Primetime ratings from the 70's

[Paul Raven]

The specials 1978/79 Season  Rank Rating/Share

1. Ali - Spinks fight (ABC) 37.2 61

2. Rocky (CBS) 36.9 52

3. World Series Game Six (NBC) 35.9 54

4. Academy Awards (ABC) 34.6 63

5. World Series Game Í (NBC) 33.1 51

6. World Series Game Ill (NBC) ' 32.9 54

7. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 32.7 50 ¡

8. World Series Game II (NBC) 32.2 50 C.

9. Roofs: Next Generations (ABC) 31.8 48

10. Super Bowl XIII Post (NBC) 31.7 47

11. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 31.7 48

12. Threes Company (ABC) 30.9 49

13. Rescue from Gilligans Island (NBC) 30.2 52

14. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 29.5 41

15. Pearl (ABC) 29.4 47

16. MacKenzies -Paradise Cove (ABC) 29.4 47

17. Bob Hope -Salute/World Series (NBC) 29.1 42

18. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 28.9 47

19. Gone With the Wind Part II (CBS) 28.8 40

20. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 28.6 40

21. Delta House (ABC) 28.3 41

22. Threes Company Special (ABC) 28.2 40

23. Circus of the Stars (CBS) 28.0 42

24. Cheryl Ladd Special (ABC) 28.0 43

25. Tribute to Jimmy Stewart (CBS) 27.9 45

26. Mork 5, Mindy Hour Special (ABC) 27.8 38

27. Roots: Next Generations (ABC) 27.8 41

28. Happy Days (ABC) 27.2 47

29. Barbara Walters Special (ABC) 27.0 47

30. Makin' It Special (ABC) 26.9 39

31. John Denver (ABC) 26.4 40

32. Taxi (ABC) 26.1 42

33. Like Morn. Like Me (CBS) 26.1 39

34. The Word, Part I (CBS) 26.0 38

35. Charlie Brown Special (CBS) 25.4 39

36. Country Music Awards (CBS) 25.3 39

37. First Kiss. Charlie Brown (CBS) 25.3 35

38. Delta House (ABC) 252 41

39. Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (CBS) 25.1 37

40. AL Championship, Game IV (NBC) 25.0 43

41. Pink Panther's Christmas (ABC) 24.8 37

42. Puff the Magic Dragon (CBS) 24.6 36

43. Charlie Brown's Christmas (CBS) 24.4 38

44. Night Belore Christmas (CBS) 24.4

45. Rudolph -Red -Nosed Reindeer (CBS) 24.3 3' ..!

46. Nestor the Long Eared Donkey (ABC) 24.3 38

47. Gone With the Wind Part II (CBS) 24.3 36

48. NCAA Basketball Championship (NBC) 24.1 38

49. You're-Greatest. Charlie Brown (CBS) 24.0 36

50. Raggedy Ann and Andy (CBS) 23.8 37

51. Benjï s Christmas Story (ABC) 23.8 37

52. Frosty's Winter Wonderland (ABC) 23.8 39

53. Perry Corno's Christmas (ABC) 23.6 36

54. Grass -Greener Over -Septic Tank (CBS) 23.4 38

55. Battle of the Network Stars (ABC) 23.4 40

56. NBC Theater 23.3 36

57. Jesus of Nazareth Part I (NBC) 23.3 35

58. Les Miserables (CBS) 23.2 38

59 Country Christmas (CBS) 23.0 35

60. Celebrity Challenge -Sexes (CBS) 23.0 32

61. Bugs Bunny Howl -Oween (CBS) 22.8 37

62. Orange Bowl Game (NBC) 22.8 35

63. American Music Awards (ABC) 22.8 35

64. Chisholms, Part I (CBS) 22.8 36

65. NFL Football Special (ABC) 22.6 37

66. Taxi Special (ABC) 22.6 33

67. Word, Part I (CBS) 22.5 35

68. Bob Hope Christmas Show (NBC) 22.5 39

69. Steve Martin: Wild & Crazy (NBC) 22.3 36

70. AL Championship Game I (ABC) 22.2 35

71. Fat Albert Halloween Special (CBS) 22.2 35

72. Barbara Walters Special (ABC) 22.1 34

73. Jesus of Nazareth, Part II (NBC) 22.1 34

74. NFL Football Post 2 (NBC) 21.9 37

75. Best of Saturday Nite Live Part I (NBC) 21.9 33

76. Grammy Awards (CBS) 21.9 34

77. Wizard of Oz (CBS) 21.9 36

78. ChristmesGrand Ole Opry (ABC) 21.8 36

79. All Star Family Feud (ABC) 21.8 36

80. Gift of Song- UNICEF (NBC) 21.7 31

81. Alice (CBS) 21.7 30

82. AFI Salutes Alfred Hitchcock (CBS) 21.7 35

