NEW YORK -- NBC knocked CBS out of first place again last week in the prime time ratings competition, boosted by two installments of 'A.D.' in the Top 10 and a strong showing by 'The A Team.'
The A.C. Nielsen Co. prime time ratings for the week ending April 7 gave NBC a 16.0 rating and a 26 percent share of the audience. CBS had a 15.4 rating and a 25 share, while ABC earned a 15.2 rating and a 25 share.
NBC recaptured first place despite the presence of five CBS shows in the Top 10, including the NCAA championship game between Villanova and Georgetown, which had the week's second highest ratings.
A CBS spokesman attributed the slip to the absence of 'Dynasty' and 'Falcon Crest' in last week's lineup because of a movie.
Viewership for the Roman epic 'A.D.' peaked with Tuesday night's installment, which ranked fourth. The second episode, aired Monday night, checked in at ninth. The final episode ranked 16th.
On the season to date, CBS leads with a 17.0 rating and a 27 share, while NBC has a 16.3 rating and a 26 share and ABC a 15.5 rating and a 24 share.
'CBS Evening News with Dan Rather' remained the No. 1 evening news show, with a 12.6 rating and 24 share. 'NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw' came in second with a 10.8 rating and a 21 share, and ABC's 'World News Tonight' had a 10.7 rating and a 20 share.
The top prime time shows for the week ending April 7, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., were:
1. The A Team (NBC)
2. NCAA Championship Game (CBS)
3. Dynasty (ABC)
4. A.D. Part III (NBC)
5. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
6. Simon & Simon (CBS)
7. Crazy Like a Fox (CBS)
8. Magnum, P.I. (CBS)
9. A.D. Part II (NBC)
10.
