Football, 'Simpsons' help FOX snag demo win

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007

The finale of "Survivor: China," while not as big as "Survivors" past, was strong enough to help CBS to an overall ratings win Sunday.

CBS averaged an 8.2 rating/13 share for the night. NBC finished second in households at 7.3/11, followed closely by FOX at 6.8/10 (the two networks were in a virtual tie among total viewers). ABC, 5.3/8, was fourth, and The CW continued its struggles on Sunday with a miniscule 0.8/1.

Thanks in part to live sports, FOX led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 4.9 rating. CBS came in second with a 4.3. NBC's 4.0 was good for third, followed by ABC, 2.7, and The CW, 0.5.

Late NFL games and "The OT" averaged 10.2/16 to put FOX on top at 7 p.m. CBS' "60 Minutes" earned an 8.7/14 for second. "America's Funniest Home Videos," 5.2/8, put ABC in third, ahead of "Football Night in America" on NBC. The CW went with "CW Now" and an "Aliens in America" rerun.

The "Survivor: China" finale, 8.2/12, kept CBS on top at 8 p.m. "Sunday Night Football" scored a 7.9/12 to move NBC ahead of ABC and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 7.2/11. FOX dipped to fourth with "The Simpsons," 6.1/9, and "King of the Hill," 4.7/7. The CW aired an "America's Next Top Model" rerun.

At 9 p.m., "Sunday Night Football" (9.2/14) led in households for NBC, but the "Survivor" finale, 8.8/13, brought more total viewers to CBS. A "Desperate Housewives" rerun finished third in households for ABC, although FOX, which averaged 4.8/7 with "Family Guy" and "American Dad," had more viewers. A repeat of the "Crowned" premiere pulled in a 0.8/1 for The CW.

NBC's NFL game posted an 8.4/14 at 10 p.m. to win the hour over the "Survivor" reunion show, which came in at 7.3/12. A "Brothers & Sisters" repeat on ABC drew a 3.8/6.

On Saturday, FOX won the night as "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted" averaged 3.9/7. CBS took second with a 3.6/6, followed by ABC, 3.2/6, and NBC, 2.7/5.

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.