'24' returns strong, ABC below average

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007

A huge audience for the NFL playoffs carried CBS to a ratings win Sunday, while the return of "24" brought its usual solid ratings to FOX.

Fueled by football, CBS averaged a 13.6 rating/20 share for the night (those numbers may change some because of the live broadcast). ABC was second in households at 7.5/11, though FOX, 6.8/10, had just a few more total viewers. NBC drew a 4.9/7, and The CW trailed at 1.6/2.

CBS also led among adults 18-49 with a 7.0 rating. FOX scored a 4.7, edging ABC's 4.5. NBC averaged 2.5 and The CW 1.0.

The Eye's coverage of the AFC playoff game between the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers delivered a huge 20.0/31 at 7 p.m. NBC was a distant second with "Deal or No Deal," 5.6/9. "America's Funniest Home Videos" was third for ABC at 4.6/7. FOX was fourth with two "Simpsons" reruns. An hour of "Reba" averaged 1.9/3 for The CW.

The end of the Patriots-Chargers game and "60 Minutes" kept CBS in the lead at 8 p.m. with a 15.3/22. The season premiere of "24" earned an 8.4/12 in its first hour. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 6.6/10, kept ABC in third, ahead of "Grease: You're the One That I Want," 4.9/7, on NBC. The CW held steady with "7th Heaven."

At 9 p.m., ABC's "Desperate Housewives" won the hour with a 10.6/15 but was down some from its season average. CBS averaged 9.8/14 with "60 Minutes" and "Cold Case," but "24," 9.1/13, had more viewers. "The Apprentice" suffered in the face of heavy competition, scoring a 4.7/7. The CW ended its night with a "Beauty and the Geek" repeat.

CBS regained the lead at 10 p.m. as "Cold Case" and "Without a Trace" averaged 9.2/15. "Brothers & Sisters" posted an 8.2/13 for ABC, and the season premiere of "Crossing Jordan" managed only a 4.4/7 for NBC.

On Saturday, FOX ruled the night with its NFL playoff coverage, averaging 14.3/24. CBS, 5.2/9, was second, followed by ABC, 4.0/7, and NBC, 3.3/5.

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.