Dateline NBC-Tuesday,'' NBC, 8.4
35. ``Dharma & Greg,'' ABC, 8.4
35. ``Spin City,'' ABC, 8.4
38. ``Nash Bridges,'' CBS, 8.3
38. (X) ``Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,'' CBS, 8.3
40. ``Ed,'' NBC, 8.1
40. ``The X-Files,'' Fox, 8.1
42. ``DAG,'' NBC, 7.9
43. ``Dateline Sunday-8 p.m.,'' NBC, 7.8
43. (X) ``Tina One Last Time Live!,'' CBS, 7.8
45. ``Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit,'' NBC, 7.7
46. ``The Geena Davis Show,'' ABC, 7.5
46. ``King of the Hill,'' Fox, 7.5
48. (X) ``Billboard Music Awards: 11th Annual,'' Fox, 7.3
49. ``Boston Public,'' Fox, 7.2
50. ''20/20-Downtown,'' ABC, 6.8
51. ``Dateline Friday,'' NBC, 6.7
52. (X) ``Martha Stewart's Christmas: Christmas Dream,'' CBS, 6.6
53. ``Gideon's Crossing,'' ABC, 6.5
53. ``Walker, Texas Ranger,'' CBS, 6.5
55. ``The Fugitive,'' CBS, 6.3
55. ``Once and Again,'' ABC, 6.3
57. ''20/20-Friday,'' ABC, 6.2
57. ``Dateline NBC-Monday,'' NBC, 6.2
59. ''48 Hours,'' CBS, 6.1
60. ``Diagnosis Murder,'' CBS, 6.0
60. ``Providence,'' NBC, 6.0
62. ``NBC Sunday Night Movie: Live: Natalie Cole,'' NBC, 5.9
62. ``Wonderful World of Disney: Annie,'' ABC, 5.9
64. ``NBC Saturday Night Movies: Atomic Train,'' NBC, 5.6
64. ``Police Videos,'' Fox, 5.6
64. (X) ``The Simpsons,'' Fox, 5.6
67. ''3rd Rock from the Sun,'' NBC, 5.2
67. ``Normal, Ohio,'' Fox, 5.2
67. ``World's Most Amazing Videos,'' NBC, 5.2
70. ``Michael Richards Show,'' NBC, 5.1
71. ``WWF Smackdown!,'' UPN, 5.0
72. ``City of Angels,'' CBS, 4.8
72. ``Titans,'' NBC, 4.8
74. (X) ``Guinness World Records,'' Fox, 4.6
75. ``ABC Saturday Night Movie: Junior,'' ABC, 4.4
76. (X) ``Mickey's Christmas Carol,'' ABC, 4.3
76. ``That's Life,'' CBS, 4.3
78. (X) ``World's Funniest Special,'' Fox, 4.0
79. ''7th Heaven,'' WB, 3.7
79. ``Two Guys and a Girl,'' ABC, 3.7
81. ``The $treet,'' Fox, 3.6
82. ``Madigan Men,'' ABC, 3.2
83. ``Norm,'' ABC, 3.1
84. (X) ``Ultimate Auction Show,'' Fox, 3.0
85. ``Sabrina the Teenage Witch,'' WB, 2.9
86. ``Charmed,'' WB, 2.8
86. ``Dot Comedy,'' ABC, 2.8
86. ``Star Trek: Voyager,'' UPN, 2.8
89. ``Buffy the Vampire Slayer,'' WB, 2.6
89. ``Felicity,'' WB, 2.6
89. ``Sabrina the Teenage Witch,'' WB, 2.6
92. ``Angel,'' WB, 2.5
92. (X) ``GQ Men of the Year Awards: 5th Annual,'' Fox, 2.5
94. ``Girlfriends,'' UPN, 2.4
94. ``The Hughleys,'' UPN, 2.4
94. ``The Parkers,'' UPN, 2.4
