NBC - KNIGHT RIDER HEADING FOR A CRASH?

KNIGHT RIDER HEADING FOR A CRASH?

Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, who had ordered a fullseason of Knight Rider episodes even as the initial ones werefloundering in the ratings, may be heading for a crash as new seasonprograms, sponsored under his aegis, continue to attract few viewers. Knight Rider could attract only 5.1 million viewers Friday night, asit ended up in last place. It served as a weak lead-in to the premiere ofNBC's Life, which attracted 5.8 million viewers and kept the networkin last place. It took the 19th season premiere of Law & Order at10 00 p.m. to lift NBC out of last place. It came in second with 7.8 millionviewers -- but even that figure could not have given the powers-that-be atNBC much to cheer about. Last year L&O debuted with 13.5 millionviewers.

07/11/2008