or


[09/21/06 - 12:00 AM]
CBS Wins Premiere Wednesday in Viewers and Key Demographics

[via press release from CBS]

CBS WINS PREMIERE WEDNESDAY IN VIEWERS AND KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

The Season Premieres of "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" Dominate Their Respective Time Periods In Viewers and Demos and Significantly Improve Upon Last Year's Premiere Ratings in All Key Measures

The Series Premiere of "Jericho" Tops Last Year's Comedy Premieres By +39% in Adults 18-49 and +68% in Viewers

CBS placed first in viewers and key demographics on premiere Wednesday as the season premieres of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY dominated their respective time periods with significant increases over last year's premieres in all key measures, while the series debut of JERICHO bettered last year's comedy premieres by +39% in adults 18-49 and +68% in viewers, according to live plus same day preliminary Nielsen ratings for Sept. 20.

The series premiere of JERICHO was second in households (7.5/12), viewers (11.40m), adults 25-54 (4.4/12, -0.2 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (3.2/10). This is the best regularly scheduled delivery in the time period since January 5, 2005 in households ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 4, 2004 in viewers ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 26, 2003 in adults 25-54 ("Star Search") and May 17, 2006 in adults 18-49 ("The Amazing Race 9" finale).

Compared to the same night last year (the season premieres of "Still Standing" and "Yes Dear"), JERICHO was up +63% in both households (from 4.6/07) and adults 25-54 (from 2.7/07), +39% in adults 18-49 (from 2.3/07), +22% in adults 18-34 (2.2/08 from 1.8/06) and added +4.60m viewers (from 6.80m, +68%).

The second season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS won its time period in households (10.1/16), viewers (15.59m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). This is the best delivery for a first run episode of CRIMINAL MINDS in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since January 11, 2006, and best adults 18-49 delivery since March 8, 2006.

Compared to last year's time period premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CRIMINAL MINDS is up +40% in households (from 7.2/11), +49% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +36% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/08) and added +4.98m viewers (from 10.61m, +47%).

At 10:00 PM, the third season premiere of CSI: NY was first in households (10.6/18), viewers (15.96m), adults 25-54 (6.3/16) and adults 18-49 (4.9/13). CSI: NY beat NBC's series premiere of "Kidnapped" by +108% in households (vs. 5.1/08), +91% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.3/08), +75% in adults 18-49 (vs. 2.8/08) and by +8.43m viewers (vs. 7.53m, +112%).

Compared to last year's premiere on 9/28/05, CSI: NY is up +22% in households (from 8.7/14), +15% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13), +9% in adults 18-49 (from 4.5/12) and added +2.62m viewers (from 13.34m, +20%).

Final Wednesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

CBS WINS PREMIERE WEDNESDAY IN VIEWERS AND KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

The Season Premieres of "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" Dominate Their Respective Time Periods In Viewers and Demos and Significantly Improve Upon Last Year's Premiere Ratings in All Key Measures

The Series Premiere of "Jericho" Tops Last Year's Comedy Premieres By +48% in Adults 18-49 and +71% in Viewers

CBS placed first in viewers and key demographics on premiere Wednesday as the season premieres of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY dominated their respective time periods with significant increases over last year's premieres in all key measures, while the series debut of JERICHO bettered last year's comedy premieres by +48% in adults 18-49 and +71% in viewers, according to Live Plus Same Day National Nielsen ratings for Sept. 20.

The series premiere of JERICHO was second in households (7.6/12), viewers (11.66m), adults 25-54 (4.5/12, -0.1 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10, -0.3 behind ABC). This is the best regularly scheduled delivery in the time period since February 18, 2004 in households ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), January 7, 2004 in viewers ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 26, 2003 in adults 25-54 ("Star Search") and March 12, 2003 in adults 18-49 ("Star Search").

Compared to the same night last year (the season premieres of "Still Standing" and "Yes Dear"), JERICHO was up +65% in households (from 4.6/07), +67% in adults 25-54 (from 2.7/07), +48% in adults 18-49 (from 2.3/07), +28% in adults 18-34 (2.3/08 from 1.8/06) and added +4.86m viewers (from 6.80m, +71%).

The second season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS won its time period in households (10.2/16), viewers (15.65m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). This is the best delivery for a first run episode of CRIMINAL MINDS in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since January 11, 2006, and best adults 18-49 delivery since March 8, 2006.

