Viewers preferred the knock-out drama of ex-pop sensation Gareth Gates being voted off ITV1's rink, to that of Premier League side Middlesbrough being dumped out of the cup by Cardiff 2-0.
The 'Dancing on Ice' semi-final from 6.30pm-7.30pm drew 8.8m viewers and a 35.9% share, while the results show at 8.30pm-9pm drew 8.5m and a 29.9% share.
BBC One's 5.45pm-8pm football coverage was watched by 4.4m or 18.5% of the audience, while BBC Two's 7pm-9pm broadcast of the Crufts final secured 3.6m or 13.3%.
Its canine coverage peaked at 4m, as Philippe the giant schnauzer walked off with the Best in Show trophy.
Channel 4 was squeezed out, with its 7pm-8pm debt documentary 'Love and Money' managing just 1.2m or a 4.6% share.
ITV1's detective series 'Lewis' continued to dominate its 9pm-11pm slot with 7.5m viewers and share of 33.2%, against BBC One's 'The Last Enemy', which managed 2.5m and a 9.5% share.
BBC One offered another sporting marathon over the weekend, with two live Six Nations rugby ties and three live FA Cup quarter-finals, which all involved top-flight sides succumbing to shock defeats.
On Saturday afternoon its share stayed at around a third of the audience from when Ireland kicked off against Wales at 1.30pm until Barnsley knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup at 7.15pm. The audience was the biggest for the football at 7m, with a peak of 8.8m at full time.
ITV1 only came close to that kind of audience share with 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway' from 7.15pm-8.30pm, earning 31.1% share and 7.2m viewers.
The channel's Saturday night special 'Guilty Pleasures', in which singers performed cover versions of songs they are ashamed to admit they like, was watched by 3.2m, or a 15.8% share, at 9.30pm-10.30pm.
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