NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� More than 8 million people took in Fourth of July fireworks on television this year, watching NBC's coverage of the Macy's New York City celebration in one of two helpings.
The two-hour fireworks presentation drew 4.9 million viewers to NBC at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, and 3.3 million watched a condensed version of the same show shortly after it ended.
Traditionally, the week encompassing Independence Day is one of the least-watched television weeks of the year. The only other program to reach more than 7 million viewers in prime time was NBC's summer favorite, 鈥淎merica's Got Talent.鈥�
NBC won the week with an average of 2.9 million viewers in prime time. CBS was second with 2.6 million, ABC had 2.3 million, Fox had 1.6 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million.
TNT, riding three games of the NBA Conference Finals, led the cable networks with an average of 2.141 million in prime time. Fox News Channel had 2.139 million, ESPN had 1.58 million, MSNBC had 1.36 million and HGTV had 1.09 million.
ABC's 鈥淲orld News Tonight鈥� led the evening news ratings race, averaging 7.5 million viewers. NBC's 鈥淣ightly News鈥� had 6.4 million and the 鈥淐BS Evening News鈥� had 4.8 million.
For the week of June 28-July 4, the most popular prime time programs, their networks and viewerships:
1. 鈥淎merica's Got Talent," NBC, 7.08 million.
2. NBA Conference Finals: Phoenix at L.A. Clippers (Wednesday), ESPN, 5.86 million.
3. NBA Conference Finals: L.A. Clippers at Phoenix (Monday), ESPN, 5.75 million.
4. NBA Conference Finals: Atlanta at Milwaukee (Saturday), TNT, 5.24 million.
5. 鈥淢acy's Fourth of July Fireworks,鈥� NBC, 4.9 million.
6. NBA Conference Finals: Milwaukee at Atlanta (Thursday), TNT, 4.84 million.
7. 鈥�60 Minutes,鈥� CBS, 4.66 million.
8. NBA Conference Finals: Atlanta at Milwaukee (Tuesday), TNT, 4.63 million.
9. 鈥淣CIS,鈥� CBS, 3.72 million.
10. 鈥淭he Neighborhood,鈥� CBS, 3.64 million.
11. 鈥淵oung Sheldon,鈥� CBS, 3.59 million.
12. 鈥淗annity鈥� (Wednesday), Fox News, 3.54 million.
13. 鈥淭he $100,000 Pyramid,鈥� ABC, 3.49 million.
14. 鈥淔BI: Most Wanted,鈥� CBS, 3.37 million.
15. 鈥淭he Bachelorette,鈥� ABC, 3.32 million.
16. 鈥淭he Price is Right,鈥� CBS, 3.29 million.
17. 鈥淔BI,鈥� CBS, 3.27 million.
18. 鈥淢acy's Fourth of July Fireworks鈥� (Sunday, 10 p.m.), 3.252 million.
19. 鈥淎merican Ninja Warrior,鈥� NBC, 3.25 million.
20. 鈥淏ob Hearts Abishola,鈥� CBS, 3.21 million.
David Bauder, The Associated Press
