With most of the networks' primetime slates consisting of repeats Sunday night, NBC took a ratings win, despite the U.S. Olympic Trials dropping off considerably from the 2008 incarnations, according to preliminary numbers.
NBC took first place in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic, with an average 1.2 rating/4 share, and came in second in total viewers with an average 4.6 million.
The only network to air original programming Sunday night, NBC broadcast "U.S. Olympic Trials '12: Track & Field" at 7 p.m., which was down 40 percent from the first 2008 trials in women's gymnastics on June 22, and dropped 20 percent from the 2008 track & field trials on July 6. Overall, Sunday night's trials drew a 1.2/4 in ratings and 4.5 million total viewers.
"Dateline" at 8 ran even with its last original airing two weeks ago, posting a 1.2/4 and drawing 5.2 million total viewers. Repeats of "America's Got Talent" followed.
The rest of the networks aired nothing but repeats. ABC took second place in ratings and third in total viewers with a 1.0/3 and 3.4 million, while Fox came in third in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 0.8/3 and 2 million. CBS took fourth place in ratings but first in total viewers with an average 0.8/2 and 5.7 million total viewers.
