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.





  [january 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


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




[01/09/26 - 12:02 PM]
A New Season of Hilarie Burton-Morgan's Documentary Series "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" Returns February 19 on SundanceTV and Streaming Across AMC+ and All Reality
The new six-episode season examines the challenges and complexities of small-town justice, spotlighting cases that range from unsolved missing persons and wrongful convictions, to death while in police custody.
[01/09/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Eternity" - Official Trailer - Apple TV
"Eternity," starring Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner, premieres February 13 on Apple TV.
[01/09/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Love Island: All Stars" Returns to Peacock as Season Three Premieres on January 14
The first episode premieres exclusively in the U.S. on Wednesday, January 14, with new episodes streaming on Peacock every day at 9:00/8:00c.
[01/09/26 - 09:05 AM]
Ohtani, Judge, Yankees-Red Sox, Dodgers-Yankees, Cubs-Cardinals, and Additional Premium Matchups Headline "Sunday Night Baseball" Schedule as Major League Baseball Returns to NBC and Peacock
Highlights include the special July 5 "Star-Spangled Sunday" featuring all 15 MLB games exclusively presented nationally on Peacock and NBC.
[01/09/26 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Program Advisory: "Harlan Coben's Final Twist"
Beginning Tuesday, January 13, "Harlan Coben's Final Twist" will air original episodes Tuesdays at 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT, with encore episodes airing Wednesdays at 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT.
[01/09/26 - 08:47 AM]
ESPN's Second Most-Watched NBA Regular Season Ever
Through 21 games, the NBA on ESPN networks is averaging 2.6M viewers, up 35 percent from last season.

[01/09/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Images for "The 'Burbs"
All 8 episodes will premiere on Peacock Sunday, February 8, 2026.
[01/09/26 - 02:35 AM]
Paapa Essiedu Returns for "The Capture" Series 3 with New Pictures and Further Casting for the Hit Thriller Announced
The BBC has released new pictures from the series which show Paapa alongside Holliday Grainger who leads the cast as Rachel Carey.
[01/08/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Undercover Miss Hong" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A tenacious investigator goes undercover at a securities firm to expose corruption, but her mission is complicated by its new CEO - her former lover.
[01/08/26 - 02:00 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Record-Breaking Viewership for 2025-26 FCS Playoffs and Championship
The 2026 FCS Championship Game averaged 2.3 million viewers on ESPN, ranking as the third-best FCS Championship audience ever.
[01/08/26 - 01:17 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Demos
In fact, "Nightline" is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 3rd straight year.
[01/08/26 - 01:16 PM]
ABC News' Primetime Special "The Year: 2025" Earns Nearly 4 Million Total Viewers - Growing by Double Digits Over Last Year in Multiplatform Viewing
The 15th annual year-end special earned 3.857 million Total Viewers, growing impressively over last year's performance by +37% (vs. 2.818 million), after three days of viewing on ABC, Disney+, Hulu and digital platforms.

[01/08/26 - 01:15 PM]
"Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV" Premieres Wednesday, Jan. 14, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
By exploring the psychological forces that shaped the talk TV genre, the series reveals how these shows transformed from trusted confessional spaces into lightning rods of controversy, leaving a lasting impact on culture, media and the people caught in the chaos.
[01/08/26 - 12:07 PM]
Hulu Acquires Rights to All Seasons of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" from Versant, Expanding the Kardashian Universe Offering of Series and Specials
All titles will be available to stream on Hulu beginning February 17, 2026.
[01/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Docuseries "Handsome Devil: Charming Killer"
The three-part docuseries premieres Tuesday, January 20, exclusively on Paramount+.