NETWORKS ARE STUCK WITH SUMMER-LIKE RATINGS

It suddenly looked like summer last week as overall viewing plummeted to its lowest level since the week of July 13, 2009. To be sure, the biggest shows like Dancing with the Stars and American Idol were still roping them in, but the average number of viewers for each of the four major networks was down to the level of the summer rerun season. CBS remained the leader with an average 5.8 rating and a 10 share, translating to 6.65 million viewers. Fox was in second place with a 5.2/9 (5.94 million). ABC placed third with a 5.0/9 (5.73 million), while NBC remained far behind with a 3.6/6 or 4.19 million viewers. (Its highest-rated show, The Biggest Loser, came in at No. 26 on the Nielsen list.) Among the evening newscasts, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams remained on top with 7.65 million viewers, but ABC World News with Diane Sawyer continued to draw closer with 6.95 million viewers. CBS Evening News with Katie Couric trailed with 5.01 million viewers.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:
1. Dancing with the Stars (Monday), ABC, 13.2/21; 2. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 12.1/20; 3. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 11.8/19; 4. Dancing with the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 8.6/14; 5. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 8.3/13; 6. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 8.1/14; 6. (Tie) Glee, Fox, 8.1/13; 6. (Tie) Castle, ABC, 8.1/14; 9. Criminal Minds, CBS, 7.9/13; 9. (Tie) The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 7.9/12.