CBS OPENS THE NEW SEASON WITH A BIG BANG "THE BIG BANG THEORY" PREMIERES WITH ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER AND HIGHEST ADULT 18-49 RATING

"The Big Bang Theory" Builds on its Lead-In in Both Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

The Season Premiere of "CSI: Miami" Tops NBC and ABC Combined in Adults 18-49

The Series Premiere of "Accidentally on Purpose" Retains 98% of its Viewer and Adult 25-54 Lead-in and 91% of Its Adult 18-49 Lead-in

CBS Places Second in Adults 18-49 on a Night of Two-Hour Premieres on the Competition

"Late Show with David Letterman" With Guest President Barack Obama Tops the Primetime "The Jay Leno Show" in Local Markets and Nearly Triples the Rating of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien"

CBS launched the new season with a big bang as the third season premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY in its new time period delivered its largest audience ever, series high ratings in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and built on its lead-in among key demos, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Monday, Sept. 21, the first night of the 2009-2010 television season.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) (7.8/11, 12.83m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.7/12), adults 18-49 (4.6/10) and tied for second in adults 18-34 (2.9/07). THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +37% in households (from 5.7/09), +36% in adults 25-54 (from 4.2/11), +28% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/10), +16% in adults 18-34 (from 2.5/08) and added +3.49m viewers (from 9.34m, +37%) from its 8PM premiere last year.

This was THE BIG BANG THEORY's best delivery in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, matched the best ever households delivery. THE BIG BANG THEORY built on its TWO AND A HALF MEN lead-in by +2% in adults 25-54, +5% in adults 18-49 and +12% in adults 18-34.

At 10:00 PM, CSI: MIAMI (P) was first in households (8.7/14), viewers (13.73m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11).

CSI: MIAMI beat the competition combined in adults 25-54 (5.4/13 vs. 5.1/12, +6%) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11 vs. 4.1/11, +5%) while more than doubling the audience of "The Jay Leno Show" (5.67m). CSI: MIAMI posted its best delivery in adults 25-54 since February 2, 2009, best adults 18-49 delivery since March 9, 2009.

Earlier in the night, at 8:00 PM, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (P) (5.7/09, 9.22m) was second in adults 18-34 (3.2/09) and averaged a 3.5/09 in adults 18-49 and 4.0/10 in adults 25-54.

At 8:30 PM, the series premiere of ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (P) (5.7/08, 8.99m) averaged a 3.2/08 in adults 18-49 and 3.9/09 in adults 25-54. ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE retained 98% of its viewers and adult 25-54 lead-in and 91% of its adult 18-49 lead-in.

At 9:00 PM, the season premiere of TWO AND A HALF MEN (P) (8.5/12, 13.59m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.6/12), adults 18-49 (4.4/10).

For the night, CBS (7.5/12, 12.01m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10).

In late night, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN (5.6/14) with guest President Barack Obama finished more than a rating point ahead of primetime "The Jay Leno Show" (4.4/07), according to ratings in the 56 metered markets. LATE SHOW also nearly tripled "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/05).

Monday was the highest rated LATE SHOW broadcast since Dec. 1, 2005 (10.1/24, with Oprah Winfrey) and was the second highest rated broadcast of LATE SHOW on a premiere Monday since Sept. 20, 1993.

THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON (2.5/09) more than doubled "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.1/04).

Monday was the highest rated broadcast of THE LATE LATE SHOW since Dec. 1, 2005 (3.3/12) and was also the second highest rated telecast of the program since Craig Ferguson became the host. This was also the highest rating for a premiere Monday since Ferguson became host on Jan. 3, 2005.

Editor's Note: Nielsen preliminary fast national ratings for late night will be available this afternoon.

Updated primetime Monday ratings will be also available this afternoon.

