Viewers flock to NBC's 'Talent,' 'Bee'

By Paul J. Gough

Aug 2, 2007, ET

NEW YORK -- NBC won Tuesday's primetime with the combination of "America's Got Talent" and freshman hit "The Singing Bee."

NBC prevailed in the first two hours of primetime in viewership and the adults 18-49 demographic before splitting the victory at 10 p.m. with ABC, which tied in adults 18-49. Both the most-watched show and the highest-rated show in adults 18-49 belonged to NBC, according to preliminary estimates released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research.

The night began with a big win for "America's Got Talent" (10.7 million, 3.1 rating/10 share in adults 18-49) between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. There was a comfortable margin between "Talent" and ABC's "Just for Laughs" (7.3 million, 2.5/8) not to mention CBS' repeat "NCIS" (7.8 million, 1.7/8) and Fox's "On the Lot" (2.3 million, 1.0/3).

CBS improved at 9 p.m. with "Big Brother" (7.1 million, 2.8/8), while ABC declined with "Shaq's Big Challenge" (5.5 million, 2.1/6) and Fox came in fourth in adults 18-49 with a repeat "House" (5.9 million, 2.0/6). NBC won with "Bee" (9.8 million, 3.2/9), which was about even with last week.

A repeat "Law & Order: SVU" (7.3 million, 2.1/6) tied with ABC's "Primetime: Family Secrets" (5.9 million, 2.1/6) in adults 18-49 against CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" (4.9 million, 1.6/5).

Tuesday averages: NBC (9.4 million, 2.8/9); CBS (6.6 million, 2.0/6); ABC (6.1 million, 2.2/7); Fox (4.1 million, 1.5/5); and the CW (1.3 million, 0.5/2).

Viewers flock to NBC's 'Talent,' 'Bee'

By Paul J. Gough

Aug 2, 2007, ET