NEW YORK -- A few weeks ago, the CBS 'Evening News' outpointed NBC's entire prime time lineup, but last week, anchorman Dan Rather went himself one better. He not only outscored the NBC prime time schedule, he outscored ABC's as well.
The 'Evening News' picked up an overall Nielsen rating of 15.5 and an audience share of 26 for the week. The second place ABC 'World News Tonight' scored 12.2 and 21, and NBC's 'Nightly News' was buried at 11.8 and 20.
The only thing the 'Evening News' did not beat was its own network's prime time slate which came in at 18.3 and 29. ABC posted 15.3 and 24 in prime time and NBC came in at 14.7 and 23 -- both well below the 'Evening News' win.
Only once before since he took the 'Evening News' anchor from Walter Cronkite has Rather outshone last week's score. During the week of Jan. 11-17, the 'Evening News' hit 16.5 and 26, but it did not, at that time, top prime time ratings.
NBC, which soon will announce a fall schedule shake-up, landed only one program in the Nielsen Top 10. Its Monday night movie, 'In Remembrance of Love,' was No. 7.
The top 10 programs for the week ending Dec. 12, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., were:
1. 60 Minutes (CBS).
2. Dallas (CBS).
3. M-A-S-H (CBS).
4. Magnum P.I. (CBS).
5. The Jeffersons (CBS).
6. One Day at a Time (CBS).
7. NBC Monday Night Movie: In Remembrance of Love (NBC).
8. Dynasty (ABC)
9. Three's Company (ABC).
10. Falcon Crest (CBS).
