Networks’ Juggling Act Doesn’t Impress Viewers

Viewers generally voted thumbs down as the major networks juggled their lineups last week, based on results issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

NBC’s Thursday lineup generated ho-hum tune-in by that night’s lofty standards, as “Will & Grace” replaced “Jesse” in the coveted slot between “Friends” and “Frasier.” A new sitcom, “Everything’s Relative,” delivered mediocre results last Tuesday but still topped ABC’s critically lauded competitor, “Sports Night.”

Fox’s newest animated hope, “Family Guy,” showed promise by building on “The Simpsons’ ” audience Sunday, though not as much as “Futurama” had done. After the benefit of two Sunday airings, that animated entry watched its audience drop 47% with the move to Tuesdays, as Fox’s “all ‘toon” block failed to draw out many viewers. ABC also shuffled its Friday schedule, only to see “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” conjure up its lowest rating ever for an original episode, as did last week’s “NYPD Blue.”

The premiere of “Titanic” on HBO dislodged wrestling from the top cable ranking; by contrast, Comedy Central’s “South Park” may be sinking, as that animated comedy’s season premiere fell nearly 40% versus a year ago.

Cable Top 10

Here are Nielsen’s top 10 cable programs in prime time last week, also ranked by total viewers (in millions).

*--*

Program Network Viewers 1. “Titanic” HBO 8.56 2. Wrestling (Mon., 10 p.m.) USA 7.01 3. Wrestling (Mon., 9 p.m.) USA 6.19 4. Wrestling (Sun., 7 p.m.) USA 5.19 5. Wrestling (Mon, 10 p.m.) TNT 4.99 6. Wrestling (Mon., 9 p.m.) TNT 4.61 7. Wrestling (Mon., 8 p.m.) TNT 4.50 8. “36 Hours to Die” TNT 3.74 9. South Park COMC 3.41 10. Walker, Texas Ranger USA 3.40

*--*

Network Averages

Here is the number of viewers that each network averaged per hour of prime time, for last week and for the season.

*--*

Last week Season to date CBS 11.92 million 13.13 NBC 11.63 12.69 FOX 9.56 10.91 ABC 9.29 12.05 WB 3.62 4.54 UPN 2.35 2.75

*--*

Southland Viewing

Here are Nielsen’s Top 10 prime-time programs in the Los Angeles area during the same week. The rankings are based on the number of households watching.

*--*

Program Station Households 1. Friends KNBC 980,804 2. Frasier KNBC 847,292 3. ER KNBC 826,751 4. 60 Minutes KCBS 806,211 5. The X-Files KTTV 795,941 6. Will & Grace KNBC 765,130 7. Ally McBeal KTTV 744,590 Just Shoot Me KNBC 744,590 9. The Simpsons KTTV 636,752 10. Family Guy KTTV 621,347

*--*