83. Operation Petticoat (ABC) 21.6 34

84. Rescue From Gilligan's Island (NBC) 21.5 40

85. Corn is Green (CBS) 21.5 31

86. Ouincy (NBC) 21.5 37

87. World Series Game VI (NBC) 21.4 36

88. Bob Hope Special (NBC) 21.3 30

89. Fantasy Island Special (ABC) 21.3 31

90 Quincy (NBC) 21.2 37

91. Jesus of Nazareth Part Ill (NBC) 21.1 33

92. World Series Pregame Ill (ABC) 21.0 39

93. How Bugs Bunny Won the West (CBS) 21.0 32

94. Co -Ed Fever (CBS) 21.0 35

95. Rona Barrett Special (ABC) 20.9 29

96. Mr. Horn Part (CBS) 20.9 31

97. Kenny Rogers Special (CBS) 20.9 36

98. First You Cry (CBS) 20.8 33

99. Love Boat (ABC) 20.8 34

100. Bobby Vinton, Rock'N'Roller (CBS) 20.8 31

101. Brothers and Sisters (NBC) 20.8 31

102. M'A'S'H (CBS) 20.8 31

103. Captain America (CBS) 20.7 33

104. Johnny Cash Christmas (CBS) 20.6 34

105. Tim Conway Show (CBS) 20.6 28

106. All in the Family (CBS) 20.6 30

107. Bugs Bunny Easter Special (CBS) 20.6 36 -

108. G.E. All -Star Anniversary (ABC) 20.4 36 ,

109. Frosty the Snowman (CBS) 20.4 32

110. ABC News Closeup 20.4 34

111. Carpenters -Christmas Portrait (ABC) 20.3 31

112. WBC Championship (ABC) 20.3 34

113. NL Championship Game Ill (ABC) 20.2 35

114. Bizarre (ABC) 20.2 38

115. Lucy Comes to Nashville (CBS) 20.0 28

116. Bing Crosby Christmas Years (CBS) 20.0 30

117. Rockette Tribute to Radio City (NBC) 20.0 33

118. Almost Heaven (ABC) 20.0 33

119. Entertainer of the Year Awards (CBS) 20.0 30

120. NL Championship Game I (ABC) 19.9 32

121. World Series Pregame I (NBC) 19.9 34

122. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (CBS) 19.9 31

123. NFL Playoff Postgame (NBC) 19.9 48

124. Heroes of Rock' N' Roll (ABC) 19.9 34

125. All Slar Family Feud (ABC) 19.8 30

126. Honeymooners (ABC) 19.8 29

127. NBC Saturday Night Movies 19.8 33

128. All Star Family Feud (ABC) 19.8 28

129. 20/20 (ABC) 19.8 34

130. Lion, Witch -Wardrobe Part II (CBS) 19.7 30

131. Monte Carlo Circus Festival (CBS) 19.5 28

132. Welcome Back, Kotter (ABC) 19.4 34

133. NFL Football Special (ABC) 19.4 31

134. Flintstones Christmas (NBC) 19.4 30

135. Chisholms, Part II (CBS) 19.4 32

136. Perry Cornos Springtime (ABC) 19.4 32

137. Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (NBC) 19.3 32

138. George Burns' 100th Party (CBS) 19.3 28

139. People's Choice Awards (CBS) 19.3 31

140. Happy Days -Fri. (ABC) 19.2 34

141. NBC Saturday Night Movies 19.2 30

142. Lion, Witch -Wardrobe Part I (CBS) 19.2 29

143. Movie of the Week (NBC) 19.1 30

144. Spider -Man (CBS) 191 32

145. G.E. Theatre (CBS) 19:1 3e'

146. Salvage -ABC Movie Special 19.1 32

147. Rudloph's Shiny New Year (ABC) 18.9 31

148. Once Upon a Starry Nile (NBC) 18.9 29

149. Captain & Tennille Song Book (ABC) 18.7 29

150. Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown (CBS) 18.6 29

151. Dolly & Carol in Nashville (CBS) 18.6 30

152. Centennial (NBC) 18.5 32

153. Here Comes Peter Cottontail (CBS) 18.5 30

[Paul Raven]

Seven weeks into the 79/80 season.All shows had premiered by that point. Baseball was out of the way .

NBC had started strong by showing big movies, miniseries and 2 hr eps of Chips, Buck Rogers. Real People was doing well as was BJ &The Bear.A few new series had debuted to good numbers Kate Loves A Mystery, Man Called Sloane.

CBS had a poor start as its new sitcoms and Sat night schedule bombed.

ABC was weakened by moving Fantasy Island, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy. All had lesser ratings than before. Lazarus Syndrome drama was a dud.

