NBC's 'Grease' gets off to decent start

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007

Big ratings for an NFL playoff game early Sunday helped FOX score a ratings win for the entire night, while NBC's new reality block got off to an OK start.

FOX averaged a 9.9 rating/15 share for the night, though with live sports its numbers may change some in final nationals. CBS was second in households at 8.2/12, though ABC, 8.0/12, had more total viewers. NBC came in fourth with a 6.3/10, and The CW was well off the pace at 1.6/2.

The adults 18-49 demographic also went to FOX, which drew a 7.0 rating among the viewers advertisers love most. ABC took second with a 4.8, followed by NBC at 3.8. CBS averaged 2.9 and The CW 0.9.

The conclusion of the playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants scored a whopping 16.9/26 for FOX at 7 p.m. CBS' "60 Minutes" was the best of the rest at 6.7/10. NBC got a 6.2/9 from "Deal or No Deal" (which beat CBS in total viewers). "America's Funniest Home Videos" put ABC in fourth, while The CW earned a 1.9/3 with two episodes of "Reba."

At 8 p.m., ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" led the hour in viewers and scored a 7.7/11 in households, tying for first with a "Cold Case" repeat on CBS. FOX dropped to third with "The Simpsons," 8.6/13, and "American Dad," 6.1/9. The premiere of "Grease: You're the One That I Want" earned a reasonably solid 6.9/10 for NBC. The CW reran the "Beauty and the Geek" premiere.

"Desperate Housewives," 11.7/17, gave ABC sole possession of the lead at 9 p.m. A new "Cold Case," 9.0/13, finished second for CBS. "Grease," 6.9/10, and the premiere of "The Apprentice," 5.4/8, on NBC held off a pair of "Family Guy" reruns on FOX. The CW finished up with "Beauty and the Geek."

At 10 p.m., CBS' "Without a Trace" claimed the top spot with a 9.2/15. ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" posted an 8.0/13, and "The Apprentice" ticked up to 5.9/10.

On Saturday, NBC's coverage of the NFL wild-card playoffs completely dominated the night with a 14.1/24. CBS was a distant second at 5.2/9, followed by FOX, 4.1/7, and ABC, 2.5/4.

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.