Ratings Archives: Week of September 21 - 27, 1998

For what ever reason, I do not have the opening week of the 1998-99 TV season, (Sept. 14 - 20). So, we kick off the season with week two, September 21 - 27, 1998.

NBC picks up right where it left off, dominating the top of the chart. The network grabs the top five spots, with its entire Thursday night line up, led by ER with just under 32 million viewers. This is the first season for NBC without SEINFELD in the line up, so FRAISER has taken the reigns of the 9 PM slot. The CHEERS spinoff ranked third on the week, with over 28 million viewers.

CBS actually won the week, thanks to a strong Sunday Night Movie, FOREVER LOVE, on Sunday Night. The two hour drama collected 22.4 million viewers and ranked 6th for the week. CBS also did well with the CMA Awards as it took in 18.4 million viewers, ranking 9th on the week. Oh, and that little crime drama tossed away, JAG. It ranked 16th with 15.8 million viewers. CBS is still doing well with that franchise. JAG may be one of the biggest programming mistakes NBC has ever made, after green-lighting SUPERTRAIN to a series, in the 1970's.

ABC took third place, followed by FOX, The WB and UPN.

• Nielsen Broadcast ratings chart for the week of September 21, 1998.