TV ratings: Packers-Bears scores big on Christmas for NBC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011

While the other networks settled in for a long winter's nap on Christmas night, NBC and "Sunday Night Football" dominated the ratings with a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

NBC averaged 17.8 million viewers and 9.3 rating/19 share in households Sunday evening. Those numbers will change some because of the live "SNF" telecast, but the Peacock beat the combined totals for the other three networks on the night. CBS (5.4 million, 3.4/7) came in second, a little ahead of ABC (4.8 million, 2.6/5). FOX trailed with just 1.8 million viewers and a 1.1/2.

NBC was similarly dominant in the adults 18-49 demographic, scoring a 5.5 rating. ABC drew a 1.7 to finish second, while neither CBS (0.8) nor FOX (0.7) broke the 1.0 mark.


Sunday hour by hour:

7 p.m.

NBC: "Football Night in America" (9.05 million viewers, 4.7/11 households)
ABC: NBA overrun - Bulls/Lakers (8.5 million, 4.5/10)
CBS: "60 Minutes" (6.4 million, 3.9/9)
FOX: "Bob's Burgers" rerun (1.1 million, 0.7/2)/"The Cleveland Show" rerun (1.3 million, 0.8/2)

18-49 leader: NBA overrun (3.3)

8 p.m.

NBC: "Sunday Night Football" - Bears/Packers (19 million, 9.8/20)
CBS: "CSI" rerun (5.2 million, 3.2/6
ABC: Movie - "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (3.7 million, 2.1/4)
FOX: "The Simpsons" rerun (2 million, 1.2/2)/"The Cleveland show" rerun (2 million, 1.3/2)

18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (5.9)

9 p.m.

NBC: "Sunday Night Football" (21.8 million, 11.6/22)
CBS: "The Good Wife" rerun (4.2 million, 2.7/5)
ABC: "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (3.15 million, 1.8/3)
FOX: "Family Guy" rerun (2.3 million, 1.4/3)/"American Dad" rerun (2.2 million, 1.4/3)

18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (6.8)

10 p.m.

NBC: "Sunday Night Football" (20.7 million, 11.1/21)
CBS: "CSI: Miami" rerun (5.7 million, 3.8/7)
ABC: "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (3.7 million, 2.0/4)

18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (6.9)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change, especially in the case of live telecasts. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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