via press release:
Jumping Sharply from its Lead-in at 8pm, ABC’s “Home Edition” Produces its Top Viewer and Young Adult Numbers in 6 Months
6th-Season Opener of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” Stands as Sunday’s Most-Watched Entertainment Show and No. 1 Overall Across the Women Demos
On its 4th-Season Premiere, ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters” Defeats its 10pm Drama Competition on CBS in Viewers and Young Adults and Ranks No. 1 in Key Women
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
Building sharply on its lead-in (+3.2 million viewers and +48% in Adults 18-49) at 8:00 p.m. against stiff competition during its regular time period premiere, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” generated its best results in more than 6 months with Total Viewers (10.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/8-tie) – since 3/1/09 and 3/22/09, respectively.
“Desperate Housewives” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Opposite heavy competition on the night from sports-boosted CBS (NFL overrun) and NBC (Sunday Night Football) and Fox with the highly-anticipated “The Cleveland Show” debut, ABC’s sixth-season premiere of “Desperate Housewives” stood as Sunday’s most-watched entertainment program (13.2 million). Among Adults 18-49, the ABC show (4.5/11) beat out its non-sports competition on Fox (“Family Guy”/”American Dad” = 4.4/10) and CBS (“Amazing Race” = 3.3/8) in the 9 o’clock hour. “Housewives” dominated its slot with all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54), registering as Sunday’s No. 1 television show on all 3 counts.
- “Desperate Housewives” held even with where it finished out last season, retaining all of its 2009 May Sweep audience among Adults 18-49 (4.5/11).
“Brothers & Sisters” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
ABC’s fourth-season premiere of “Brothers & Sisters” defeated its drama competition in the 10 o’clock hour, drawing a larger overall audience than “Cold Case” (9.3 million vs. 9.0 million) and leading the CBS program by 36% in Adults 18-49 (3.0/8 vs. 2.2/6). “Brothers & Sisters” finished No. 1 in the hour across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).
- Like its lead-in, “Brothers & Sisters” retained 100% of its Adult 18-49 audience from its 2009 May Sweep performance (3.0/8).
A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to more than 27% currently, from 19% at the same point
in 2007. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.
Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 9/27/09.
great
pleased for desperate housewives 
it was one of the top 10 episodes ever
x
So… Football is no longer considered entertainment?
lol Julia, I thought the same thing
How hysterical! Gotta love press releases.
For desperate housewives being in its sixth season, critics bashing it on a daily basis and it being a serial show, these numbers are not that bad. 13 million is really good. Remember DH usually retains all of their viewers for at least the first 10 episodes of the season. In January you usually see the numbers fall. I predict that the 7th season will be its last like Mark Cherry originally wanted. Their ratings are better than 75% of what is on tv right now. I actually thought the ABC comedies might beat it from all the hype they got. DH is still a staple in peoples Sunday night line up. Remember DH used to get an average of 25 million viewers a week-and with the tv landscape changing the numbers werent that much different than any of the CSI’s.
Julia, sports and “entertainment” are different classifications, not just at the networks, but at Nielsen. Perhaps not the best nomenclature, but I don’t think that was a snub by ABC, but rather merely shedding the best possible light on their situation.
Cardinals fans probably weren’t entertained by football last night.
yes julie, i am a huge DH fan.
but i am hoping Marc will look and think, The seventh season will be the better way to end the enitre series
i think viewers will simply forget about it, despite it being a great show
fingers crossed 
i just hope it doesnt ever get to like 9 million or less
“Heavy competition” — that’s always a qualifier when your show UNDERPERFORMS. It used to be that DH was the heavyweight. Love it. Can’t wait to see the erosion over the next few weeks.
13.2 is stil good some shows are really showing age so i will be happy to get one more season you know what a show cant last forever
AWWWW THE SPINNING MAKE THE SPINNING STOP
I am sick of Desperate Housewives. Every season the new neighbors are always killers. How stupid?? Why can’t they have some semi normal neighbors not out to kill everyone. Also Lynette being pregnant with twins is hard to watch. She looks every bit of 50, it’s so unbelievable. Susan and Mike getting married again, BORING. Bree’s affair with the attorney, BORING. I think if the writers cannot come up with better story lines it’s time to take the show off the air.
This show will soon jump over sharks.
How (where) can I see the season premier? Will it be shown again? If so, what station(s) and times?
I’m assuming your from the US:
http://www.hulu.com/desperate-housewives
Otherwise check your local listings.
i think season 6 is great!! yeah 13.2 million is big BUT not enough! yeah it used to have 25 or more million viewers. i think edie’s death made some not to watch it anymore. but the season opener was reaaally awesome! so far!