SHORT TAKES : ABC News Wins Ratings Race; Football Reigns as ‘90s Begin

NEW YORK —  The good news over at ABC was ABC News, which held first place--including two ties with CBS--for every week of the 13-week final quarter of 1989, it was reported today.

Not only did ABC News win a fourth quarter for the first time ever, it also won calendar year 1989--with a little number juggling. Rounding the figures out, as is usually done, would have resulted in a tie with ABC and CBS News each earning a 10.1. But ABC statisticians went the extra decimal point and came up with ABC at a 10.14, and CBS with a 10.09.

Football took over the top of the ratings chart for the week, with the AFC playoff game, Pittsburgh vs. Houston, in the No. 1 slot in a 61-minute run-over into prime time Sunday. That made NBC the winner for the night--ousting CBS from the one night it usually dominates. Of course, the night was New Year’s Eve, when even couch potatoes tune out.

The second most-watched show was ABC’s Monday night football--on Christmas night.

NBC won the ratings race for the week ending Dec. 31, according to the A. C. Nielsen Co., with a 13.4 rating and a 24 share. ABC was second with an 11.4 rating and a 20 share while CBS was third with a 10.3 rating and an 18 share.

TOP 10 SHOWS

The top 10 programs for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 31, according to A.C. Nielsen Co., were:

1. AFC playoff, Pittsburgh vs. Houston (NBC)

2. NFL Monday night football, Cincinnati vs. Minnesota (ABC)

3. The Cosby Show (NBC)

4. (tie) Cheers (NBC)

Golden Girls (NBC)

6. Unsolved Mysteries (NBC)

7. Roseanne (ABC)

8. Empty Nest (NBC)

9. Different World (NBC)

10. Dear John (NBC)