Ratings Archives: Week of January 5, 1998

The first fill week of the new year, 1998, and the ratings are back to normal. NBC dominates the networks at #1. It's 10.6 household rating more than a full point more than the #2 networks, ABC (9.5).  CBS placed third with a 9.0 rating and FOX is close behind with an 8.3 rating. The WB tops UPN for the #5 spot, 2.9 to 2.7, respectively.

NBC takes four of the top five spots on the weekly chart, lead by ER with a 21.5 rating and 32.2 million viewers. SEINFELD had more viewers, 32.9 million, but had a smaller household rating, 20.8. In total, NBC placed nine programs in the top 20.

ABC placed five shows in the top 20, including 20/20 and THE DREW CAREY SHOW at #11, and the US Figure Skating Championship, tied at #19. CBS had the #4 program of the week with TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, plus two more programs in the top 20. FOX placed four programs on the chart, all from it's Sunday night schedule, including the NFC Championship Post Game Show, at #17.

The top special of the week was the PEOPLE CHOICE AWARDS, on CBS. The Sunday broadcast delivered 17.4 million viewers and an 11.9 share, for a tie for 13th. Some of those winners were LIAR, LIAR for favorite comedy movie. DHARMA & GREG and VERONICA'S CLOSET were chosen as favorite new TV comedy. And DAYS OF OUR LIVES won for favorite daytime serial.

Top movie of the week was the theatrical THE FUGITIVE, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Airing on NBC, the movie drew 17.9 million viewers.

Nielsen Broadcast ratings chart for the week of January 5, 1998