Early numbers in line with last year's show

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007

The Academy Awards dominated the TV landscape Sunday, with preliminary ratings for ABC's telecast pretty much on par with last year's Oscars.

ABC averaged a 20.1 rating/30 share in primetime, with those numbers subject to change because of the live broadcast. FOX took second with a 5.4/8, edging CBS' 5.3/8. NBC, 3.4/5, came in fourth, and The CW trailed with a 1.5/2.

The Oscars also gave ABC a big win among adults 18-49, with the network scoring an 11.7 rating. FOX, 4.1, came in second. CBS was third at 2.1, followed by NBC, 1.6, and The CW, 0.8.

ABC led off the night with Barbara Walters' Oscar-night special, 12.0/19 (West Coast viewers saw the special after the Oscar telecast). The conclusion of FOX's NASCAR coverage delivered a 6.7/11. CBS was third with "60 Minutes," 6.1/10, while NBC got a 3.5/6 from "Dateline." The CW went with a pair of "Reba" repeats.

A red-carpet special, 19.7/29, and the start of the Academy Awards, 24.0/34, increased ABC's lead at 8 p.m. CBS moved into second with "The Amazing Race: All-Stars," 4.9/7. Two episodes of "The Simpsons" averaged 4.7/7 for FOX. "Grease: You're the One That I Want" finished fourth for NBC, beating "7th Heaven," 1.6/3, on The CW.

The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres peaked at 9 p.m. with a 24.6/35. A "Without a Trace" rerun on CBS grabbed second with a 5.4/8, while FOX held onto third with an hour of "Family Guy," 4.6/7. A "Crossing Jordan" rerun on NBC drew a 2.9/4. The CW finished its night with a "Beauty and the Geek" rerun.

At 10 p.m., the Oscars dipped a bit to 22.1/35. CBS took second with a "Cold Case" rerun, 5.0/8, and a new "Crossing Jordan" came in at 4.2/7 for NBC.

On Saturday, "Dateline" and "Law & Order" reruns put NBC on top in households with a 4.4/8, though CBS, 4.3/8, had just a few more viewers. FOX averaged 4.1/7 and ABC 3.7/7.

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.