1. 60 Minutes (CBS) 28.5 44

2. Three's Company (ABC) 25.8 40

3. M *A *S *H (CBS) 25.5 38

4. Alice (CBS) 24.8 37

5. One Day at a Time (CBS) 24.3 36

6. Eight Is Enough (ABC) 24.2 40

7. Little House on the Prairie (NBC) 24.2 38

8. Charlie's Angels (ABC) 23.9 37

9. The Jeffersons (CBS) 23.8 36

10. Dallas (CBS) 22.7 39

11. WKRP in Cincinnati (CBS) 22.7 34

12. CHiPs (NBC) 22.4 42

13. Barney Miller (ABC) 21.7 35

14. Mork & Mindy (ABC) 21.7 34

15. Trapper John, M.D.* (CBS) 21.8 38

16. Archie Bunker's Place (CBS) 21.8 33

17. ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC) 21.3 34

18. Dukes of Hazzard (CBS) 21.1 36

19. NBC Monday Night Movie (NBC) 21.1 34

20. Happy Days (ABC) 21.0 35

21. Angie (ABC) 21.0 33

22. Benson* (ABC) 20.9 34

23. Taxi (ABC) 20.9 33

24. Soap (ABC) 20.8 33

25. Vega$ (ABC) 20.4 35

26. Diffr'ent Strokes (NBC) 20.0 35

27. Love Boat (ABC) 19.8 35

28. Laverne & Shirley (ABC) 19.8 33

29. Quincy, M.E. (NBC) 19.8 32

30. Hart to Hart* (ABC) 19.0 35

31. Big Event (NBC) 19.0 29

32. Real People (NBC) 18.8 30

33. Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo* (NBC) 18.8 30

34. BJ & the Bear (NBC) 18.4 33

35. NFL Monday Night Football (ABC) 18.4 31

36. CBS Tuesday Night Movie (CBS) 18.3 30

37. Lou Grant (CBS) 18.1 30

38. Barnaby Jones (CBS) 18.0 31

39. Fantasy Island (ABC) 17.8 32

40. The Waltons (CBS) 17.7 29

41. Rockford Files (NBC) 17.8 30

42. NBC Tuesday Night Movie (NBC) 17.8 29

43. Best of Saturday Night Live* (NBC) 17.4 30

44. 20/20 (ABC) 17.4 30

45. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century* (NBC) 17.4 28

46. Hello, Larry (NBC) 18.9 28

47. Incredible Hulk (CBS) 18.8 30

48. Disney's Wonderful World (NBC) 18.8 27

49. Hawaii Five -O (CBS) 18.5 27

50. NBC Wednesday Night Movie (NBC) 18.5 27

51. A Man Called Sloane* (NBC) 18.4 31

52. The Associates (ABC) 18.4 25

53. White Shadow (CBS) 18.2 25

54. Kate Loves a Mystery* (NBC) 18.0 28

55. CBS Wednesday Night Movie (CBS) 15.8 25

56. ABC Friday Night Movie (ABC) 15.8 27

57. Shirley* (NBC) 15.3 27

58. 240 Robert* (ABC) 15.2 24

59. California Fever* (CBS) 14.5 23

60: The Ropers (ABC) 14.2 27

61. Eischied (NBC) 14.1 24

62. Lazarus Syndrome* (ABC) 13.7 23

63. Salvage -1 (ABC) 13.1 21

64. Prime Time Sunday* (NBC) 12.5 22

65. Last Resort* (CBS) 12.4 20

66. Detective School* (ABC) 12.2 23

67. Paris* (CBS) 11.2 22

68. Struck by Lightning* (CBS) 10.7 17

69. Out of the Blue* (ABC) 10.3 18

70. Bad News Bears (CBS) 9.9 18

71. New Kind of Family* (ABC) 9.8 17

72. Working Stiffs* (CBS) 8.3 16

73. Big Shamus, Little Shamus* (CBS) 8.2 15

CBS dropped its Sat 8-10 lineup Bad News Bears/Struck by Lightning/Big Shamus for movies and Wed 8pm comedies Last Resort/Working Stiffs for specials and movies

ABC moved Fantasy Island back to Sat @10, displacing Hart to Hart which moved to Tues @10 replacing Lazarus Syndrome. The Sunday 7pm comedies Out of the Blue/New Kind of Family were dropped for specials and a short run of Salvage 1.

Fantasy Island Fri@8 slot replaced by specials

NBC held tight at that point.

[Soapsuds]

