Games and game shows keep NBC in top rating spot

Football helped NBC tackle its opponents again.

Chalking up its sixth-consecutive ratings win, NBC claimed the most-watched telecast the week of Sept. 8-14, Sunday's clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. It also logged three editions of "America's Got Talent" and a broadcast of "Deal or No Deal" in the top 10.

ABC scored with football, too, with Saturday's airing of the Ohio State vs. USC face-off notching fourth place for the week.

Fox's sci-fi thriller "Fringe" premiered at 12th place with 9.1 million viewers, but its critically slammed sitcom "Do Not Disturb" debuted with a disturbing 4.7 million viewers, to rank 75th.

For the week, network averages were: NBC, 8.4 million viewers (5.3 household rating, 9 share); CBS, 7.4 million (4.9, 8); ABC, 6.3 million (4.0, 7); Fox, 6.2 million (4.0, 7); CW, 2.7 million (1.8, 3); My Network, 1.0 million (0.7, 1); ION, 460,000 (0.3, 1).

In the evening news race: ABC "World News," 8.9 million (6.1, 12); NBC "Nightly News," 8.4 million (5.8, 12); "CBS Evening News," 6.2 million (4.3, 9).

ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick (NBC)

3 60 Minutes (CBS)

4 Saturday Night Football: Ohio State at USC (ABC)

5 America's Got Talent (Wednesday) (NBC)

6 America's Got Talent (Tuesday) (NBC)

8 America's Got Talent (Thursday) (NBC)

9 Deal or No Deal (NBC)

10 Two and a Half Men (CBS)

11 Bones (Fox)

12 Fringe (Fox)

14 Flashpoint (CBS)

15 Criminal Minds (CBS)

16 20/20 (ABC)

17 Saturday Night Football Pre-Game (ABC)

18 Big Brother (Thursday) (CBS)