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[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.





  [november 2026]  
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· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)




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