ABC Somehow Wins Friday.....Nobody was really watching TV on Friday night.....

Fast National ratings for Friday, August 17, 2007.

A sluggish Friday night went to ABC in all key measures.

Overall, ABC averaged a 3.7 rating/7 share, good enough to beat the 3.2/6 for CBS. The other three networks were tightly bunched with with NBC's 2.9/5 nipping the 2.7/5 for FOX, as well as the solid 2.4/4 for The CW.

ABC also won among adults 18-49, doing a 1.6 rating in the key demographic. FOX was up to second with a 1.4 rating and CBS and The CW posted the same 1.2 rating, leaving NBC to trail with a 1.1 rating.

CBS started the night in first with a 3.6/7 for "Ghost Whisperer." NBC was second with "1 vs. 100," which barely beat the 3.2/7 for ABC's "Set for Life." FOX got a 2.6/5 for an NFL preseason game, leaving The CW in fifth with "WWE Smackdown!"

It should be noted that in some markets (Boston, for example), the ABC affiliate was also showing preseason football.

That might explain why the 9 p.m. hour went to ABC's two episodes of "George Lopez," which averaged a 3.1/5 between them. FOX's football was second, followed very closely by the 2.7/5 for NBC's "Las Vegas." The CW's wrestling-type-entertainment and CBS' "Jericho" posted almost the identical 2.6/5.

ABC got a 4.8/9 from "20/20" in the 10 p.m. hour. CBS was second with a 3.5/7 for "Numb3rs," leaving NBC in last with "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

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

Story: © 2007 Tribune Media Services and Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Image: © 2006 ABC Television Studio - a Walt Disney Company and CBS Studios Inc. - a CBS Corporation Company. All Rights Reserved.