NEW YORK -- NBC squeezed into the No. 1 spot for network prime time television last week without the help of any specials, like the 1983 All Star Game which gave the network its last first place the week ending July 10.
The Nielsen survey for the week ending July 31 gave NBC a 12.3 rating with a 24 percent share of the viewing audience, followed by CBS with an 12.1 rating and a 24 share, and ABC with an 11.8 rating and a 23 share.
An NBC spokesman said its rating for last week was up 18 percent over last year's rating for the same week.
NBC's prime time programming now has finished first for four times since the April 17 end of the 1982-83 television season. Besides the week of the All Star Game, the network was No. 1 for the week ending May 29, when it ran a Bob Hope special, and the week ending May 8, when it ran Part 2 of the mini-series 'V.'
CBS had six of the top 10 shows and NBC had the other four. ABC's highest ranked show was its '20-20,' which placed 11th. The premiere ofits limited series 'The Hamptons' was No. 18, with a 13.8 rating and a 25 share.
In early evening news, CBS 'Evening News' gained slightly last week in its lead over the other two networks with an 11.0 rating compared to 10.6 the previous week. For the second consecutive week it had a 24 percent share.
'NBC Nightly News' and ABC's 'World News Tonight' tied for a second consecutive week, with each getting an 8.7 rating compared to their 9.2 ratings the previous week. ABC's early evening news had a 20 percent share of the viewing audience last week while NBC had a 19 share.
The top 10 programs for the week ending July 31, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co.:
1. Jeffersons (CBS).
2. Newhart (CBS).
3. One Day at a Time (CBS).
4. NBC Monday Night Movie 'Death of a Centerfold' (NBC).
5. 60 Minutes (CBS).
6. A Team (NBC).
Tied 8. Trapper John, M.D. (CBS).
Tied 8. NBC Sunday Night Movie 'Hunt to Kill' (NBC).
10. Magnum, P.I. (CBS).
