Television's best still on Sunday

The New York Times has an interesting story today about how the television networks continue to put a lot of the best programming on Sunday networks. Over the decades television viewers have developed a special relationship with Sunday night programming. Sunday is the most-watched night of the week, with an average of 124.2 million viewers during prime time.  In each generation, hit shows have found a home on Sunday night, including "Bonanza," "60 Minutes," and "The Simpsons."

The question is why, during an era when TV shows can be watched anytime, do the networks continue to put their best shows on Sundays.  According to the story, television programmers put shows on Sunday to signal to audiences that the show is big. They also say that a glut of competition on this evening makes the programming they put there look more attractive by comparison.

It doesn't make sense to me, but of course, I'm not a television programmer. I just know that Sunday night is one of the few times of the week that  I watch anything other than news and sports. Tonight I'll be tuned into "60 Minutes," "Downtown Abbey," and maybe a bit of the "Golden Globe Awards."