Compared to last year's time period premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CRIMINAL MINDS is up +42% in households (from 7.2/11), +49% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +36% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/08) and added +5.04m viewers (from 10.61m, +48%).

At 10:00 PM, the third season premiere of CSI: NY was first in households (10.7/18), viewers (16.11m), adults 25-54 (6.4/16) and adults 18-49 (5.0/14). CSI: NY beat NBC's series premiere of "Kidnapped" by +110% in households (vs. 5.1/09), +94% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.3/08), +79% in adults 18-49 (vs. 2.8/08) and by +8.52m viewers (vs. 7.59m, +112%).

Compared to last year's premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CSI: NY is up +23% in households (from 8.7/14), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 4.5/12) and added +2.77m viewers (from 13.34m, +21%).

CBS won Wednesday in households (9.5/15), viewers (14.47m), adults 25-54 (5.7/14) and adults 18-49 (4.3/12).





  [september 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 60 MINUTES (WED.) (CBS)
· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· KIDNAPPED (NBC)
· STAR SEARCH (CBS)
· STILL STANDING (CBS)
· YES, DEAR (CBS)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[09/10/26 - 11:02 AM]
Wisconsin-Notre Dame on NBC & Peacock Is NBC Sports' Third-Most Watched Notre Dame Football Game Since 2005, Averaging 8.1 Million Viewers
The audience for the No. 4 Fighting Irish's 41-13 victory peaked at 9.7 million viewers in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET) as Notre Dame led 13-10.

[09/09/26 - 03:52 PM]
"College GameDay" Wins Week 1 With Top-Three Regular Season Show on Record
Coverage of Clemson/LSU was the top Saturday game of Week 1.

[09/09/26 - 03:30 PM]
ESPN's US Open Coverage Is Most-Viewed Since 2022 Through Third Round
The full-tournament average so far is up 5% over 2025 and the most viewed since 2022, the year of Serena Williams' final match before her return this year.

[09/09/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 31
"Reacher," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," "The Grand Tour," and "The Traitors" led all original series worldwide.

[09/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 31 - "The Whisper Man" Tracks Down No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"Death of the Pastor's Wife" held the top spot of the English TV list with 13.9 million views.

[09/08/26 - 10:09 AM]
FOX MLB Posts Best Regular Season Thursday Night Baseball Telecast Since 2022
2,668,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX Thursday for a two-game slate highlighted by the Cubs' 2-1 win over the Brewers in most of the country.

[09/08/26 - 10:02 AM]
ESPN Studio Lineup Continues 2026 Momentum with Record August Audiences
As a year-long pattern of strong viewership continued, multiple programs delivered their best August viewership on record, while overall studio show audiences increased 13% year over year.

[09/04/26 - 11:49 AM]
ABC News Wins Friday Night and Late Night
"20/20" posted double-digit gains week to week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 6-week highs in both measures.

[09/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 24
"Reacher," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," "Ride or Die," and "The Traitors" led all original series worldwide.

[09/02/26 - 08:37 AM]
New Mexico State at Florida State Delivers The CW's Most-Watched Sports Broadcast in Network History
Viewership peaked at 2.4 million total viewers from 9:15-9:30pm ET as the Florida State Seminoles defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 34-17.

[09/01/26 - 04:00 PM]
2026 Little League Baseball World Series Delivered Largest Audience Since 2015
The Championship Game between CuraƧao and Henderson, Nevada, averaged 2.9M viewers on ABC, up 21% year over year.

[09/01/26 - 03:16 PM]
FOX IndyCar Continues Viewership Momentum
950,000 viewers watched Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward deliver the first of two victories from the Milwaukee Mile Sunday on FOX.

[09/01/26 - 03:01 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Is No. 1 Among All Networks
3,161,000 viewers tuned-in for a two-game slate highlighted by the Yankees' 9-2 win over the Red Sox in most of the country.

[09/01/26 - 02:54 PM]
ESPN Delivers Top Games in College Football's Week 0
4.9 million viewers tuned into the North Carolina Tar Heels defeat the TCU Horned Frogs in Dublin, Ireland.

[09/01/26 - 02:28 PM]
Players Era Volleyball Showcase Serves Second Most-Watched Volleyball Telecast Ever on FOX
1,040,000 viewers watched Nebraska beat Texas Sunday afternoon on FOX.