NBC reeled in 50 percent more viewers than its nearest competitor Sunday night with the opening game of the NFL preseason.
TOUCHDOWN NBC and the Dallas Cowboys were both big winners Sunday night. The Cowboys defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 16-7 in the opening game of the NFL preseason and NBC averaged a 3.3 rating/10 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic with its broadcast of the game and the associated festivities. NBC's Sunday night football lineup began with the 11th annual John Madden Pigskin Pro-Am flag football game featuring NFL greats playing against celebrities. "Access Hollywood" correspondent Maria Menounos was MVP of the Pro-Am game. Menounos said her performance was "for all the girls who never got passed the ball.” Former "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek and "American Pie" actress Shannon Elizabeth also played in the game.
FAMILY FEUD Led by another strong showing from "Big Brother," CBS tied "Family Guy" and the rest of Fox's Sunday night animated comedy lineup. CBS averaged a 1.6/5 from 7-11 p.m. and Fox posted the same average for its abbreviated 8-10 p.m. primetime schedule.
SLOW START ABC has been having a rough time with "Scoundrels" and "The Gates"– the two new shows it's trying out on Sundays this summer. The network landed in last place last night behind the other three major broadcast networks with a 1.1/3 average from 7-11 p.m. "Scoundrels" was up 14 percent from last weeks with a 0.8/2, but "The Gates" tied its worst-ever numbers with a 0.7/2,