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

CBS OPENS THE NEW SEASON WITH A BIG BANG

Editors: This updated primetime ratings release also includes updated Late Night ratings reflecting viewers and demographic ratings for "Late Show with David Letterman"

CBS OPENS THE NEW SEASON WITH A BIG BANG

"THE BIG BANG THEORY" PREMIERES WITH ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER AND HIGHEST ADULT 18-49 RATING

"The Big Bang Theory" Builds on Its Lead-In in Both Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

The Season Premiere of "CSI: Miami" Tops NBC and ABC Combined in Adults 18-49

The Series Premiere of "Accidentally on Purpose" Retains 98% of its Viewer, 95% of Its Adult 25-54 Lead-in and 92% of Its Adult 18-49 Lead-in

CBS Places Second in Adults 18-49 on a Night of Two-Hour Premieres on the Competition

"Late Show with David Letterman" With Guest President Barack Obama Delivers 7.22 Million Viewers, Most Watched Broadcast Since 2005

"Late Show" Tops Primetime "The Jay Leno Show" and "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" in Viewers and Key Demographics

CBS launched the new season with a big bang as the third season premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY in its new time period delivered its largest audience ever, series high ratings in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and built on its lead-in among key demos, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Monday, Sept. 21, the first night of the 2009-2010 television season.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) (7.9/11, 12.96m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.8/12), adults 18-49 (4.7/11) and adults 18-34 (3.0/08). THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +39% in households (from 5.7/09), +38% in adults 25-54 (from 4.2/11), +31% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/10), +20% in adults 18-34 (from 2.5/08) and added +3.62m viewers (from 9.34m, +39%) from its 8PM premiere last year.

This was THE BIG BANG THEORY's best delivery in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. THE BIG BANG THEORY built on its TWO AND A HALF MEN lead-in by +2% in adults 25-54, +4% in adults 18-49 and +15% in adults 18-34.

At 10:00 PM, CSI: MIAMI (P) was first in households (9.0/15), viewers (14.20m), adults 25-54 (5.5/13) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11).

CSI: MIAMI beat the competition combined in adults 25-54 (5.5/13 vs. 5.2/12, +6%) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11 vs. 4.1/11, +5%) while more than doubling the audience of "The Jay Leno Show" (5.81m). CSI: MIAMI posted its best delivery in adults 25-54 since February 2, 2009, best adults 18-49 delivery since March 9, 2009.

Earlier in the night, at 8:00 PM, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (P) (5.5/08, 9.09m) was second in adults 18-34 (3.3/09) and averaged a 3.6/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.0/10 in adults 25-54.

At 8:30 PM, the series premiere of ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (P) (5.6/08, 8.91m) averaged a 3.3/08 in adults 18-49 and 3.9/09 in adults 25-54. ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE retained 98% of its viewers, 95% of its adult 25-54 lead-in and 92% of its adult 18-49 lead-in.

At 9:00 PM, the season premiere of TWO AND A HALF MEN (P) (8.5/12, 13.63m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.7/12), adults 18-49 (4.5/10).

For the night, CBS (7.6/12, 12.16m) was second in adults 25-54 (5.1/12) and adults 18-49 (4.1/10).

In late night, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN with guest President Barack Obama, averaged a 5.0/13 with 7.218 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast affiliate ratings (11:30pm-12:30am).

Monday's broadcast was the highest rated and most watched telecast of LATE SHOW since a 9.2/23 with 13.455 mil viewers on Dec. 1, 2005 (Oprah Winfrey). LATE SHOW beat the primetime "Jay Leno Show" by +28% in households (5.0/13 vs. 3.9/6), by +1.41 mil viewers (7.22m vs. 5.81m), by +9% in adults 25-54 (2.4 vs. 2.2) and by +6% in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.8).

LATE SHOW topped "The Tonight Show" by +194% in households (5.0/13 vs. 1.7/5), by +4.78m viewers (7.22m vs. 2.44ml), by +118% in adults 25-54 (2.4 vs. 1.1), by +90% vs. in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.0) and by +63% in Adults 18-34 (1.3 vs. 0.8).