or


[09/23/09 - 09:22 AM]
CBS Has Its Largest Premiere Week Tuesday Audience Since 1993; Highest Rated in Demos Since 2004
CBS spins the numbers for Tuesday, September 22.

[via press release from CBS]

CBS HAS ITS LARGEST PREMIERE WEEK TUESDAY AUDIENCE SINCE 1993; HIGHEST RATED IN DEMOS SINCE 2004

CBS Wins Tuesday in Viewers and Key Demos with Double Digit Across-the-Board Percentage Gains Over Last Year

ONLY CBS Is Up Versus Premiere Tuesday Last Year

The Seventh Season Premiere of "NCIS" Scores Its Largest Audience Ever and Highest Adult 18-49 and Adult 25-54 Ratings; No. 1 Show of the Night

The Series Premiere of "NCIS: Los Angeles" Posts Double Digit Time Period Percentage Gains Over Last Year's "The Mentalist" Premiere

The Series Premiere of "The Good Wife" Delivers Time Period's Largest Premiere Week Audience Since 2002

"Late Show" Doubles the Rating of "The Tonight Show" in Local Markets, Posting Its Highest Rated Tuesday Broadcast During Premiere Week Since 1996

"Late Late Show" Delivers It Highest Rated Premiere Week Tuesday Broadcast Since Craig Ferguson Became Host in 2005

CBS won the first Tuesday of the new season in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 with double digit percentage gains in all key measures compared to last year, paced by all-time high ratings for NCIS, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Sept. 22.

NCIS (P) won its time slot in households (12.0/19), viewers (20.00m), adults 25-54 (6.3/16) and adults 18-49 (4.6/13) at 8PM. Compared to last year's season premiere, NCIS was up +6% in households (from 11.3/18), +19% in adults 25-54 (from 5.3/13), +28% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/10) and added +1.99m viewers (from 18.01m, +11%). These are series highs for NCIS in these measures.

At 9:00 PM, the series premiere of NCIS: LOS ANGELES was first in households (11.1/17), viewers (18.32m), adults 25-54 (5.9/14) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11). Compared to the time period delivery in premiere week last year (THE MENTALIST), NCIS: LOS ANGELES was up +12% in households (from 9.9/15), +18% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/11), +23% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09) and added +2.68m viewers (from 15.64m, +17%).

At 10:00 PM, the series premiere of THE GOOD WIFE (P) at 10PM was first in households (9.2/16), viewers (13.72m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09). Compared to premiere week Tuesday last year ("Without a Trace"), THE GOOD WIFE was up +24% in households (from 7.4/12), +19% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +2.39m viewers (from 11.33m, +21%). This is the time period's best premiere delivery in viewers since Oct. 2, 2002 ("Judging Amy").

For the night, CBS was first in households (10.8/17), viewers (17.35m), adults 25-54 (5.6/14) and adults 18-49 (4.0/11). CBS won every half-hour in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. Year-to-year, CBS was up +16% in viewers, +21% in adults 18-49 and +19% in adults 25-54.

In late night, both LATE SHOW and THE LATE LATE SHOW continued to dominate in the metered markets.

LATE LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, with guests former President Bill Clinton and LeBron James, averaged a 4.0/10 in the 56 metered markets, making this the highest rated LATE SHOW broadcast on a premiere week Tuesday since Sept. 17, 1996. LATE SHOW doubled the delivery of "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" (2.0/05).

THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON, with guests Reba McEntire and Dave Annable, earned 1.7/07 in the 56 metered markets, the highest rating for LATE LATE SHOW on a premiere Tuesday since Craig Ferguson became host in 2005. LATE LATE SHOW beat "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" by +0.6 rating points (1.7/07 vs. 1.1/04).

