|
By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY
CBS and ABC will divide bragging rights as the November Nielsen ratings sweeps comes to a close.
CBS is projected to take the audience crown for the sweeps period ending tonight. It would be the sixth straight November win in total viewers for the network, which was averaging 12.9 million viewers as of Sunday. ABC, NBC and Fox trail, in that order.
NIELSENS: Housewives hot; Madonna? Not so much
ABC, boosted by Dancing With the Stars, is expected to triumph among the young-adult viewers (ages 18 to 49) desired by advertisers. For ABC, now without Monday Night Football, it would be the first outright November young-adult victory since 1999. As of Sunday, CBS and NBC were tied for second.
Dancing's final competition and results show hold the top two spots in viewers for the month, and the season so far.
NBC, powered by its new NFL franchise and first-year hit Heroes, is the only network to show year-to-year growth in both categories, with projected increases of 9% in total viewers and 12% in young adults. CBS is expected to be down 11% in viewers; ABC's total audience is essentially flat year to year.
Fox will finish sweeps a distant fourth, down in both categories from November 2005. If the pattern of recent seasons repeats itself, the network should see its fortunes rise in January with the return of American Idol and 24.
Sweeps periods are used to set advertising rates for local stations. | 
