In sports-filled week, series lead CBS to top ratings for fifth straight time

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The new TV season has fallen into a pattern, one that puts CBS on top.

For the fifth straight week, the home of ‘NCIS’ won the week with its potent mix of crime procedurals, comedies and reality shows. In addition to No. 4 ‘NCIS’ (19.4 million total viewers), CBS also drew strength from the spin-off ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ (16 million) and ’60 Minutes’ (15.8 million), according to figures published Tuesday by the Nielsen Co.

CBS’ achievement is all the more impressive given the continuing huge numbers piled up by NFL games, not to mention postseason baseball. The Vikings-Packers game was the week’s No. 1 program in viewers (25.7 million) and adults 18 to 49 (9.8 rating/25 share). Indeed, it was the most-watched ‘NBC Sunday Football’ ever, as well as the most-watched NFL game to air in prime time during October.

Overall, CBS averaged 11.5 million total viewers, trailed by ABC (8.9 million), NBC (8.5 million) and Fox (7.5 million). In 18 to 49, CBS brushed past NBC, 2.9 rating vs. 2.7.

The week proved challenging yet again for new series. The most-watched new program was CBS’ Friday drama ‘Blue Bloods’ (11.2 million). However, new series are doing somewhat better once DVR viewing is factored in weeks later.

Spanish-language Univision continued its rapid prime time growth, up 15% in total viewers compared with the same week a year ago.

In a week consumed by big sports contests, the No. 1 cable program was TBS’ Game 6 in the American League championship series (11.9 million), which saw the Texas Rangers defeat the New York Yankees for their first trip to the World Series.

--Scott Collins (Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Michael Weatherly and guest star Nadia Bjorlin on ‘NCIS.’ Credit: Randy Tepper/CBS