Ratings Archives: Week of February 16, 1998

From time-to-time, There is a missing week from my archives. The week of February 9, 1998, is one of those weeks. So, we jump to the following week.

CBS is in force with the second and final week of the 1998 Winter Olympic games. Collecting a household rating of 15.8, it is 86% above the other three major networks. the seven nights of Olympic coverage all placed within the top 12, including the top two spots, of the top 20. Friday night was the most watched night of the Olympics, posting a 23.2 hh rating and drawing 38.2 million viewers. oddly enough, the closing ceremonies was the least watched of the week, pulling in just 18.4 million viewers.

The other three major networks were roughly tied for the week. NBC posted an 8,5 rating, while FOX and ABC scored 8.4 ratings. Most of the programming was repeats as the networks saved original episodes until after the Olympic games.

FOX was the only network of the three to post an above average weekly rating. On Tuesday, February 17, FOX aired two high rated specials. at 8 p.m. WORLD SCARIEST POLICE CHASES ranked #16 with 17.8 million viewers. At 9 p.m. MOMENT OF IMPACT! grew from its lead in and grabbed 19.7 million viewers and ranked #11. That 19.7 million viewer mark was just 400k less than CBS' Olympic coverage on the night.

ABC did take advantage of the low ratings of the closing ceremonies, as it aired OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS: THE WEDDING, Part 1. The TV movie starred Halle Berry and drew 24.4 million viewers. It was the top program of the night and ranked #3 for the week.


Nielsen Broadcast ratings chart for the week of February 2, 1998