A rerun @ #3......

LOS ANGELES, CA --- Fast National ratings for Friday, February 17, 2006

The trend of underwhelming Olympics ratings continued for NBC Friday, but the network still scored a fairly comfortable victory for the night.

NBC averaged a 10.9 rating/18 share in primetime, beating second-place ABC, 7.2/12, by a substantial margin (although compared to past Olympics, the Turin Games are still down considerably).

CBS finished third at 5.8/10. FOX was fourth in households at 3.1/5, although UPN, 2.8/5, had slightly more total viewers. The WB trailed with a 1.7/3.

Among adults 18-49, NBC's 5.3 rating was tops, with ABC in second at 3.1. CBS, 2.6, was third in the demographic, with FOX taking fourth at 1.9. UPN averaged 1.6 and The WB 1.0.

ABC won the 8 p.m. hour with the "Dancing with the Stars" results show, 10.2/17. The Olympics were relegated to second with an 8.9/15. A "Ghost Whisperer" rerun was third for CBS. FOX got a 2.7/4 from "Trading Spouses," edging "Friday Night Smackdown!," 2.6/4, on UPN. The WB went with "What I Like About You" and "Living with Fran."

The Winter Olympics moved into the lead at 9 p.m. with an 11.8/19. CBS' "Close to Home" rerun and ABC's "In Justice" tied for second at 5.8/9, with CBS holding a slight lead in viewers. A second hour of "Trading Spouses" was fourth for FOX, and "Smackdown!" remained in fifth for UPN. "Reba," 2.3/4, and "Twins," 1.6/3, closed out The WB's night.

At 10 p.m., the Olympics posted a 12.0/20 for NBC. "Numb3rs" was second for CBS at 6.5/11, and ABC's "20/20" averaged 5.5/9.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

Story: © 2006 Tribune Media Services and Nielsen Media Research, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
Image: © 2005 Touchstone Television LLC - a Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures Corporation - a Viacom Company. All Rights Reserved.