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

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

CBS HAS ITS LARGEST PREMIERE WEEK TUESDAY AUDIENCE SINCE 1993; HIGHEST RATED IN DEMOS SINCE 2004

Editors Note: NCIS premieres with over 20 million viewers. This updated primetime ratings release also includes updated Late Night ratings reflecting viewers and demographic ratings for "Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"

CBS HAS ITS LARGEST PREMIERE WEEK TUESDAY AUDIENCE SINCE 1993; HIGHEST RATED IN DEMOS SINCE 2004

CBS Wins Tuesday in Viewers and Key Demos with Double Digit Across-the-Board Percentage Gains Over Last Year

ONLY CBS Is Up Versus Premiere Tuesday Last Year

The Seventh Season Premiere of "NCIS" Scores Its Largest Audience Ever and Highest Adult 18-49 and Adult 25-54 Ratings; No. 1 Show of the Night

The Series Premiere of "NCIS: Los Angeles" Posts Double Digit Time Period Percentage Gains Over Last Year's "The Mentalist" Premiere

The Series Premiere of "The Good Wife" Delivers Time Period's Largest Premiere Week Audience Since 2002

"Late Show" Tops "The Tonight Show" in Viewers and Key Demos with its Most Watched Broadcast on a Tuesday in Premiere Week Since 1995

"Late Late Show" Tops "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" in Viewers with its Most Watched Tuesday Broadcast in Premiere Week Since Craig Ferguson Became Host in 2005

CBS won the first Tuesday of the new season in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 with double digit percentage gains in all key measures compared to last year, paced by all-time high ratings for NCIS, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 22.

NCIS (P) won its time slot in households (12.4/20), viewers (20.60m), adults 25-54 (6.5/17) and adults 18-49 (4.8/14) at 8PM. Compared to last year's season premiere, NCIS was up +10% in households (from 11.3/18), +23% in adults 25-54 (from 5.3/13), +33% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/10) and added +2.59m viewers (from 18.01m, +14%). These were series highs for NCIS in these measures. NCIS was the night's #1 program in households, viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

At 9:00 PM, the series premiere of NCIS: LOS ANGELES was first in households (11.3/17), viewers (18.73m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11). Compared to the time period delivery in premiere week last year (THE MENTALIST), NCIS: LOS ANGELES was up +14% in households (from 9.9/15), +22% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/11), +26% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09) and added +3.09m viewers (from 15.64m, +20%). This was CBS's best viewers premiere delivery in the time period since Sept. 17, 1991 ("CBS Tuesday Movie: Coming to America").

The series premiere of THE GOOD WIFE (P) was first in households (9.2/16), viewers (13.71m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/08). Compared to premiere week Tuesday last year ("Without a Trace"), THE GOOD WIFE was up +24% in households (from 7.4/12), +19% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +2.38m viewers (from 11.33m, +21%). This is the time period's best premiere delivery in viewers since Oct. 2, 2002 ("Judging Amy").

For the night, CBS was first in households (10.9/17), viewers (17.65m), adults 25-54 (5.7/14) and adults 18-49 (4.1/11). This was CBS's best premiere week Tuesday delivery in households since September 25, 2001, in viewers since September 21, 1993 and in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since September 21, 2004. CBS won every half-hour in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. Year-to-year, CBS was up +18% in viewers, +24% in adults 18-49 and +21% in adults 25-54.

LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, with guests Former President Bill Clinton and LeBron James, averaged a 3.7/10 HH rtg/shr with 5.145 million viewers in the fast affiliate ratings (11:30pm-12:30am). Last night was the highest rated telecast of LATE SHOW on Tuesday during premiere week since 3.8/11 on 9/25/01 and the most-watched since 5.156 million on 9/19/95

LATE SHOW topped "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" by +85% in households (3.7/10 vs. 2.0/5, by + 2.29m in viewers (5.15 mil vs. 2.86 mil), by +25% in adults 25-54 (1.5 vs. 1.2) and by +9% in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs 1.1).

THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON, with guests Reba McEntire and Dave Annablel, earned a 1.7/7 with 2.23 million viewers. Tuesday's broadcast was the highest rated and most watched LATE LATE SHOW on Tuesday during premiere week since Craig Ferguson become host of the program on 1/3/05. LATE LATE SHOW beat "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" by +55% in households (1.7/7 vs. 1.1/4), by +735,000 in viewers (2.23 mil vs. 1.496 mil) and tied in A25-54 (0.7).





  [september 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· JUDGING AMY (CBS)
· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· NCIS: LOS ANGELES (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 11 - "The Roast of Kevin Hart" Heats Up to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
True crime audiences also streamed the second season of "Worst Ex Ever," which rose to the No. 2 spot on the English TV list with 8.1 million views.

[05/19/26 - 07:07 AM]
TNT Sports Posts Its Most-Watched NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round Ever
Thursday's Game 5 of the Montreal/Buffalo series averaged 1.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched, Second Round, Game 5 on cable ever featuring a Canadian team.

[05/18/26 - 04:03 PM]
"The Rookie" Season 8 Finale Surges to Over 9 Million Total Viewers
Setting new records with its exceptional momentum this season, "The Rookie" finale earned an all-time streaming high for the series based on views over seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[05/15/26 - 02:03 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers on Sunday Morning, in Late-Night and on Friday Night
"20/20" saw week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 4-week highs in both measures.

[05/14/26 - 10:07 AM]
"Rooster" Capped Off a Standout First Season, Becoming HBO's Most-Watched Comedy Debut in Over 15 Years
The series is averaging 6.5 million U.S. viewers per episode, with the finale reaching 2.2 million viewers in its first three days.

[05/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
Home Run! ESPN Scores Most-Consumed College Softball Regular Season on Record
The 2026 campaign featured four of ESPN's eight most-watched regular season games of all-time and delivered a record-high 10 games with more than 500,000 viewers.

[05/13/26 - 10:30 AM]
Viewership for 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Presentation on ABC Up 23 Percent Year Over Year
ESPN's presentation of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, May 10, on ABC averaged 2.3 million viewers.

[05/13/26 - 07:56 AM]
ESPN Networks Delivered Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular-Season Game Ever with Dallas Wings vs Indiana Fever on May 9
ESPN today announced that the Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchup on May 9 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC averaged 2.5 million viewers, making it the second most-watched WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks ever.

[05/12/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 4 - The Critters of "Swapped" Soar to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
The pursuit of justice is action-packed in "Man on Fire," which set the English TV list ablaze at No. 1 with 12.6 million views.

[05/08/26 - 09:18 AM]
TNT Sports Delivers Its Most-Watched MLB Regular Season Start Since 2015
The Yankees/Mariners season opener on March 31 delivered 562,000 viewers and peaked at 735,000, making it the most watched opener on TBS since 2012.

[05/06/26 - 10:01 AM]
Strong Month of Sports Propels ESPN Studio Shows to Record Viewership for April
The entire lineup of ESPN studio shows was up 21% overall in viewership over April of 2025 and up 10% year-over-year (YOY) in the coveted Persons ages 18-49 demographic.

[05/05/26 - 03:52 PM]
ESPN Networks Aired Its Most Viewed First Round of the Current Rights Deal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
ESPN also delivered three of the top five matchups in the First Round including the Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins Game 1 (2.1 million viewers).

[05/05/26 - 03:36 PM]
NBC and Peacock Deliver the Most-Watched First Round Game 7 in NBA History for Saturday Night's 76ers-Celtics
Saturday night's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 11.0 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.

[05/05/26 - 02:33 PM]
TNT Sports Delivers Its Most Watched NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Ever
Game 7 of the Montreal/Tampa Bay series on Sunday, May 3 averaged 2.3 million viewers, the most-watched First Round game on cable ever featuring a Canadian team.

[05/05/26 - 02:24 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Flexes Double-Digit Season-to-Date Viewership Increase
2,130,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX on Saturday, May 2, for a two-game slate highlighted by the Cardinals' 3-2 Victory over the Dodgers in most of the country.