TV ratings: Oscar wins the night for ABC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012

No surprise here: The 84th Annual Academy Awards aired on ABC dominated Sunday (Feb. 26) evening's ratings race, though, most of the other networks were in reruns up against the big show -- except for NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice" and CBS' "The Amazing Race."

The awards show garnered 39.3 million viewers, compared with last year's 37.9 million -- its second largest audience since 2007.

CBS came in a distant second for the evening with 6.2 million viewers (3.8 rating/6 share). Note that numbers for ABC are approximate because of the live airing.

Sunday hour by hour:

8 p.m.  

ABC: "Oscars Red Carpet Live" (33.7 million, 19.4/28)
CBS: "The Amazing Race" (7.6 million, 4.3/6)
FOX: "The Simpsons" rerun/"Napolean Dynamite" rerun (3.7 million, 2.0/3)
NBC: "Celebrity Apprentice" rerun (2.5 million, 1.6/2)

18-49 leader: "Oscars Red Carpet Live" (9.5)  

9 p.m. 

ABC: "84th Annual Academy Awards" (34.9 million, 20.2/29)
CBS: "The Mentalist" rerun (4.9 million, 3.0/4)
NBC: "Celebrity Apprentice" (4.7 million, 2.9/4)
FOX: "Family Guy" rerun/"American Dad" rerun (3.4 million, 2.0/3)  

18-49 leader: "84th Annual Academy Awards" (10.3)  

10 p.m.
 
ABC: "84th Annual Academy Awards" (32.3 million, 19.2/30)
NBC: "Celebrity Apprentice" (5.3 million, 3.2/5)   
CBS: "CSI: Miami" rerun (5.2 million, 3.4/5)

18-49 leader: "84th Annual Academy Awards" (9.8)  

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