or


[09/24/08 - 10:41 AM]
CBS Wins Premiere Tuesday with Its Largest Audience on the Night Since 2001
CBS spins the numbers for Tuesday, September 23.

[via press release from CBS]

CBS WINS PREMIERE TUESDAY WITH ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE ON THE NIGHT SINCE 2001

"NCIS" Wins Time Period with Its Largest Premiere Audience Ever

"The Mentalist" Mesmerizes 15.5 Million Viewers in Strong Debut

11.4 Million Viewers Welcome "Without a Trace" to Its New Time Period

All Three Dramas Post Year-to-Year Time Period Increases in Viewers

CBS is the Only Network to Post Premiere Tuesday Year-to-Year Increases with Double Digit Percentage Gains in Viewers and Key Demos

CBS placed first in viewers on premiere Tuesday with its largest audience on the night since 2001, led by NCIS which posted its largest premiere audience ever, the strong debut of THE MENTALIST and the seventh season premiere of the relocated WITHOUT A TRACE, according to preliminary Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 23.

CBS was the only network to post year-to-year premiere Tuesday increases, notching double digit percentage gains of +24% in viewers (14.88m from 11.98m), +10% in adults 18-49 (3.3/09 from 3.0/08) and +12% in adults 25-54 (4.6/11 from 4.1/10).

At 8:00 PM, the season premiere of NCIS (P) won its time period in households (11.2/18), viewers (17.72m), finished second in adults 25-54 (5.2/13) and adults 18-49 (3.5/10). Compared to last season's premiere, NCIS was up +27% in households (from 8.8/14), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 4.5/11), +9% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) while adding +3.79m viewers (from 13.93m, +27%). This is the best premiere delivery ever for NCIS in households and viewers, matches the best adults 25-54 premiere performance and is the second best premiere delivery in adults 18-49 (behind 2005).

At 9:00 PM, the series debut of THE MENTALIST (P) was second in households (9.9/15), viewers (15.55m), adults 25-54 (5.0/11) and averaged a 3.5/09 in adults 18-49. Compared to the time period premiere last year (THE UNIT), THE MENTALIST was up +48% in households (from 6.7/10), +28% in adults 25-54 (from 3.9/09), +25% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +4.82m viewers (from 10.73m, +45%).

The season premiere of WITHOUT A TRACE (P) was second in households (7.5/12) and viewers (11.39m), topping its incumbent time period drama, while averaging a 3.7/09 in adults 25-54 2.8/07 in adults 18-49,

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.5/15) and viewers. Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

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

FINAL -- CBS WINS PREMIERE TUESDAY WITH ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE ON THE NIGHT SINCE 2001

"NCIS" Wins Time Period with its Largest Premiere Audience Ever

"The Mentalist" Mesmerizes 15.6 Million Viewers in Strong Debut

11.3 Million Viewers Welcome "Without a Trace" to its New Time Period

All Three Dramas Post Year-to-Year Time Period Increases in Viewers

CBS placed first in viewers with its largest premiere week Tuesday audience since 2001, led by NCIS which posted its largest premiere audience ever, the strong debut of THE MENTALIST and the seventh season premiere of the relocated WITHOUT A TRACE, according to updated Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 23.

CBS notched double digit percentage gains of +25% in viewers (14.99m from 11.98m), +10% in adults 18-49 (3.3/09 from 3.0/08) and +15% in adults 25-54 (4.7/11 from 4.1/10).

At 8:00 PM, the season premiere of NCIS (P) won its time period in households (11.3/18), viewers (18.03m), finished second in adults 25-54 (5.3/13) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10). Compared to last season's premiere, NCIS was up +28% in households (from 8.8/14), +18% in adults 25-54 (from 4.5/11), +13% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) while adding +4.10m viewers (from 13.93m, +29%). This is the best premiere delivery ever for NCIS in households, viewers and adults 25-54 and is the second best premiere delivery in adults 18-49 (behind 2005).

At 9:00 PM, the series debut of THE MENTALIST (P) was second in households (9.9/15), viewers (15.60m), adults 25-54 (5.0/11) and averaged a 3.5/09 in adults 18-49. Compared to the time period premiere last year (THE UNIT), THE MENTALIST was up +48% in households (from 6.7/10), +28% in adults 25-54 (from 3.9/09), +25% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +4.87m viewers (from 10.73m, +45%).

The season premiere of WITHOUT A TRACE (P) was second in households (7.4/12) and viewers (11.28m), topping its incumbent time period drama, while averaging a 3.7/09 in adults 25-54 and 2.8/07 in adults 18-49.

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.5/15) and viewers, its first premiere week Tuesday nightly win since 2004.





  [october 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)





[10/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Hits Season Highs with Best Audience Performance Since July
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 139 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[10/17/25 - 10:38 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues Historic Hot Streak - Rising for Fourth Straight Week Since Premiere with 6 Million Total Viewers
Plus: "High Potential" dominated the 10 p.m. hour with 4.15 million Total Viewers and a 0.33 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
51st Season of "Saturday Night Live" Continues with Three Back-to-Back Shows in November
Miles Teller is on tap to host on November 1, followed by Nikki Glaser on November 8, and Glen Powell on November 15.

[10/17/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "The Last Woodsmen" Premieres Friday, November 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season.

[10/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
A brutal mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino plunges '90s Philadelphia into chaos and bloodshed in this captivating true-crime series.

[10/17/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Me late que si" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A desperate, ordinary man, fed up with his misfortune, hatches a daring heist and assembles a very unusual group to attempt the impossible: stealing a live lottery jackpot.

[10/17/25 - 08:00 AM]
"Weapons" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max October 24
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at 2:17 a.m., a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Secret Santa" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A vivacious single-mom (Alexandra Breckenridge) in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Is Coming Spring 2026
Newly announced cast members include Gideon Adlon, Bill Bodner, Colleen Camp, Danielle Deadwyler, Homer Gere, Jessica Blair Herman, Natasha Lyonne, Hemky Madera, Kwame Patterson, Trisha Paytas, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bella Podaras, Cailyn Rice, Eli Roth, Madison Thompson, Jack Topalian, Sam Trammell, Matthew Willig.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Eloa the Hostage: Live on TV" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This gripping documentary explores the case of a teenage girl who was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in one of Brazil's most shocking hostage situations.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple Is the Exclusive New Broadcast Partner for Formula 1 in the U.S.
Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers.

[10/16/25 - 02:11 PM]
Video: National Geographic Unveils First Look at "Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember" - A Powerful and Heartfelt Special Featuring the Global Movie Star on His Most Personal Journey Yet
The one-hour documentary, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa, Jane Root's Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson's Wild State, premieres November 23 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/16/25 - 12:58 PM]
Lifetime Announces Annual "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Holiday Movie Slate Kicking Off November 29th
Featured talent this year includes Brandy Norwood, Kane & Katelyn Brown, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Arielle Kebbel, Tyler Hilton, James Lafferty, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Sy'Rai Smith, Nischelle Turner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and others.

[10/16/25 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "The Witcher" Season 4 - Character Trailer - Netflix
Scattered to fates unknown, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri traverse the war-torn Continent and its countless enemies in the hope of finding each other again.

[10/16/25 - 11:32 AM]
A+E Global Media and Rachael Ray's Free Food Studios Cook Up Expanded Programming Partnership with Over 100 New Episodes Ordered
The network has ordered 110 new episodes of Ray's programming, including new episodes of "Meals in Minutes," that will continue to focus on her approachable and comforting cooking style.