or


[09/21/06 - 12:00 AM]
CBS Wins Premiere Wednesday in Viewers and Key Demographics

[via press release from CBS]

CBS WINS PREMIERE WEDNESDAY IN VIEWERS AND KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

The Season Premieres of "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" Dominate Their Respective Time Periods In Viewers and Demos and Significantly Improve Upon Last Year's Premiere Ratings in All Key Measures

The Series Premiere of "Jericho" Tops Last Year's Comedy Premieres By +39% in Adults 18-49 and +68% in Viewers

CBS placed first in viewers and key demographics on premiere Wednesday as the season premieres of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY dominated their respective time periods with significant increases over last year's premieres in all key measures, while the series debut of JERICHO bettered last year's comedy premieres by +39% in adults 18-49 and +68% in viewers, according to live plus same day preliminary Nielsen ratings for Sept. 20.

The series premiere of JERICHO was second in households (7.5/12), viewers (11.40m), adults 25-54 (4.4/12, -0.2 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (3.2/10). This is the best regularly scheduled delivery in the time period since January 5, 2005 in households ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 4, 2004 in viewers ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 26, 2003 in adults 25-54 ("Star Search") and May 17, 2006 in adults 18-49 ("The Amazing Race 9" finale).

Compared to the same night last year (the season premieres of "Still Standing" and "Yes Dear"), JERICHO was up +63% in both households (from 4.6/07) and adults 25-54 (from 2.7/07), +39% in adults 18-49 (from 2.3/07), +22% in adults 18-34 (2.2/08 from 1.8/06) and added +4.60m viewers (from 6.80m, +68%).

The second season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS won its time period in households (10.1/16), viewers (15.59m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). This is the best delivery for a first run episode of CRIMINAL MINDS in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since January 11, 2006, and best adults 18-49 delivery since March 8, 2006.

Compared to last year's time period premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CRIMINAL MINDS is up +40% in households (from 7.2/11), +49% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +36% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/08) and added +4.98m viewers (from 10.61m, +47%).

At 10:00 PM, the third season premiere of CSI: NY was first in households (10.6/18), viewers (15.96m), adults 25-54 (6.3/16) and adults 18-49 (4.9/13). CSI: NY beat NBC's series premiere of "Kidnapped" by +108% in households (vs. 5.1/08), +91% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.3/08), +75% in adults 18-49 (vs. 2.8/08) and by +8.43m viewers (vs. 7.53m, +112%).

Compared to last year's premiere on 9/28/05, CSI: NY is up +22% in households (from 8.7/14), +15% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13), +9% in adults 18-49 (from 4.5/12) and added +2.62m viewers (from 13.34m, +20%).

Final Wednesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

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

CBS WINS PREMIERE WEDNESDAY IN VIEWERS AND KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

The Season Premieres of "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" Dominate Their Respective Time Periods In Viewers and Demos and Significantly Improve Upon Last Year's Premiere Ratings in All Key Measures

The Series Premiere of "Jericho" Tops Last Year's Comedy Premieres By +48% in Adults 18-49 and +71% in Viewers

CBS placed first in viewers and key demographics on premiere Wednesday as the season premieres of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY dominated their respective time periods with significant increases over last year's premieres in all key measures, while the series debut of JERICHO bettered last year's comedy premieres by +48% in adults 18-49 and +71% in viewers, according to Live Plus Same Day National Nielsen ratings for Sept. 20.

The series premiere of JERICHO was second in households (7.6/12), viewers (11.66m), adults 25-54 (4.5/12, -0.1 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10, -0.3 behind ABC). This is the best regularly scheduled delivery in the time period since February 18, 2004 in households ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), January 7, 2004 in viewers ("60 Minutes Wednesday"), February 26, 2003 in adults 25-54 ("Star Search") and March 12, 2003 in adults 18-49 ("Star Search").

Compared to the same night last year (the season premieres of "Still Standing" and "Yes Dear"), JERICHO was up +65% in households (from 4.6/07), +67% in adults 25-54 (from 2.7/07), +48% in adults 18-49 (from 2.3/07), +28% in adults 18-34 (2.3/08 from 1.8/06) and added +4.86m viewers (from 6.80m, +71%).

The second season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS won its time period in households (10.2/16), viewers (15.65m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). This is the best delivery for a first run episode of CRIMINAL MINDS in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since January 11, 2006, and best adults 18-49 delivery since March 8, 2006.

Compared to last year's time period premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CRIMINAL MINDS is up +42% in households (from 7.2/11), +49% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +36% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/08) and added +5.04m viewers (from 10.61m, +48%).

At 10:00 PM, the third season premiere of CSI: NY was first in households (10.7/18), viewers (16.11m), adults 25-54 (6.4/16) and adults 18-49 (5.0/14). CSI: NY beat NBC's series premiere of "Kidnapped" by +110% in households (vs. 5.1/09), +94% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.3/08), +79% in adults 18-49 (vs. 2.8/08) and by +8.52m viewers (vs. 7.59m, +112%).

Compared to last year's premiere on Sept. 28, 2005, CSI: NY is up +23% in households (from 8.7/14), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 4.5/12) and added +2.77m viewers (from 13.34m, +21%).

CBS won Wednesday in households (9.5/15), viewers (14.47m), adults 25-54 (5.7/14) and adults 18-49 (4.3/12).





  [september 2006]  
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T
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· 60 MINUTES (WED.) (CBS)
· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· KIDNAPPED (NBC)
· STAR SEARCH (CBS)
· STILL STANDING (CBS)
· YES, DEAR (CBS)





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