	Week Ending September 24, 1978
	Show	Net	Airdate	HH Rating	HH Share	HH (000s)
	Laverne and Shirley	ABC	September 19, 1978	30.3	48	22,570
	Three's Company	ABC	September 19, 1978	29.8	45	22,200
	Charlie's Angels	ABC	September 20, 1978	29.1	44	21,680
	Happy Days	ABC	September 19, 1978	28.7	48	21,380
	M*A*S*H	CBS	September 18, 1978	26.8	40	19,970
	One Day at a Time	CBS	September 18, 1978	25.3	40	18,850
	Taxi	ABC	September 19, 1978	24.6	38	18,330
	All in the Family	CBS	September 24, 1978	24.4	36	18,180
	Love Boat	ABC	September 23, 1978	24.3	43	18,100
	Alice	CBS	September 24, 1978	23.9	35	17,810
	Movie: The Bad News Bears	ABC	September 22, 1978	23.8	42	17,730
	Big Event: The Other Side of the Mountain	NBC	September 24, 1978	23.8	37	17,730
	Mork & Mindy	ABC	September 21, 1978	23.7	41	17,660
	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	September 18, 1978	23.2	36	17,280
	What's Happening	ABC	September 21, 1978	23.0	37	17,140
	Vega$	ABC	September 20, 1978	22.6	36	16,840
	Battlestar Galactica	ABC	September 24, 1978	22.6	36	16,840
	Barney Miller	ABC	September 21, 1978	22.4	35	16,690
	Fantasy Island	ABC	September 23, 1978	21.6	40	16,090
	Waltons	CBS	September 21, 1978	21.5	35	16,020
	People	CBS	September 18, 1978	21.2	32	15,790
	Movie: Airport '77, Part 2	NBC	September 20, 1978	21.2	33	15,790
	Soap	ABC	September 21, 1978	21.1	33	15,720
	Eight Is Enough	ABC	September 20, 1978	20.7	35	15,420
	Family	ABC	September 21, 1978	20.1	36	14,970
	Barnaby Jones	CBS	September 21, 1978	20.0	36	14,900
	60 Minutes	CBS	September 24, 1978	19.8	35	14,750
	Mary	CBS	September 24, 1978	19.8	31	14,750
	WKRP in Cincinnati	CBS	September 18, 1978	19.7	32	14,680
	Chips	NBC	September 23, 1978	19.3	37	14,380
	Movie: The Shaggy D.A.	NBC	September 24, 1978	19.3	33	14,380
	Movie: Audrey Rose	NBC	September 18, 1978	19.2	34	14,300
	Big Event: Airport '77, Part 1	NBC	September 19, 1978	18.9	30	14,080
	Donny and Marie	ABC	September 22, 1978	18.5	35	13,780
	NFL Monday Night Football	ABC	September 18, 1978	18.4	31	13,710
	Starsky & Hutch	ABC	September 19, 1978	18.1	30	13,480
	Kaz	CBS	September 24, 1978	18.1	31	13,480
	Movie: The Shootist	CBS	September 19, 1978	17.4	28	12,960
	Quincy, M.E.	NBC	September 21, 1978	16.8	26	12,520
	Jeffersons	CBS	September 20, 1978	16.7	29	12,440
