Primetime Ratings: Fox Wins as 'Idol' Stabilizes

CBS' 'Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials' special up slightly from last year

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/31/2013 11:40:16 AM

Fox's American Idol was steady in its third week, losing just a tenth from last Wednesday for a 5.4 rating with adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnight numbers. The network easily won the night.

CBS was in second with a 1.8/5, airing only the special, Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2013, which was up a tenth from last year to a 2.1. It was also up 15% in total viewers with 9.86 million.

NBC returned its Wednesday lineup from three weeks off to finish third with a 1.6/5. Whitney was down a tenth to a 1.3 and Guys With Kids fell 15% to a 1.1. Law & Order: SVU declined 19% to a 1.7 and Chicago Fire was off by 9% from its last original at a 2.0.

ABC took fourth, airing a mix of repeats and originals to end with a 1.5/4. Following a Middle repeat, The Neighbors fell 20% to a 1.6, while Suburgatory also struggled without a new Modern Family as its lead-in, falling 18% to a 1.8.

The CW rounded out the evening with a 0.9/2. Arrow was down two tenths with both 18-49s to a 0.9 and 18-34s to a 0.7. Supernatural was even with 18-49s at 0.9 and 18-34s at 0.8.