via NBC press release:
NBC PRIMETIME RATINGS RESULTS FOR SEPT. 18, 2009
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. ? September 19, 2009 ? The following are NBC primetime ratings results for September 18.
From 8-10 p.m. ET, NBC's "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.8 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall. "Dateline NBC" scored the network's highest 18-49 rating in the slot since June 12 and attracted NBC's biggest overall audience in the time period since October 17, 2008. In the time period, "Dateline" was #1 among the major networks in all key ratings categories (including a tie with Fox in men 18-34).
From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased its 18-49 rating by 64 percent (to a 2.3 from a 1.4) and its overall viewership by 52 percent or nearly 3.2 million persons (9.2 million vs. 6.1 million).
From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.1/7 in adults 18-49, a 2.7/8 in adults 25-54 and 7.7 million viewers overall.
"The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, #1 in adults 25-54 (the key demographic for late local news) and #1 in total viewers and all other key ratings categories. Last night's time-period competition included CBS's "Numb3rs" encore and ABC's season premiere of "20/20."
"The Jay Leno Show" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any Friday non-sports primetime telecast on any major network since May 15.
Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," last night's telecast was up substantially in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.7 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (7.7 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, last night's telecast was also competitive in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.7 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.9 million).
NBC is #1 among the major networks for the night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all other key ratings categories.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for Friday night, based on fast affiliate-based figures from Nielsen Media Research, are: NBC, 1.9/7; Fox, 1.0/4; CBS, 1.0/3; ABC, 0.8/3; and CW, 0.5/2. In overall total viewers, September 18 preliminary results are: NBC, 7.5 million; CBS, 4.5 million; Fox, 3.9 million; ABC, 3.3 million; and CW, 1.3 million.
Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.
Stop the Presses! “NBC Primetime Comedy Gambit Hits Jackpot.”
How much longer before Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel are enlisted for primetime duty by a panicked CBS and ABC? Maybe even Fox?
Take it to the bank that at least one of them will jump in head-first. They can’t take a hit like this without doing something, STAT.
Truth is, it’s not Jay (no offense); viewers 18-54 and beyond want “live” style TV in prime-time, something the young suits just haven’t figured out (until now).
ABC will be the next to try. It’s 10 p.m. lineup is not strong. CBS wins the 10 p.m. hour consistently. It was the last to program Saturday. It continues to program Friday strongly. CBS will be the last to program 10 p.m. in a traditional format.
Yeah CBS programmed saturdays in 02-03 I think but then they stopped like every other network, except FOX which airs COPS and Most Wanted. With the exception of Tuesdays, CBS will win 10pm every night with CSI Miami, CSI NY, The Mentalist and Numb3rs. Tuesdays the Freshman The Good Wife would likely win but it has competition from a new ABC drama The Forgotten. Still while the lead in for both dramas have high ratings, Good Wife is likely to have an advantage. CBS 10pm sundays have veteran Cold Case and while it faces Football and Brothers & Sisters as competition, its disadvantage would likely be the Three Rivers lead in.