Primetime Ratings: Fox Wins Big With Giant Playoff Lead-In

Fox won big in Sunday prime ratings, riding a massive football playoffs lead-in to a whopping 4.8 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and an 18 share across prime. That easily topped the 1.0/4 that ABC posted.

Fox had Eagles versus Saints leading in to its comedy block. The Simpsons did a 3.8, which was up a stunning 322% over last week, while Bob’s Burgers grew 144% to 2.2. Family Guy went up 80% to 1.8 and the Rel finale skyrocketed 120% to 1.1.

On ABC, an America’s Funniest Home Videos repeat led into a new one that grew 44% to 1.3. Shark Tank climbed 22% to 1.1 and was followed by a Shark Tank repeat.

CBS was at 0.8/3. 60 Minutes fell 13% to 0.7 and God Friended Me posted a flat 0.9. NCIS: Los Angeles did a 0.9 and Madam Secretary a 0.6, both dramas level with last week.

NBC rated a 0.6/2. The film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone did a 0.6 and Dateline a 0.5.

Telemundo and Univision both rated a 0.5/2.

The CW got a 0.3/1 with the Critics’ Choice Awards across prime, same as it did last year. 

Michael Malone

Michael Malone is content director at B+C and Multichannel News. He joined B+C in 2005 and has covered network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television, including writing the "Local News Close-Up" market profiles. He also hosted the podcasts "Busted Pilot" and "Series Business." His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Boston Globe and New York magazine.