Fox Gets Idolized to No. 1
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Enough viewers worshiped at the altar of “American Idol” to propel Fox to historic ratings, as the 15-year-old network scored a first-ever weekly victory without the benefit of a major sporting event such as the Super Bowl or World Series, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
Beyond the talent showcase, which posted Fox’s highest rating for a regular series in more than 2 1/2 years, the network received boosts from the movie “There’s Something About Mary” and a football overrun into prime time on the East Coast.
Similarly, ESPN’s two prime-time NFL contests last week easily topped the cable standings; in fact, its Sunday telecast averaged more than 12 million viewers, which would have ranked 10th among network programs.
CBS finished second, though the network could have just as easily been called “CSI,” since it repeated four installments of the crime drama (three ranked in the top 10) to “warm up” various time periods in advance of the new season. NBC countered with five hours of “Law & Order” and its spinoffs.
Both shows played Sunday at 10 p.m., though ABC still drew its best rating that night this summer with the movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
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National Nielsen Viewership
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