TV ratings: Olympics at the top of Thursday's podium

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010

The crowning of a new women's figure skating champion at the Winter Olympics carried NBC to a ratings victory Thursday night, although the first cuts on "American Idol" outperformed the games in adults 18-49.

NBC brought in an average of 22.5 million viewers and a 13.3 rating/21 share for the night, way ahead of FOX's 12.75 million and 7.4/11. CBS (9.6 million, 6.0/9) came in third. ABC (4 million, 2.8/4) was fourth, and The CW (1.6 million, 1.1/2) brought up the rear.

In the adults 18-49 demo, NBC's 5.8 beat out FOX's 4.9 for the top spot. CBS finished third with a 2.5. ABC averaged 1.2 and The CW 0.7.

Thursday's hourly numbers:

8 p.m.

NBC: Winter Olympics (19.2 million viewers, 11.4/17 households)
FOX: "American Idol" results (17.8 million, 10.2/16)
CBS: "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (11.5 million, 6.7/10)
ABC: "The Deep End" finale (3.85 million, 2.7/4)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" rerun (1.7 million, 1.1/2)

18-49 leader: "American Idol" (6.4)

9 p.m.

NBC: Winter Olympics (25 million, 14.6/22)
CBS: "The Mentalist" rerun (9.6 million, 6.2/9)
FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" (7.7 million, 4.5/7)
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" rerun (4.55 million, 3.2/5)
The CW: "Supernatural" rerun (1.5 million, 1.0/2)

18-49 leader: Winter Olympics (6.5)

10 p.m.

NBC: Winter Olympics (23.3 million, 13.8/23)
CBS: "CSI" rerun (7.7 million, 5.1/8)
ABC: "Private Practice" rerun (3.6 million, 2.5/4)

18-49 leader: Winter Olympics (6.6)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable

Photo credit: Getty Images