'American Idol' thumps 'Dancing with the Stars' head-to-head

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, March 18, 2008

"American Idol" led FOX to another ratings win Tuesday, trouncing ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in the hour they aired opposite one another.

FOX averaged a 15.1 rating/23 share in primetime, easily beating ABC's 7.6/12. NBC took third with a 5.3/8. CBS, 4.6/7, was fourth, and The CW was well off the pace at 1.6/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX's 10.3 rating destroyed the competition. ABC finished second in the demographic at 3.1, followed by NBC at 3.0. CBS averaged 2.0 and The CW 1.1.

"American Idol's" top 11 singers drew a 15.3/24 at 8 p.m. An "NCIS" rerun, 6.8/11, put CBS in second, ahead of "The Biggest Loser," 5.1/8, on NBC. "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," 3.8/6, and "Just for Laughs," 3.1/5, finished fourth for ABC. The CW's "Beauty and the Geek" trailed.

FOX stayed on top at 9 p.m. as "Idol," 14.9/22, beat "Dancing with the Stars," 9.7/15, on ABC. "The Biggest Loser" held steady for NBC in third. "Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part" scored a 3.5/5 for CBS, and the 100th episode of "One Tree Hill" earned a 2.0/3 for The CW.

ABC moved in front at 10 p.m. with the conclusion of "Dancing with the Stars," 12.8/20, and the debut of "Miss Guided," 6.7/12. A "Law & Order: SVU" rerun on NBC posted a 5.8/10, and "Jericho" earned a 3.5/6 for CBS.

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