TV Ratings: Sugar Bowl Sweetens FOX's Friday

Zap2It.com | January 3, 2009

Thom Brenneman of FOX Sports

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Alabama-Utah matchup gives FOX the ratings win

Fast National ratings for Friday, Jan. 2, 2009

The second of FOX's Bowl Championship Series broadcasts improved significantly over the first one, leading the network to a ratings win Friday night.

FOX averaged a 6.9 rating/12 share in primetime, easily beating second-place CBS, 4.7/8. ABC and NBC tied for third at 3.5/6. The CW drew a 0.9/2.

The adults 18-49 demographic also titled FOX's way, as the network drew a 3.8 rating. ABC's 1.8 was good for second, followed by CBS at 1.7. NBC averaged 1.3 and The CW 0.6.

Coverage of the Sugar Bowl on FOX drew a 6.3/11 at 8 p.m. NBC's "Deal or No Deal," 4.4/7, edged CBS' "Ghost Whisperer" rerun, 4.3/7, for second. A "Wife Swap" rerun put ABC in fourth. Repeats of "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" combined for a 0.9/2 on The CW.

The Sugar Bowl, featuring Utah and Alabama, improved to 7.4/12 at 9 p.m. A second "Ghost Whisperer," 4.7/8, moved CBS up to second. "Supernanny" earned a 3.1/5 for ABC. "Lipstick Jungle," 2.9/5, was fourth for NBC, while The CW held steady with more "Chris" and "The Game."

FOX's ratings for the 10 p.m. hour weren't available, but in all likelihood the network held its lead with the Sugar Bowl. Among the others, CBS led the way with a "Numb3rs" repeat, 5.0/9. ABC got a 4.3/7 from "20/20," while "Dateline" scored a 3.2/5 for NBC.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change, especially in the case of live telecasts.