TV Ratings: 'Sunday Night Football' a welcome return for NBC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, August 8, 2010

The premiere of "NBC Sunday Night Football" gave the network an easy win in both total viewers and adults 18-49 Sunday night with a broadcast of 2010's first preseason game.

NBC averaged 9.1 million viewers and a 5.5 rating/10 share in households, surpassing its closest competition CBS, which averaged 6.7 million and a 4.3/8. ABC (4.3 million, 2.6/5) followed in third, with FOX (3.6, 2.0/4) bringing up the rear.

NBC also took the strongest numbers in the 18-49 demo with a 3.3 rating. CBS and FOX tied for second place with respective 1.6s, and ABC followed with a 1.1.

Sunday hour by hour:

7 p.m.

CBS: "60 Minutes"(9.3 million viewers, 6.2/12households)
ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" rerun (6.1 million, 3.5/7)
NBC: "NBC Sports" (5.5 million, 3.4/7)
FOX: "American Dad" (2.0 million, 1.2/2)/"The Simpsons" rerun (2.8 million, 1.5/3)

18-49 leader: "NBC Sports" (2.1)

8 p.m.

NBC: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (11.4 million, 6.8/12)
CBS: "Big Brother" (7.5 million, 4.5/8)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" rerun (5.1 million, 3.1/5)
FOX: "The Simpsons" rerun (3.98 million, 2.1/4)/"The Cleveland Show" rerun (3.8 million, 2.0/4)

18-49 leader: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (4.1)

9 p.m.

NBC: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (10.5 million, 6.2/10)
CBS: "Undercover Boss" rerun (6.2 million, 3.8/6)
FOX: "Family Guy" reruns - two episodes (4.4 million, 2.5/4)
ABC: "Scoundrels" (3.2 million, 2.1/3)

18-49 leader: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (3.8)

10 p.m.

NBC: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (8.9 million, 5.5/10)
CBS: "The Good Wife" rerun 3.99 million, 2.7/5)
ABC: "The Gates" (2.6 million, 1.8/3)

18-49 leader: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (3.3)

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

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Photo: Getty