Univision 41 ‘CRISTINA’ Scores Record Ratings.

In an astonishing ratings development, “Cristina,” a Univision network talk-show starring Cristina Saralegui seen locally on Spanish-language UHF-TV station Univision 41 (WXTV) here, scored a whopping 4.3 Nielsen Station Index (NSI) rating and 7 share last night (Monday, December 18) from 10 pm to 11 pm. It was the highest-ever NSI rating and share for the prime-time edition of “Cristina” here in New York on Univision 41.

Thanks for the ratings surprise may go to the guests. Last night’s edition of “Cristina” featured the cast of “Laberintos de Pasion” (Labyrinths of Passion) the mega-hit novela which wrapped its prime time run on Univision last week.

The previous all time NSI high for Univision 41’s prime-time broadcasts of “Cristina” is 4.3/6 set on April 6, 1998. The 4.3/7 for “Cristina” last night is a massive 39% increase over its 3.1/5 average scored during the recent November 2000 sweep. It was sufficient to propel Univision 41 to fifth place in the 10 pm to 11 pm time period.

The record-high rating for “Cristina” last night also had a powerful lead-in ratings effect on the 11 pm local news, “Noticias 41,” which scored 3.4/6 its fourth highest NSI rating/share of all time and 42% higher than its record-high November 2000 sweeps average of 2.4/4. The 3.4/6 for “Noticias 41” from 11 pm to 11:30 pm last night was also good for fifth place, beating both “The Simpsons” on WNYW/5 and “Blind Date” on WWOR/9.

Each New York Nielsen Station Index rating point represents 69,356.1 TV households.