97. ``Dawson's Creek,'' WB, 2.3
98. ``Roswell,'' WB, 2.2
99. ``Gilmore Girls,'' WB, 2.1
99. ``Moesha,'' UPN, 2.1
99. ``Nikki,'' WB, 2.1
99. ``Popular,'' WB, 2.1
103. ``UPN's Movie-Tuesday: Alien Fury,'' UPN, 2.0
104. ``Freedom,'' UPN, 1.9
104. ``The Jamie Foxx Show,'' WB, 1.9
104. ``The Steve Harvey Show,'' WB, 1.9
107. ''7 Days,'' UPN, 1.8
107. ``Grosse Pointe,'' WB, 1.8
107. ``PJs,'' WB, 1.8
110. ``Hype,'' WB, 1.6
110. ``Level 9,'' UPN, 1.6
112. ``Diagnosis Murder-Monday,'' Pax, 1.4
112. ``Diagnosis Murder-Thursday,'' Pax, 1.4
112. ``Diagnosis Murder-Tuesday,'' Pax, 1.4
112. ``Pax Big Event Sunday: Once Upon a Christmas,'' Pax, 1.4
116. ``Touched by an Angel-Monday,'' Pax, 1.3
117. ``Touched by an Angel-Tuesday,'' Pax, 1.2
118. ``Diagnosis Murder-Wednesday,'' Pax, 1.1
118. ``Touched by an Angel-Friday,'' Pax, 1.1
118. ``Touched by an Angel-Wednesday,'' Pax, 1.1
121. ``Diagnosis Murder-Friday,'' Pax, 1.0
122. ``Encounters with the Unexplained,'' Pax, 0.9
123. ``It's a Miracle,'' Pax, 0.8
123. ``Miracle Pets,'' Pax, 0.8
123. (X) ``Santa Claus' Fun Moments,'' Pax, 0.8
123. ``Touched by an Angel-Thursday,'' Pax, 0.8
127. ``Miracle Pets Encore,'' Pax, 0.7
127. ``Mysterious Ways,'' Pax, 0.7
129. ``Mysterious Ways Encore,'' Pax, 0.6
129. ``Twice in a Lifetime,'' Pax, 0.6
131. ``It's a Miracle Encore,'' Pax, 0.5
131. ``Twice in a Lifetime Encore,'' Pax, 0.5

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#	Air Date
101	11/2/98
102	11/9/98
103	11/16/98
	11/23/98
104	11/30/98
105	12/7/98
106	12/14/98
107	12/21/98
	12/28/98
	1/4/99
108	1/11/99
109	1/18/99
110	1/25/99
111	2/1/99
112	2/8/99
113	2/15/99
114	2/22/99
115	3/1/99
116	3/8/99
	3/15/99
	3/22/99
	3/29/99
117	4/5/99
118	4/12/99
119	4/19/99
103	4/26/99
120	5/3/99
121	5/10/99
122	5/17/99
	5/24/99
	5/31/99
	6/7/99
	6/14/99
	6/21/99
	6/28/99
	7/5/99
	7/12/99
	7/19/99
	7/26/99
	7/28/99
	8/2/99
	8/9/99
	8/16/99
	8/23/99
	9-6-99
	9-13-99
201	9-20-99
202	9-27-99
203	10-4-99
204	10-11-99
205	10-18-99
206	10/25/99
207	11/1/99
208	11/8/99
209	11/15/99
210	11/22/99
211	11/29/99
201	12/6/99
212	12/13/99
118	12/20/99
119	12/27/99
121	1/3/2000
213	1/10/00
214	1/17/00
122	1/24/00
203	1/31/00
215	2/7/00
216	2/14/00
217	2/21/00
218	2/28/00
	3/6/00
	3/13/00
219	3/20/00
	3/27/00
	4/3/00
220	4/10/00
221	4/17/00
222	4/24/00
223	5/01/00
224	5/08/00