Ratings Archives: Week of December 15, 1997

NBC dominates the weekly network ratings, scoring a 10.5 HH rating, more than two full points over ABC (8.4) and CBS (8.1). FOX was a distant fourth place with a 6.2 rating, while the smaller networks of the WB (2.8) and UPN (2.7) brought up the rear.

Despite it being the full week before Christmas, NBC was in original episodes on every night of the week. That means the Thursday line up filled five of the top 10 spots, Lead by the #1 program ER (32.5 million viewers). NBC also took took nine of the top 20 spots.

The over shadowed Tuesday night comedy line up on NBC contributed to the ratings success. MAD ABOUT YOU drew 17.9 million viewers (#13), NEWS RADIO pulled in 13.3 million (#28), the Anchor of the night FRAISER generated 19.2 million viewers (#8) and JUST SHOOT ME closed up the block with 17 million viewers (#15)

NBC's annual broadcast of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was aired in Saturday, December 20th and the classic movie drew 13.9 million viewers. It was topped only by WALKER, TEXAS RANGER for the nights most watched programs.

Nielsen Broadcast ratings chart for the week of December 15, 1997