	NFL Football Special: New England vs. Oakland	ABC	September 24, 1978	16.3	28	12,140
	Dick Clark's Live Wednesday	NBC	September 20, 1978	16.2	27	12,070
	Incredible Hulk	CBS	September 22, 1978	16.0	28	11,920
	Movie: Burnt Offerings	NBC	September 23, 1978	16.0	30	11,920
	In the Beginning	CBS	September 20, 1978	15.9	26	11,850
	Wonder Woman	CBS	September 22, 1978	15.4	29	11,470
	Good Times	CBS	September 23, 1978	15.4	29	11,470
	Rockford Files	NBC	September 22, 1978	14.6	26	10,880
	Grandpa Goes to Washington	NBC	September 19, 1978	14.0	23	10,430
	Movie: Are You in the House Alone?	CBS	September 20, 1978	13.4	21	9,980
	Rhoda	CBS	September 23, 1978	13.4	27	9,980
	CBS NFL Football Game 2 (18 MINUTE OVERRUN)	CBS	September 24, 1978	13.2	32	9,830
	ABC News Special Report	ABC	September 18, 1978	13.0	23	9,690
	Carter Country	ABC	September 23, 1978	13.0	26	9,690
	Apple Pie	ABC	September 23, 1978	12.8	24	9,540
	Dallas	CBS	September 23, 1978	12.5	23	9,310
	Eddie Capra Mysteries	NBC	September 22, 1978	11.9	21	8,870
	Paper Chase	CBS	September 19, 1978	11.8	19	8,790
	Lassie-The New Beginning Part 2	ABC	September 24, 1978	11.3	23	8,420
	Waverly Wonders	NBC	September 22, 1978	11.1	22	8,270
	Project U.F.O.	NBC	September 21, 1978	11.0	18	8,200
	W.E.B.	NBC	September 21, 1978	11.0	20	8,200
	CBS News Special Report	CBS	September 18, 1978	10.9	20	8,120
	American Girls	CBS	September 23, 1978	10.7	19	7,970
	Who's Watching the Kids?	NBC	September 22, 1978	9.9	18	7,380

 

[Paul Raven]

ABC won that week 20.9 NBC just pipped CBS 17.4 to 17.3

NBC ran movies 5 of the 7 nights -a scheduling strategy they couldn't sustain week after week.

The 2 nights that they ran series Thurs & Fri they ran 3rd in every slot.

Thurs Project UFO/Quincy/WEB and

Fri Waverly Wonders/Who's Watching the Kids/Rockford Files/Eddie Capra.

Little House and Chips were the only NBC series to win timeslots.

The only new ABC series not to win its timeslot was new comedy Apple Pie Sat @8.30

WEB was the first NBC show to be dropped, David Casssidy Man Undercover replaced it. By midseason NBC had dropped all its new shows.

Johnny Carson quipped that NBC stood for 'Nine Bombs Cancelled'

The only bright spot for NBC was the introduction of Diffrent Strokes.

