NEW YORK - CBS had a stellar slate of comedies and dramas. NBC had football.
The result was a week where NBC seized a narrow lead in viewers, while CBS edged ahead in household ratings, according to data released Tuesday by the Nielsen Co.
Overall in prime time for the week of Dec. 31, NBC averaged 8.39 million viewers followed closely by CBS with 8.29 million viewers. Meanwhile, CBS scored an average 5.3 household rating for the week (and a 9 share of viewing audience), just ahead of NBC with a 5.1 rating (and an 8 share).
The most-watched broadcast of the week was NBC's coverage of the NFL playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. It drew an audience of 30 million viewers. NBC's "Pre-Kick" show was in second place, with 29 million viewers.
But CBS dominated the top 20 with 10 scripted series, plus its "60 Minutes" newsmagazine. In fourth place, CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" drew more than 19 million viewers, its largest audience this season.
NBC's highest-placing scripted series was "Chicago Fire," which placed 20th.
ABC celebrated with a prime-time hour of "New Year's Rockin' Eve," which ranked seventh, and a tribute special to its late long-time host, Dick Clark, which placed 15th.
After NBC and CBS, Fox had 6.84 million (4.0 rating, 6 share), ABC had 5.07 million (3.0 rating, 5 share), ION had 1.29 million (0.8 rating, 1 share), and the CW had 1.23 million (0.8 rating, 1 share).
Nielsen ratings
Programs for Dec. 31-Jan. 6
1. NFL Playoff: Minnesota at Green Bay, NBC, 30.28 million
2. NFL Playoff Pre-Kick, NBC, 29.27 million
3. NFL Wildcard Post Game: Seattle at Washington, Fox, 19.56 million
4. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 19.25 million
5. "Person of Interest," CBS, 16.23 million
6. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 15.41 million
7. "New Year's Rockin' Eve," ABC, 13.33 million
8. Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. OU, Fox, 11.94 million
9. "Elementary," CBS, 11.44 million
10. "The Mentalist," CBS, 10.85 million
11. "NCIS (Special)," CBS, 10.63 million
12. "Blue Bloods," CBS, 10.18 million
13. "The Good Wife," CBS, 9.96 million
14. "60 Minutes," CBS, 9.61 million
15. "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark," ABC 9.44 million
16. "NCIS: Los Angeles (Special)," CBS, 9.39 million
17. "CSI: NY," CBS, 9.13 million
18. "Once Upon a Time," ABC, 9.10 million
19. "The Simpsons," Fox, 8.97 million
20. "Chicago Fire," NBC, 8.54 million
