MATT DRUDGE // DRUDGE REPORT 2002�
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED SEPT 18, 2002 10:14:37 ET XXXXX
EISNER'S GOLDEN DAY: ABC WINS TUESDAY PRIMETIME, NEWS; KOPPEL EVEN TOPS LETTERMAN
NETWORK IN TURN-AROUND?
Three cheers to embattled DISNEY chair Michael Eisner and his deputy Bob Iger after ABC-TV shows pulse with a Tuesday win, win and win in NIELSEN for the network's new shows!
That's now two nights in a row that ABC has taken the primetime race, pulling in more audience than either CBS or NBC [and even HBO].
MORE
"We're in the hunt!," an overjoyed ABC executive said from New York City. "This gives us some space... the audience is confirming what we've known, our new shows are really special."
Tuesday night's performance was viewed as make-or-break by some inside of ABC, as the network premiered three of its new Fall strips.
The John Ritter sitcom "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" easily doubled the audience of its nearest competitor with a 13 rating/21 share debut. [A 30 share in Philly!]
ABC's new president of entertainment, Susan Lyne, was said to be near tears after hearing the ratings news.
For the night ABC topped out with 9.4/15 over NBC [6.9/11] and CBS [6.1/9].
EisnerIger's victory was across the board, with ABC winning every half hour during prime on Tuesday night.
Evening momentum also extended into afterhours when ABC's NIGHTLINE [3.7/9] outpaced CBS's LETTERMAN [3.1/8].
Koppel's also creeped on Leno [4.2/11].
ABC not only scored a Tuesday prime win and latenight upset: fresh-faced anchor Peter Jennings also landed in first [7.0/13] over NBC Brokaw [6.6/13] and CBS Rather [5.2/10].
The net's morning show GOOD MORNING AMERICA trailed leader TODAY by only one share point on Tuesday.
"It was a golden day," the ABC executive added.
Impacting...
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Filed By Matt Drudge
Reports are moved when circumstances warrant
http://www.drudgereportArchives.com for updates
(c)DRUDGE REPORT 2002
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