TV ratings: NBC wins Sunday with NFL preseason and 'Big Brother' rises for CBS

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012

An NFL exhibition game between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers gave NBC an easy ratings win Sunday night. "Big Brother," meanwhile, rebounded some for CBS without the Olympics as competition, and ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" ended its summer run on an up note.

NBC delivered 8.1 million viewers and a 5.2 rating/9 share in households in primetime, numbers that will likely rise when adjustments for the live NFL telecast are made. CBS (5.6 million, 3.7/6) came in second overall. ABC took third with 3.7 million viewers and a 2.3/4, finishing a little bit ahead of FOX (3 million, 1.7/3).

The adults 18-49 title also went to NBC, which scored a 2.6 rating in the demographic. That was more than a point better than second-place FOX, 1.4. CBS drew a 1.2 and ABC a 1.0.

Sunday hour by hour:

7 p.m.

CBS: "60 Minutes" (7.7 million viewers, 5.2/10 households)
NBC: "Dateline" (5.75 million, 3.8/7)
ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" rerun (4.8 million, 2.9/5)
FOX: "American Dad" rerun (1.8 million, 1.1/2)/"The Cleveland Show" rerun (2.1 million, 1.2/2)

18-49 leader: "Dateline" (1.5)

8 p.m.

NBC: NFL preseason - Colts/Steelers (9.8 million, 6.2/10)
CBS: "Big Brother" (6.5 million, 3.9/7)
FOX: "The Simpsons" reruns - two episodes (3.2 million, 1.8/3)
ABC: "Once Upon a Time" rerun (2.8 million, 1.8/3)

18-49 leader: NFL preseason (3.2)

9 p.m.

NBC: NFL preseason - Colts/Steelers (9.5 million, 5.9/9)
FOX: "Family Guy" reruns - two episodes (3.8 million, 2.2/4)
CBS: "The Good Wife" rerun (3.6 million, 2.5/4)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" season finale (3.2 million, 2.1/3)

18-49 leader: NFL preseason (3.3)

10 p.m.

NBC: NFL preseason - Colts/Steelers (7.4 million, 5.0/8)
CBS: "The Mentalist" rerun (4.6 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" season finale (3.8 million, 2.5/4)

18-49 leader: NFL preseason (2.4)

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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