NCAA basketball coverage gave CBS a tentative overall ratings win Sunday night, while ABC's "Once Upon a Time" was the night's top-rated program, according to preliminary numbers.
CBS came in first in the adults 18-49 demographic and total viewers with an average 2.3/6 and 9.7 million, though overrun from NCAA basketball coverage meant the numbers could be revised. "60 Minutes" at 7 p.m. posted a 2.5/8 in the demo and 10 million total viewers, though that number is most likely skewed due to the basketball overrun until 7:44 in the Eastern and Central time zones. From 8 to 9, the continued "60 Minutes" coupled with "The Amazing Race" posted a 2.6/7 and 10.6 million total viewers, while "The Amazing Race" concludion, coupled with the beginning of "The Good Wife" from 9 to 10, averaged a 2.2/5 in the demo and 9.2 million total viewers. The network finished the night from 10 to 11 with "The Good Wife" continuation followed by "CSI: Miami," which averaged a 1.8/5 in the demo and 9 million total viewers.
ABC took second place in the demo and total viewers with an average 2.2/6 and 7.5 million. "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7 posted a 1.3/4 in the demo and 6.1 million total viewers, while "Once Upon a Time" the following hour nabbed the night's top slot despite matching last week's series low with a 2.9/8 in the demo and 8.6 million total viewers. "Desperate Housewives" the following hour was down slightly from last week with a 2.5/6 in the demo and 9 million total viewers, while "GCB" at 10 dropped 13 percent in the demo to a 2.3/6, with 6.3 million total viewers.
Fox came in third in the demo and fourth in total viewers with an average 2.0/5 and 4.3 million. Following a "Simpsons" repeat at 7, "The Cleveland Show" at 7:30 posted a 1.6/5 in the demo and 3.3 million total viewers. At 8, "The Simpsons inched up to a 2.4/7 in the demo and 5.2 million total viewers, while "Bob's Burgers" climbed 11 percent from last week's season premiere for a 2.1/5 in the demo and 4.4 million total viewers. "Family Guy" at 9 was even with last week for a 2.8/7 in the demo and 5.7 million total viewers, while "American Dad" closed the night at 9:30. It was also flat with last week for a 2.2/5 in the demo and 4.6 million total viewers.
In fourth place in ratings and third in total viewers with an average 1.4/4 and 6.4 million, NBC ran "Dateline" at 7, which grew 22 percent to a 1.1/4 and 6.2 million total viewers. "Harry's Law" at 8 tied last week's series low with a 1.1/3 in the demo and 7.9 million total viewers. "The Celebrity Apprentice" at 9 dropped 10 percent from last week to touch a series low for the celebrity edition of the franchise, posting a 1.8/4 in the demo and 5.8 million total viewers.