CBS cancelled Mary, Mary Tyler Moore's variety show,People and American Girls.

ABC cancelled Apple Pie and Operation Petticoat and brought in Lucan as a replacement.

[Paul Raven]

ABC -TV rolled up one of its biggest weekly wins in the primetime ratings for the week of March 12 -18, 1979, while NBC -TV turned in one of the lowest scores in recent memory.

The averages: ABC -TV, 22.2 rating and 36.7 share; CBS -TV, 17.7 and 29.2 and NBC -TV, 13.6 and 22.5.

ABC reached its highest nightly score of the week and CBS and NBC tumbled to their lowest on Tuesday, when ABC's Three's Company scored a 38.5 rating and 58 share to reach 28,680,000 homes per average minute, said by ABC to be the most ever for a series episode. Immediately after Three's Company the debut of The Ropers got a 36.0/55, which ABC claimed was the second highest rating ever for a series premiere, outscored only by Mayberry RFD's 36.3/52 on CBS on Sept. 23, 1968.

And immediately after The Ropers, the Barbara Walters Special, an interview with John Wayne, turned in a 27.0/47, the highest rating in the history of that series. And at the beginning of the evening, Happy Days got a 33.0/51 and Laverne and Shirley a 35.4/53. It all added up to a 32.8/52.1 night for ABC.

Against it, a CBS News special report, "In Search of Peace," had a 7.7 rating and 12 share, and the CBS movie, a rerun of "Zorro," drew a 13.1/21, leaving CBS with an 11.3/17.7 for the night. Meanwhile, on NBC, Cliffhangers came in with a 14.2/22 and Checkerboard Flag or Crash managed only a 9.1/15, leaving NBC with a 10.8/17.4 for the evening.

The premiere of Harris & Co. on NBC Thursday evening had a weak 8.0/12 against Mork and Mindy's 32.3/50 and Angie's 27.4/42 on ABC and The Waltons' 17.5/27 on CBS.

CBS's new Dukes of Hazzard continued to show strength, producing a 22.2/39,but its Mary Tyler Moore show dropped to a 26 share and Just Friends to a 28. Among other new shows, NBC's Supertrain, Mrs. Columbo and Brothers and Sisters, CBS's Married: The First Year and ABC's Osmond Family Show and Making' It all ranked 55 or lower in the week's field of 68 programs. At the top of the list, ABC had the first seven and CBS the next three

 

[DRW50]

I wasn't sure where to put this. It's an episode (probably the most famous episode) of James at 15/16, with original commercials.

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[Soapsuds]

Not sure if we have a 60s thread...

 

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[Paul Raven]

@Soapsuds we don't have a 60's thread, but your post has given me the impetus to start  one. I think this is Oct 65.

Peyton Place and The Fugitive were the only ABC shows. Surprised that Bewitched was not there but my guess is the CBS Thursday movie was a strong title that nudged Bewitched out of the Top 20.

Peyton Place was a self starter as Red Skelton on CBS #2 aired 8.30-9.30 and then viewers switched over to ABC @9.30 for the rest of the evening.

[Soapsuds]

Sorry, yes, it's from October 1965.

[Soapsuds]

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[Paul Raven]

Interesting to see only All in the Family, Sanford, MASH and Maude in the Top 20.

The schedule was not sitcom heavy. 

It was early in the season so the networks were showing stronger titles. The Planet of the Apes movies were huge for CBS thus leading them to order a series which bombed.

Night by night

Sun

Disney NBC Mannix/Barnaby Jones CBS

Mon

Gunsmoke CBS Movie NBC

Tues

Maude/Hawaii Five O CBS

Wed

Adam 12 NBC Sonny& Cher/Kojak/Cannon CBS

Thurs

Waltons CBS Ironside NBC Kung Fu/Streets of San Francisco ABC

Fri

Sanford NBC Movie CBS

Sat

All in Family/MASH CBS Movie NBC

Edited November 12, 2024 by Paul Raven

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