Ratings Archives: Week of January 26, 1998

A week after the Super Bowl, NBC still continues to dominate the ratings. For the week, the network averaged a 104 household rating. Number two network CBS drew an 8.8 rating, over a full point and a half below the Peacock Network. It is a great start to the 1998 February Sweeps, which started on January 29th.

On the chart, NBC sweeps the top five, with its Thursday lineup, and grabs nine of the top 20 programs. The #1 program, ER, drew 32.8 million viewers (22.1 rating) and a 36 share of the TV viewing audience. The #2 program, SEINFLED, drew more viewers (33.2), but posted a small household rating (21.9).

ABC placed five shows in the top 20, lead by the AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS, at #10. The Awards program drew 18.4 million viewers, winning Monday night.

CBS placed just four shows in the weekly top 20, all from its Sunday line up. It's TV movie THE LOVE LETTERS was the #1 movie/special for the week, ranking 8th and drawing 20.9 million viewers.

The lone FOX program in the top 20 was KING OF THE HILL at #20, with 15.2 million viewers.

Of note of the actual chart from USA Today, there is a Sunday listing of 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, at 10:30, which drew 33.7 million viewers. This is a left over from last week's chart, when the series was the post-Super Bowl program. Someone was a little sloppy and it got by an editor.

Nielsen Broadcast ratings chart for the week of January 26, 1998